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August 23, 2011 | Pulitzer Center
The Green Gold of Chocó: An Alternative for the Mining Industry?
A small community of gold miners in the Colombian jungle is fighting to turn a toxic industry into a green one.
Region
South America
August 22, 2011 | Pulitzer Center
A Small-Scale Gold Rush in Madre de Dios
Small-scale gold miners have poured into the Madre de Dios region of Peru. The local governor has declared a state of emergency and vowed to take all means necessary to stop illegal mining in the area.
August 17, 2011 | Pulitzer Center
A Cursed Land: Peru's Rainforest
Peru's rainforests have been a hot spot for resource extraction even before rubber baron Carlos Fitzcarald first arrived in the Madre de Dios region.
August 15, 2011 | Pulitzer Center
A Cartonero's Choice: Independent vs. Cooperative
Argentina is in the midst of election season and cartonero cooperatives are trying to join forces to seek recognition from politicians.
August 15, 2011 | Pulitzer Center
Digging for Gold in the Peruvian Rainforest
As many as 20,000 people are involved in illegal gold mining in the Madre de Dios region of Peru, which has resulted in the destruction of soil and forests as well as the release of toxic mercury.
August 05, 2011 | Pulitzer Center
A Day in the Life of a Cartonero
Argentina's cartoneros, like Marissa Aguilera, work long hours and earn small profits. Still, with the help of well-organized worker cooperatives, many manage to provide food for their family.
August 05, 2011 | Pulitzer Center
A Cartonero's Daily Route
After the financial crisis in 2001, many Argentinians who lost their jobs turned to trash picking to earn a living. These are images from their daily work.
August 01, 2011 | Pulitzer Center
The Cooperative
The cartoneros in Buenos Aires are assembling to find ways to gain legitimate recognition from their government.
August 01, 2011 | Pulitzer Center
President Humala's Agenda
Recently inaugurated President Humala will have to confront Peru's mining and extraction industries, which have caused years of controversy between the government and the indigenous people.
July 21, 2011 | Pulitzer Center
Industrial Mining Threatens to Displace Local Miners in La Toma
Carlino Ararat and other locals fear losing their mining rights and source of livelihood as the Colombian government gives mining exploration titles to large foreign and national mining companies.
July 13, 2011 | Pulitzer Center
Guardia Indigena Vs. Illegal Miners
Guardia Indigena, a pacifist force, protects land populated by the Nasa from armed groups and illegal miners. In March 2011, they successfully headed off bulldozers in Las Canoas reserve.
June 20, 2011 | Jyllands-Posten
Floresmiro was the Only Survivor
Colombian coal miners are digging harder and deeper than ever before to bring supply energy to the world, but it is not without personal costs.