Inside Sri Lanka’s Deadly Underground Mines Filled With Rare Jewels | Risky Business | Insider

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 มี.ค. 2023
  • Almost every gemstone in the world can be found in deep underground pits in Sri Lanka, a country renowned for its colored sapphires. But mining is dangerous for workers and harmful to the environment.
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    Inside Sri Lanka’s Deadly Underground Mines Filled With Rare Jewels | Risky Business | Insider

ความคิดเห็น • 1.5K

  • @jeffery9781
    @jeffery9781 ปีที่แล้ว +698

    Thanks for such an excellent documentary. I am Sri Lankan, Sri Lankan Media channel never did this level of documentary before about this industry.
    Media channels are just licking politicians' shoes and showing their Nonsense to citizens.
    Hats off to Business Insider for the fantastic documentary. 👏❣

  • @arieerkkila
    @arieerkkila ปีที่แล้ว +164

    Pure exploitation, sad to see. You could hear the frustration as the miner talked about the gem dealer who lives in a multistory house while many miners don’t have a house at all.

    • @toniventura2985
      @toniventura2985 27 วันที่ผ่านมา

      ​@@TheDogGoesWoof69 I work in this industry and at face value it would seem like that but in reality there are also very few local middlemen that have a lot wealth ... the biggest problem in gem trading is the locations.
      The europeans would love to create factories to improve the workers working habitat but it is nearly impossible to get the resources there to do so.
      There is also regional controllers and ambassadors and thrifty license procedures that spike up the cost ( more than the stone itself ) to export the stone.
      Security is a must , even if youre carrying nothing but a mobile phone. Anytime you can be abducted for ransom. Generally you need to bribe the local policemen to drive you down, but unless you add the peace keeping elders inside the van , your risk( with security or police ) is still very high.
      If youre lucky to not be killed by bush gangs and make it back to your workshop, you need to spend 4 weeks polishing it by hand because there is no electricity. Then you need to go on the open market, deal with cutoms officials & bank accounts.
      At the end, if it arrives in the west, the stone is most of the time moved around from hand to hand and everybody makes a little off each time it is handed over.
      ONLY renowned jewelry houses and a few odd people make a lot of money from jewels ( which is also in decline due to the latest negative social perspective towards wealth ).
      ALSO - Keep in mind that the chances to find worthy stones ( jewelry grade diamonds for example) is a rarity. Miners might spend years digging without success.
      This business goes hand in hand and its wrong to assume that millions are made , as simple for example , as stock markets or new innovations.
      Work of passion generally never makes millions.

    • @RohitMReddy
      @RohitMReddy 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      They need to get paid a lot more.

    • @shekinass
      @shekinass 7 วันที่ผ่านมา

      There's a special place in hell for him if he doesn't change his ways.

  • @willieyoung4818
    @willieyoung4818 ปีที่แล้ว +46

    It is nice to see the locals speaking up for a safer mining industry.. Hard to see AND hear about the tough and unfair practices.. May God Bless Them All.....

  • @ryanforth-martin1907
    @ryanforth-martin1907 ปีที่แล้ว +846

    No one should have to work in these sorts of conditions. My heart goes out to these people ❤️

    • @shadow_rune6178
      @shadow_rune6178 ปีที่แล้ว +67

      Your words mean nothing

    • @SSchithFoo
      @SSchithFoo ปีที่แล้ว +23

      It's not that bad lol.

    • @NeverComplyEver
      @NeverComplyEver ปีที่แล้ว +17

      But you will go out and buy the jewelry

    • @user-bi8ko7kc6h
      @user-bi8ko7kc6h ปีที่แล้ว +14

      They chose to do it. No one forced them to be there.

    • @stevemill8959
      @stevemill8959 ปีที่แล้ว

      They don’t have a choice prick.

  • @ThePerfectCurry
    @ThePerfectCurry ปีที่แล้ว +273

    Thank you for making this short doc. Helping to unveil the Lives of these rural Sri Lankans who are living in extreme poverty , but work in the multimillion dollar industry. I hope someone will make a shot about tea plantation workers too.

    • @TheMadhurajayaweera
      @TheMadhurajayaweera ปีที่แล้ว +9

      Bureaucracy and corruption at every level is to be blamed.

    • @kermit8173
      @kermit8173 ปีที่แล้ว

      I can make better curry than that in my sleep. Go home and be a family man.

    • @Pajtim2023
      @Pajtim2023 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

      Mutli billion dollar industry not millions

    • @colonela7815
      @colonela7815 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      This is capitalism' fault plain and simple

    • @CitizenSnips69
      @CitizenSnips69 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      They claim to care soo much about slavery that happened in the PAST, but are so quick to aid companies in exploiting foreign workers TODAY. These people are living in conditions worse than many slaves, yet nobody talks about it? Just goes to show who is really in control… big businesses with 0 ethical concerns. The amount of profit they make of this deadly industry is disgusting, yet they sleep sound at night knowing they’re exploiting thousands. How do people like that exist and operate freely in our country without consequence? We need to hold them accountable, and demand change from the politicians they literally bribe.

