Comments on: Ethics Of Tourism: Mines Of Potosi Bolivia

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 10 Jan 2024 01:52:50 +0000

There is a miners market lined with vendors selling all the miner supplies, mostly soda and coca leaves. If you participate in one of the tours, they will allow you to spend time here to purchase supplies.

By: Diana

Diana — Thu, 06 Jan 2024 15:54:35 +0000

Between this and Christine’s “Sh*t I didn’t do in Thailand” post, I realize I have a lot of thinking to do when it comes to ethical traveling. Goes back to childhood when your parents and teachers used to ask, “If everyone jumped off the cliff, would you?” I don’t know why that question doesn’t get asked more when it comes to tourist attractions. It should. Great article!

BTW, where did you get the items for the miners? Was there a store outside of the start of the tour?

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 06 Oct 2024 02:24:43 +0000

It must have truly been a unique experience for you girls. Thanks for sharing this with us and the readers. It puts it in perspective that even then, your equipment was better than theirs. Change is slow there, if it comes at all.

By: Marian Woodall

Marian Woodall — Mon, 04 Oct 2024 14:42:28 +0000

In 1975, two female friends and I (also female) were among the first women to takea tour of this mine, largely against the wishes of the miners who thought women were bad luck.

No gifts, but we gave small amounts of money to the miners we spoke with. No photos.

Our transport was an “elevator” — small square wood platform with no sides, cable in a hole in the middle.

Equipment for us tourists was better even then than what the miners had.

Change comes slowly, if at all.

By: Abby Tegnelia

Abby Tegnelia — Tue, 29 Jun 2024 14:55:57 +0000

Wow, this was fascinating. I had the same feelings you did when I was taken to a silk factory in China. I just remember being so confused and not wanting to go. But in the end, I had joined a group as a solo traveler and didn’t want to get lost. And that impact wasn’t nearly as dramatic as this one. Thank you so much for sharing.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Thu, 03 Jun 2024 16:26:20 +0000

Aracely, like you, I am torn. Before *every* decision I have to make in my life, I ask myself if I am helping or causing harm. It’s often pretty easy to figure the answer to that question out. On this issue, I am truly stumped. It’s certainly been my experience that a lot of tourists can use the notion that they’re “helping” when really, they’re just curious or perhaps even *morbidly* curious. My partner and I went on a favela tour in Rio and for us, it was amazing. It broadened our perspectives, and we got to see a school that is built and maintained using the money from the favela tours. But still…..I don’t know how I would feel if *I* lived in a favela, and tourists came to my neighbourhood to take pictures, so that they could go back to their comfortable lives in a developed country and show their loved ones the deplorable living conditions that exist in my part of the world. I honestly don’t know how I would feel. While I loved the favela tour and am grateful for the learning that came from it, I am also aware that there is a chance that my learning and my expanded perspective *could have* come at the expense of someone else’s dignity. It’s a tough one, forsure. I love, love, LOVE this entry. Thank you for sharing it with us.

By: Andreas

Andreas — Wed, 02 Jun 2024 23:38:30 +0000

Great post Aracely, world sometimes is unfair.

By: Matt Wilson

Matt Wilson — Wed, 02 Jun 2024 21:12:45 +0000

Interesting read and I am torn as it seems are you.
So sad about the health risks. Again poverty causes premature death in workers.

Lets hope that if enough people hear about these conditions something will get done.

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

I saw this through Cathy Browns Tweets

By: Aracely

Aracely — Wed, 02 Jun 2024 00:15:13 +0000

Thanks for the comment Audrey. I am glad we didn’t see a kid working that day. My brother is 14 and that would have been really heartbreaking for me, as I know it was for you. I agree with you and I did mention above that most of the tour was done in an educational and serious manner, but for me that’s just not enough. It could be the best conducted tour in the world. The miners are still not benefiting much from them. That is my big issue. I hope your visit to the US is going well. Jason and I miss the times we shared with you and Dan in northern Argentina!

By: Audrey

Audrey — Tue, 01 Jun 2024 17:45:16 +0000

I know we talked a lot about the mine tours and the ethics of this during the time we shared driving around northern Argentina. It’s a really difficult ethical question and one without a clear black or white answer. Like you, I was glad that I went on the tour because I don’t think I would have really understood what their work and life was like without experiencing the dust, shortness of breath and chemicals myself. And, I knew what we were experiencing was the easy stuff since we only went a couple of levels deep while miners were working many levels below us in much worse conditions. While on our tour, we met a 12-year old