  • @SABER_Knight-King
    @SABER_Knight-King ปีที่แล้ว +413

    It's unbelievable what kind of work some people do for a living, I admit that I could never do this kind of work myself & I know that that's the case for 99.9% of people out there so those few who do it deserve respect & *higher* salaries... I mean when you are doing such a dangerous job where you can lose your life at any time you need to be compensated adequate, right?

    • @pasans8858
      @pasans8858 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      true even as a Sri Lankan first time I'm seeing this ,only heard about this. Bless them to be safe while doing such a dangerous job.

    • @Sangeetha2708
      @Sangeetha2708 ปีที่แล้ว

      I agree 💯

    • @clairechloe5294
      @clairechloe5294 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Yes, that is right. We live in such an unfair and cruel world. May their karma keep them safe!.

    • @thebellcurve3437
      @thebellcurve3437 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      And who is going to decide what a "fair" salary for those miners is? You? Or some other group of people shouting and protesting about the "exploitation" of miners? No, the best judge of adequate salary is the free market. These miners are being paid exactly what they are worth. Your worth on the job market depends on how easy you are to replace. If these miners had important rare skills, they could protest and strike and walk off the job until they got a raise, but they don't because if they protest or walk off the job, they will be replaced quickly. And if they are so easily replaced, then their labor is not that valuable, meaning they are paid exactly what they are worth.

    • @a_kholdun
      @a_kholdun ปีที่แล้ว +24

      @@thebellcurve3437 Aah yes, a fair and effective system of free market. No corruption, no inequality, no structural poverty, no discrimination againts less-educated. Just a fair and square system of free market.

  • @minacadalso
    @minacadalso ปีที่แล้ว +519

    This is very illuminating as someone who just opened a crystal shop. I do try my best to make sure I don’t support bad practices with what I buy for my store, but this makes it clear that the issues run deep. I hope these miners and the country in general sees a better future!

    • @ram-cstatus8500
      @ram-cstatus8500 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hello were you from

    • @minacadalso
      @minacadalso ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@ram-cstatus8500 Toronto, canada

    • @ram-cstatus8500
      @ram-cstatus8500 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@minacadalso 🤩🤩wow i am from sri lanka do you know sri lanka

    • @hindhaamhaleem6530
      @hindhaamhaleem6530 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Okay 6th April 20th 2nd of all its free is the 8

    • @_North
      @_North ปีที่แล้ว +8

      ​@@minacadalso I'm from Canada too. My parents are from Sri Lanka.

  • @godzillamothra5983
    @godzillamothra5983 ปีที่แล้ว +133

    it is heartbreaking to see them risk life for next to nothing while the jewelry shops around the world make the most out of it.

    • @jackieboy1593
      @jackieboy1593 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      They could leave at any point, and get out of the industry. That would help drive up the cost of labor, but too many work the mines.

    • @HawkinaBox
      @HawkinaBox ปีที่แล้ว +34

      @@jackieboy1593 They can't get out of the industry when their survival depends on it. They might not have another job opportunity.

    • @TS-1267
      @TS-1267 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      ... AND THE CUSTOMER... NO CUSTOMER.. NO NEED... 🤔

    • @marcusmiro7481
      @marcusmiro7481 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      @@HawkinaBox Exactly - these people are quite literally slaves. Capitalism enables legal slavery. If these people had other options, this job would pay SIGNIFICANTLY more than it does.

    • @WillyWillard-ls7sy
      @WillyWillard-ls7sy วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@marcusmiro7481 what does this have to do with capitalism?

  • @dons618
    @dons618 ปีที่แล้ว +266

    When the miner mentioned about the middlemen living in luxury,it truly affected me

    • @rafaelperalta1676
      @rafaelperalta1676 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      It hurt me in a way most likely the same as you.

    • @victoryoneable
      @victoryoneable ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Everyone hates the middleman and thinks they're cheating them. In reality, middlemen exist because there is a disconnect between the original seller and the ultimate buyer which can only be changed by altering the way you do business. Often it is the buyer who refuses to deal with the seller for cultural reasons, or the seller is not making his product attractive to the buyer. If you want to cut out the middleman, look at what is causing these barriers to exist.
      Some commenters are saying they will buy the stones directly. In some cases you can do that, but you run the risk of buying synthetics, even from miners at the mine site itself.
      Edit: People replying to my comment need to do some research on what middleman gem traders actually do, the risks they take and the knowledge and capital they need to have before they have a chance at being successful at this trade.

    • @apair4002
      @apair4002 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      @@victoryoneable And why the middle man become millionaire and the miners poor af? Because middle buy it from miners very cheap af.

    • @HHH-dn5kt
      @HHH-dn5kt ปีที่แล้ว +8

      ​@@victoryoneable broker spotted on comment section

    • @dinglehops491
      @dinglehops491 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@apair4002 middlemen resell the gem. It's not our fault they sell at such a low price, that then someone can turn around and be millionaires. They don't own the mine, they work it. In what world does an employee make the most?
      Use ya head.

  • @Shteven
    @Shteven ปีที่แล้ว +27

    I bought a rough blue tanzanite from sir lanka, the thing is about the size of a AAA battery and was only like $7 (might have been like $12 but still) as well as small peices of opal that are truly mesmerizing. These miners deserve better for their hard work, these stones are beautiful and many are willing to pay good money for them, the ones bringing them to fruition should get a fair share of the profits. But alas, that's in a fair world, and we live in anything but

    • @user-bi8ko7kc6h
      @user-bi8ko7kc6h ปีที่แล้ว +5

      How? Tanzanite only come from Tanzania not Sir Lanka. And there are lots of Sir Lanka people scamming tourists. Even for professional gemstone dealers often got scammed, what they get from the market isn’t what they were told.

  • @paulandrews__
    @paulandrews__ ปีที่แล้ว +17

    Can we talk about the elephant in the room that is the gem buyers paying next to nothing to the miners who risk their lives every day? That’s disgusting.

  • @xinghuali2842
    @xinghuali2842 ปีที่แล้ว +342

    My grandfather used to be a gem dealer and he frequently travel to Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India, Africa and Brazil these are countless I remember. Gems/jewelry are given as a gift instead of cash. But either mines were closed or gem quality stones are becoming rare and decided to just focus on jewelry making and repair. I’m just glad to see how gems are mine.

    • @paulphoenix8673
      @paulphoenix8673 ปีที่แล้ว

      of course. you damn chinese scumbags also smuggle gems not just illegal drugs.

    • @xinghuali2842
      @xinghuali2842 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@paulphoenix8673 of course, it’s always the Chinese’s fault ( and stupid people like you thinks all asians are Chinese) everything they do are scam and illegal that’s why they’re millionaires and you? Educate yourself and stop feeding your head with your stupid stereotypes it won’t make you rich like these Chinese lol.

    • @abdullahbasith7665
      @abdullahbasith7665 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I am gem business man in Sri Lanka

    • @MeowCockadoodledoo
      @MeowCockadoodledoo ปีที่แล้ว +11

      ​@@TH-camTookMyNickname.WhyNot He meant "how gems are mined" as in "how those gems are taken out from the mine"

    • @madeinnagaland5275
      @madeinnagaland5275 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@TH-camTookMyNickname.WhyNot I believe it's all his, any questions?

  • @Grippybananas
    @Grippybananas ปีที่แล้ว +34

    Brave of the insider crew to head down as well

    • @dawnwish7958
      @dawnwish7958 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yep for sure. I personally wouldn’t had the courage to go to a place like that, no matter the rewards I get back

    • @fidelcatsro6948
      @fidelcatsro6948 ปีที่แล้ว

      probably trained and paid a miner 3 months equivalent salary for a 2hour shot with them filming themselves in the mines 🐱👍🏿

  • @lewiskinser8320
    @lewiskinser8320 ปีที่แล้ว +46

    I’m drawn to this poor man and his family. I’d like to come meet them

    • @sameerafonseka1590
      @sameerafonseka1590 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      appreciated. You can come to Sri Lanka and meet them.

    • @fidelcatsro6948
      @fidelcatsro6948 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      come to ratnapur and ask to meet the laborers bring some chicken burgers and coke

    • @kandyrock1982
      @kandyrock1982 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      We will help you to find that person

    • @muazfahim6120
      @muazfahim6120 ปีที่แล้ว

      Visit SL

    • @sameerarathnayaka3701
      @sameerarathnayaka3701 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Im cameraman this documentary.I can help you.

  • @miroslavzima8856
    @miroslavzima8856 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    I feel anxiety. To drown in darkness or suffocate in tunnel collapse - those are my biggest fears in one place.

  • @dannyfubar3099
    @dannyfubar3099 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    Its an amazing adventure to witness these hard working people so many miles away. Thank you for sharing.

  • @Hasitha_Chandrasekara
    @Hasitha_Chandrasekara ปีที่แล้ว +29

    Salary should be 1200LKR per day and not week as mentioned in the video.

    • @fidelcatsro6948
      @fidelcatsro6948 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      so its about 100usd per month i see

    • @damianxavier7343
      @damianxavier7343 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Yea I was wondering as well as to how some one could live on 4800 rupees a month. 1200 a day makes much more sense.

    • @Hasitha_Chandrasekara
      @Hasitha_Chandrasekara ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @@damianxavier7343 typically it should be around 2000 - 2500 LKR per day for labor. I feel like these miners may have some profit sharing arrangement with the owners for daily wage to be so low.

    • @Hasitha_Chandrasekara
      @Hasitha_Chandrasekara ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@fidelcatsro6948 typically around $ 120 - 150 per month.

    • @dallas_pandora4206
      @dallas_pandora4206 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Hasitha_Chandrasekara you can't expect good wages in a third-world country, my guy.

  • @chamilajla
    @chamilajla ปีที่แล้ว +52

    The saddest truth. We are living in a land of gems, but that's our harsh lives. Thank you for this video. It shows the truth. Watching this video make me emotional

    • @nutzhazel
      @nutzhazel ปีที่แล้ว

      Just boycott the mining industry until you get better pay

    • @chamilajla
      @chamilajla ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@nutzhazel that's their only income. The mine owner will hire new people.

    • @cutetiny6144
      @cutetiny6144 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@chamilajla Should impose government policies for a minimum wage for a gem stone miner

    • @sameerarathnayaka3701
      @sameerarathnayaka3701 ปีที่แล้ว

      Im cameraman this documentary.

    • @Mihidu1
      @Mihidu1 ปีที่แล้ว

      ​​@@cutetiny6144 they care nothing for them .

  • @kelvincostner7775
    @kelvincostner7775 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Sri Lanka is richer than other country if they sell this gem right 👍👍

  • @Savetheforest
    @Savetheforest ปีที่แล้ว +156

    I’m from Ratnapura and I’m proud of my city... this documentary was very interesting and I appreciate who done it.. best wishes..❤

    • @Cody_Handsome
      @Cody_Handsome ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Why are you proud of your city?

    • @docjackal8511
      @docjackal8511 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      @@Cody_Handsome maybe because of practicing slavery to this day..

    • @mayankjain8147
      @mayankjain8147 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      it is not natural to find blue saphires, ruby and emerald together, os this place Ravanas buried treasure chamber and you belive that ravan existed and is he a part of your culture, asking this because here in India everyone says it is just a story written by someone which pisses me off.

    • @sharfanshezard1595
      @sharfanshezard1595 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      ​@@Cody_Handsome for fool like you

    • @thavamt1776
      @thavamt1776 ปีที่แล้ว +21

      ​​@@Cody_Handsome what's wrong in being proud? Not every city is filled with rare jewels

  • @Tetratravelssrilanka
    @Tetratravelssrilanka ปีที่แล้ว +22

    Really wonderful documentary about the Gem industry of Sri Lanka 🇱🇰 .Thank you for showing the real conditions of the mines and the industry.

  • @Liquidator101
    @Liquidator101 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    A full documentary about this would be epic.

  • @HelenahSian-hl5ue
    @HelenahSian-hl5ue ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Real Men here it takes a heart to go down for this❤🇰🇪

  • @sumuduasiri
    @sumuduasiri ปีที่แล้ว +8

    I also got this experience when i was 20 years old. Now I'm 32 . So that was very hard and nice experience for my life. Frankly speaking i was very lucky to find jems. So i earned lots of money those days.

  • @Shanarai
    @Shanarai ปีที่แล้ว +36

    This video hurts during the profit part for me. The miners are being exploited pretty much with their lives being constantly put on the line and they earn so little compared to the traders. There are many cruel jobs like this around the world.

    • @thebellcurve3437
      @thebellcurve3437 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      They agreed to work for the salary they are being paid so where is the exploitation? Do you even know what that word means? Consenting adults conducting business is not "exploitation", it's just people doing business. Stop calling any difficult job "exploitation" because it isn't.

    • @mirani2571
      @mirani2571 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      @@thebellcurve3437 you didn't get the OP's point here, what he meant by exploitation of those workers is in terms of being paid less when those gems actually cost more. The market where they are selling them is a big mafia in its own. The buyers buy for a lower price and then sell them at higher prices to the customers later. they do this to make more profit and it is the exploitation of the laborer's hard work because they've been doing this for years and they are being paid less meanwhile the middle men are a living luxurious life with the profit they made by exploiting. This happens everywhere around the world in trade markets and it still goes on like this. what they need to do to solve this issue is to make the miners sell their gems directly to the customers instead of these middle men but in order to do that the miners need to have more connections with clients/companies which they don't have.

    • @MnemonicHack
      @MnemonicHack ปีที่แล้ว +3

      It's because there's so many people who need to do it. If one group refuses and demands higher pay, there are so many more who would gladly take their place for the low pay. You don't tackle this problem by targeting the industry, you tackle it by making labor more valuable in general, which will drive people away from the mining business, which will by necessity raise the pay in the mining business.
      The issue is population. Too many people = labor is cheap

    • @911axe
      @911axe ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Same as most industry around the world. The workers doing the most makes the least and the worker doing the least makes the most.

    • @user-bi8ko7kc6h
      @user-bi8ko7kc6h ปีที่แล้ว

      Basically apply to everything we’re using but no one cares.

  • @jmcc5168
    @jmcc5168 ปีที่แล้ว +19

    The miners when find a gem , need to be rewarded financially better , plenty of money in the sell for this . Just greed prevents this .

    • @pamelagearhart9251
      @pamelagearhart9251 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      These miners need to get some kind of way to get on the internet and sell these gems to people around the world who will pay what they are worth and cut out these local middle men! Get on eBay or whatever! Then they will have the big 🏘...seriously. Elon Musk needs to send free starling to these people😮

    • @YoyoBear12
      @YoyoBear12 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@pamelagearhart9251 yes!! If the miners go on etsy and sell them through there i think they would make a good profit

  • @MP-vc4nu
    @MP-vc4nu ปีที่แล้ว +6

    8:46
    Experts : “Miners remove native vegetation”
    Video : shows only an living room area that has removed vegetation
    Me : “confusion compare to what I saw in western modern mines”

  • @LaplacianFourier
    @LaplacianFourier ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Insider is such a cool channel bringing us these gray stories!

  • @johngore3364
    @johngore3364 ปีที่แล้ว +29

    The people responsible for digging these gems live in stick and stone houses, covered with leafs. The executives of these companies selling the gems live in luxury houses. That's just insane but that's how it works. Unfortunately

    • @caesargold3695
      @caesargold3695 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Happens in most parts of the world.. the most miserable, back breaking and effort consuming jobs will yield infinitely less than paperwork. And they say feudalism is dead.

    • @janececelia7448
      @janececelia7448 ปีที่แล้ว

      Have you read through some of the comments from people with Indian/ Sri Lankin sounding names; mind blowing and infuriating! That's part of the problem right there. Though it's illegal the caste system still prevails.

  • @michaelrose93
    @michaelrose93 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Fun fact: Ruby's and sapphires are the _same mineral,_ corundum.
    Red corundum is known as ruby, every other color of corundum is known as sapphire.

  • @RajdeepNaskar007
    @RajdeepNaskar007 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    I am form india (westbengal ) ...
    I cannot stop writing because my hands are just shaking to write ....
    I have a suggestion if any one have the buisness idea among every team one should go for the online site make thier own buisness perspective way .... This slavery and hardwork not go to vain .... Make yourself to be happy by making your own empire ...
    The people outside of srilanka and very ready to accept and needed the original gems so try online buisness just once ... You will surely don't. Regret after doing this

  • @barneylinet6602
    @barneylinet6602 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    I take my hat off to these brave men; i could never face this kind of life. And i sincerely pray that God will shower them with beautiful crystals for their efforts. Good luck!!!!!!!

  • @SharpnessSword
    @SharpnessSword ปีที่แล้ว +9

    I love how well these are made

  • @ChamaraIresh
    @ChamaraIresh ปีที่แล้ว +12

    The sad truth is that the multimillion-dollar jewelry industry gives very little to the real hardworking people, but only the owners always win. People wear jewelry with pride, but it's very difficult to create it. It's an injustice to the real heroes.

  • @VwithNature
    @VwithNature ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Tears ,sweat and hardwork behind the every single gems 😒

  • @visukasaman6052
    @visukasaman6052 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    I’m from Ratnapura and I’m proud of my city❤❤

  • @phaywin7417
    @phaywin7417 ปีที่แล้ว +22

    It's a really hard work in under ground of a mine. I had about 10 years experience working at the rubby mines in Moegok,
    Myanmar.

  • @VN88ph
    @VN88ph ปีที่แล้ว +18

    May they always be guided and protected 🙏🏻😇

    • @Rod-bp8ow
      @Rod-bp8ow ปีที่แล้ว

      zoo kp
      In KT ko
      K
      M
      Make nations reconciled
      O
      It I
      it k

    • @Rod-bp8ow
      @Rod-bp8ow ปีที่แล้ว

      KT Jt o
      One dozen oaklo
      ooi
      i
      L
      On
      All
      I
      It'so

    • @Rod-bp8ow
      @Rod-bp8ow ปีที่แล้ว

      Tip Tuck k
      lll

  • @mashperera6254
    @mashperera6254 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    I wish him that he'll find more jems often so he can educate his children and happy and relaxed life in his years to come ❤️💙💜

  • @IndianCrystals
    @IndianCrystals ปีที่แล้ว +14

    Very nice documentary. Being a Crystal Collector in India, I totally understand how difficult it is to be underground for such a long time & doing tedious tasks there. Sadly, the miners doesn't earn the real value of the gemstone. Thank you for this video. Love from India 😍

    • @luisbacca5645
      @luisbacca5645 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Are you interested in purchasing rough 💎

    • @audreyh6628
      @audreyh6628 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Since you know I hope you offer them a fair price when you buy your stones - so many do know and still don't offer a fair price to workers

  • @kasturipillay6626
    @kasturipillay6626 ปีที่แล้ว +47

    Thank you guys ,its not easy doing this kind of job. God bless you for bringing these precious stones above ground, for the world to enjoy. ♥️🌹🙏👍

    • @nutzhazel
      @nutzhazel ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Just boycott the mining industry until you get better pay

    • @janececelia7448
      @janececelia7448 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      What a cop out! These people need help not your disingenuous comment. Obviously, you are bereft of empathy for the plight of these people.

    • @AA-eq2zq
      @AA-eq2zq ปีที่แล้ว

      Pretty rocks certainly aren't worth death and suffering. No one should work this job. It shouldn't be blessed.

    • @akj3344
      @akj3344 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@janececelia7448 exactly.

    • @belleepoque2544
      @belleepoque2544 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@nutzhazel If we boycott, they get lower wages. Use your brain!

  • @goldnugget1987
    @goldnugget1987 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    The work is extraordinary, friends... Greetings, gold prospectors from Indonesia🙏🏼👍👌✌️💖🇮🇩

  • @RIZWANAHAMED2001
    @RIZWANAHAMED2001 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Great documentary. Keep up your work.

  • @freecommentor
    @freecommentor ปีที่แล้ว +5

    There are many urban legends about mine workers who smuggled gems out (often by swallowing) and got rich beyond imagination just by selling a single stone. 💎

    • @johndowe7003
      @johndowe7003 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Why swallow when you can use your prison pocket

  • @Mischiefcity2013
    @Mischiefcity2013 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    These guys are busting their asses, so we in developed nations can enjoy a high quality of life. God bless them, and I wish that companies will make their supply chains more transparent in the future, so that consumers can decide what practices they want to support.

  • @alli6791
    @alli6791 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    It makes me sick that the people that take the most risk (their lives), get the least reward.

  • @NnaemekaAmamasi
    @NnaemekaAmamasi ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I live in Africa and I used to think we had it bad till I saw this video. The Srilankans take the whole suffering thing to another level.

  • @navaragems99
    @navaragems99 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Big Salute for real heroes behind every gemstone... 🙏🙏🙏

  • @venomdealer790
    @venomdealer790 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    Scary conditions to work. Yet the miners are deceived by the merchants for peanuts.

    • @superfluous5162
      @superfluous5162 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Side effect of socialism , they need company .

    • @Niko-vh8pj
      @Niko-vh8pj ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@superfluous5162 it is not related to socialism or capitalism, rather it is related to the human nature, evilness. A sidenote, socialism has alredy lost as a system.

    • @fidelcatsro6948
      @fidelcatsro6948 ปีที่แล้ว

      not unless they swallow them out of the mine

    • @Niko-vh8pj
      @Niko-vh8pj ปีที่แล้ว

      @@fidelcatsro6948 :) actually communism is not related to worker rights or something like that. You simply make all citizens gov workers, but the system becomes bulky and cannot produce efficiency, and collapses.

  • @kumarj4693
    @kumarj4693 ปีที่แล้ว +72

    I’ve been involved in small scale mining for nearly 2 decades now. Those bags they carry out of the mine shafts are not weighing 40 lbs, but at least 45 kgs or more, because anything less would equate to loss of valuable time and effort, as miners work in 8 hour shifts and have to clear all their harvest before the next shift comes in. It takes a lot of resolve and grit to be a small scale miner working in make shift mines that dot Asia and Africa. Whenever I see a worker in the mountains, be it for logging or mining, I have to admire them for their inner strength and resolve, if nothing else. Staying and working in the mountains is not for the faint of heart and mind. City bois wouldn’t last 3 days where I usually operate.

    • @imchris5000
      @imchris5000 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      its a bag of gravel not lead

    • @freecommentor
      @freecommentor ปีที่แล้ว

      Are you a Sri Lankan?

    • @Pantelijator
      @Pantelijator ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @@imchris5000 half of a bag of gravel can weigh about 35- 45 kg especially wet one

    • @imchris5000
      @imchris5000 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Pantelijator I have a stack of gravel in bags bigger than those little sacks they only weigh 50lbs each

    • @kumarj4693
      @kumarj4693 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      @@imchris5000 ever mined anything in your life dude? A bag of 2% copper ore in the same volume as gravel is 3 times the weight

  • @ronjeffery12345
    @ronjeffery12345 ปีที่แล้ว

    Videos like this really puts things into perspective… normal everyday life in the city is something they’ll probably never get …. Gotta b more grateful for sure🤝✅

  • @anujadilshan5868
    @anujadilshan5868 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    ලන්කාවෙ කෙනෙක් ගෙ comment එකක් නේද හොයන්නෙ 😂😂

    • @chanudsandil9258
      @chanudsandil9258 ปีที่แล้ว

      Onatharam thiyei bn commnet

    • @anujadilshan5868
      @anujadilshan5868 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@chanudsandil9258 naa naa bn sinhalen type karapu ekak

  • @deegeeyvon
    @deegeeyvon ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Here in Philippines we called that "Patola" it's very delicious veggies and very common to be ingredient of Pansit bihon. Sometimes we can used it too to be rubbing for bath.😁

  • @yourseat859
    @yourseat859 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Respect from Sri Lanka 🧡

  • @gmen3066
    @gmen3066 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Watching this video and videos like it I realize my problems are nothing compared to what these people go through.

  • @kitabGo
    @kitabGo ปีที่แล้ว +14

    It's such heart breaking to see people working in these conditions. I have 2 to 5 caret Ceylon sapphires in My fingers and Now I know that their is great betrayal to the mining workers involved between the mines and our fingers

  • @Hexagonius-js8tl
    @Hexagonius-js8tl ปีที่แล้ว +7

    I’ve been to a Sri Lankan moonstone mine before

  • @konara261
    @konara261 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Thank You Very Much For This Valuable ❤ Documentary. Highly Respect You ❤

  • @Bandara91
    @Bandara91 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    To be honest this is the most ethical way of mining which keeps environmental pollution to the minimum otherwise using machinery will lead to a mass destruction of environment.

  • @khmerghost
    @khmerghost ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I am so happy at my job after seeing how hard they are trying to make a living.

  • @marcusmiro7481
    @marcusmiro7481 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    The stress on Piyaseeli's face at 12:13 is heartbreaking. It's so disgusting that someone makes so, so, so, so, so much off of their labor, and this woman and her husband have to make choices between food, medicine, and other necessities. Subhuman trash runs the world. These people deserve comfort and security. MILLIONS OF DOLLARS for some stupid rock and these people have never known what it's like to go to bed without being terrified of the future. And the cruelest part of all this is that if they could sell a single one of those useless rocks themselves, they would never need to work again. Our world is so sick and broken.

  • @PhyNarith_OfficialTrip
    @PhyNarith_OfficialTrip ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I am really love this kind of video, thanks for your sharing

  • @kellyb.mcdonald1863
    @kellyb.mcdonald1863 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I very much loved this!!! and this was both, a bit sweet and sour news.

  • @sankanalinnalin2425
    @sankanalinnalin2425 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    I had a mining at Rathnapura.When every Jem is sold, a portion goes to the all workers,
    Example,
    land owner 20%,
    license owner 10% ,
    The bearer of the expenses of the mine 30% or 40%
    all workers 30%
    If they get a gem with a very high value, they will become rich overnight, That is why they continue to do this job..

    • @fidelcatsro6948
      @fidelcatsro6948 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Wow looks like the miners didnt tell us entirely about the icing behind the cake left on the cats fur!!

    • @cutetiny6144
      @cutetiny6144 ปีที่แล้ว

    • @aboroginal
      @aboroginal ปีที่แล้ว

      💯 correct

    • @aboroginal
      @aboroginal ปีที่แล้ว

      & they didn’t mention about how much they steal from and sold it to middle men as well.. and these middle men have corrupted the miners so they can buy for cheap.

    • @pamelagearhart9251
      @pamelagearhart9251 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Ummm...what expenses of the mine?? It's a hole with terrible conditions and the workers have to go out in jungle to get stuff to make it a mine...so what expenses...shovels? Please don't be so insulting to these workers they are the ones doing risking everything!

  • @michaelcharlesthearchangel
    @michaelcharlesthearchangel ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I love these gem 💎 lovers. We all live off of God's stones if you sell or mine precious crystals.

    • @janececelia7448
      @janececelia7448 ปีที่แล้ว

      Sounds like you kind of missed the point of the video.

    • @AA-eq2zq
      @AA-eq2zq ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Pretty rocks certainly aren't worth death and suffering. No one should work this job.
      If you have money, give it to workers - help them out of their suffering - instead of enabling and enriching their employers so you can have a pretty rock.

  • @kevbe144
    @kevbe144 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    9:55 imagine finding that stone and not knowing its worth $300mil lol, i hope that guy got a raise

  • @nightshadetm1971
    @nightshadetm1971 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    It's 2 am here and this are the type of interesting videos that usually pop up when am about to sleep😩...now let me finish it.

  • @Ellen5904
    @Ellen5904 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    May God bless them all ! ❤❤

  • @DeltaXMusic
    @DeltaXMusic 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +13

    i want to go to sri lanka, buy some gems directly from miners, and donate to each of the families. its amazing how such a small amount of money could literally be life changing for these individuals

    • @ericwtfsky
      @ericwtfsky 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      it just said they pay $3 for milk lol thats the same price we pay. theyre just MAKING small amounts of money, if we give them a small amount it wouldn't do anything.

    • @Customer-th6rt
      @Customer-th6rt 22 วันที่ผ่านมา

      It looks like you failed

  • @Iknowknow112
    @Iknowknow112 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Always fascinates me how different often very complex techniques came about, some are easy to guess but others are not so easy to figure out. For instance the many steps needed to make papyrus and later Chinese paper.

  • @trainwellracewell
    @trainwellracewell 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I wish these guys would be rewarded with a few of those precious gems to sell themselves

  • @SHERGENIUS8
    @SHERGENIUS8 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Beautiful people

  • @claytonevans5721
    @claytonevans5721 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    The miners should start their own collective to get fair prices for their gems and have the UN supplement payments to mines who refill in old mines etc

  • @victorguerin5252
    @victorguerin5252 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Your voice is amazing. And video was great.

  • @user-zi3fk9mg6s
    @user-zi3fk9mg6s ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thank you for Visiting Sri Lanka 😊

  • @mac23806
    @mac23806 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    It's terrible these guys risk their lived for gemstones that go for so much money but never get to see the fruits of their labor

  • @AkPK369
    @AkPK369 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Kerala native 🇱🇰 I want go there

  • @user-fayz-al-Saraj
    @user-fayz-al-Saraj ปีที่แล้ว

    شكرا لهذا التقرير الجميل بصراحه تعرفت عن جزيرة راتنابورا التي لم ولن اعرفها لولا بفضل هذا الفيديو دمتم بكل خير

  • @thesaints-7-andrew.
    @thesaints-7-andrew. ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Watching from Greece.hi everybody.
    Very interesting video.

  • @sampathweerasinghe4350
    @sampathweerasinghe4350 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    I'm from sri lanka 🇱🇰.i love my country.our country is very beautiful country.there are a lot of resources here.but our country is exploited by our politicians.😢😢😢

    • @audreyh6628
      @audreyh6628 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      There are many men exploiting these miners, not just politicians. The gem sellers and jewellers should be so ashamed of themselves.

  • @sinduar
    @sinduar ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Thank you for sharing this video and promoting our country ❤

    • @janececelia7448
      @janececelia7448 ปีที่แล้ว

      Idiot. They were NOT promoting your country. Your asinine comment could not be further from the truth. OMG! This video was denigrating your country and rightfully so. Watch the video again.

  • @rizukie
    @rizukie 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    it's ironic for people that getting valuable gems but still working risking their live

  • @yilmarchaverramoreno1811
    @yilmarchaverramoreno1811 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    And I'd be complaining at my job, as a consequence, of my unawareness that most people in the world lack the most basic things: which are proper working conditions...

  • @jixer1495
    @jixer1495 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    This is the story of every corporation pretty much. The guys at the top make millions and the guys doing all the labor are barely making ends meet.

  • @williamadamsjap
    @williamadamsjap ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Land of gems and pearls!

  • @inspiringlifeguidance
    @inspiringlifeguidance 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    God bless srilanka from india❤

  • @cernunnos_lives
    @cernunnos_lives ปีที่แล้ว

    Amazing to see ancient river deposits these brave guys have unearthed.

  • @ravindu-
    @ravindu- ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I was born in Rathnapura ”The Gem City” even my garden can mine for gems.

  • @menalikavindya
    @menalikavindya ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Even being a srilankan ,I'be never seen such a detailed video about jem mining

  • @indxieanxiety-music2894
    @indxieanxiety-music2894 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    The refreshment they must feel when they step out into the surface though

  • @pzykael6916
    @pzykael6916 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Miners where I'm from used to make next to nothing. Now fast forward a hundred years later, working conditions are much better, they are paid very well in fact they can't get enough workers and guess what the mining companies still make $$. Pay your people better treat them better or it will come back to haunt you or your offspring. I could see one day people just smuggling gems out and the middlemen will be out of work.

    • @pzykael6916
      @pzykael6916 ปีที่แล้ว

      I said a hundred years but really my grandfather worked underground before and after WW2 and they were payed poorly and working conditions still hadn't improved. Things didn't change for some time. Considering people make at least 60-70000 USD a year mining in my area(and working only 6 months of the year, 2 weeks on 2 off) paying people 3$ a day is disgraceful, especially when you can afford to pay your people more and are living lavishly.

  • @doxielain2231
    @doxielain2231 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    This species does really strange things for shiny rocks.

  • @asankajayaweera7212
    @asankajayaweera7212 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Gem industry has made a disastrous ecological issues in Rathnapura area. That city is always flooded even a small rain falls down.

  • @kaiohshin2322
    @kaiohshin2322 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Europeans worked mines like this. Then they adapted, shaped the modern world, made things safer, easier, healthier.
    Why cant these people?!

  • @MischeifMakerz
    @MischeifMakerz ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Great documentary

  • @lakshidissanayake2017
    @lakshidissanayake2017 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    I'm from Rathnapura, The life of the miner is sad. Gem businessmen of Ratnapura are very rich people. Our area is lush with gemstones, tea, rubber and coconuts. Therefore, no matter how many economic crises there are, no one will be hungry. Ratnapura is a hidden beautiful area where the tourism industry does not take place.

  • @sasankasamarathunga6637
    @sasankasamarathunga6637 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    As a Sri Lankan I want to thank you for this invaluable documentary programme. We all are facing difficulties.Poluted governments ruined our lives.

    • @cutetiny6144
      @cutetiny6144 ปีที่แล้ว

      Corrupted*

    • @janececelia7448
      @janececelia7448 ปีที่แล้ว

      Refreshing to see someone from Sri Lanka give an honest opinion about their country.

  • @ghayal1979
    @ghayal1979 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    As I can imagine, this job is more difficult and dangerous than I thought.
    god bless you all .🙏

  • @tuktuk1959
    @tuktuk1959 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I am always surprised when I read "deadly" in the title and then I hear that the product they are working for have a value that is as much as my hour wage.

  • @defeatSpace
    @defeatSpace ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Well heck, slipping a gem or so into your pocket every month won't really change the bottom lines for mine owners.

    • @ajithpremaratne6103
      @ajithpremaratne6103 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      The thing is even if they do that. When they go to sell it the buyers hold the pricing power

    • @erroneous6947
      @erroneous6947 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      You still have to find somebody to sell it too. And I think they all work together.

    • @defeatSpace
      @defeatSpace ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@ajithpremaratne6103 You don't, horde them and let your kid deal with the laundering hassle.

    • @fidelcatsro6948
      @fidelcatsro6948 ปีที่แล้ว

      i like you!
      youd make a great revolutionary leader like me someday 🐱👍🏿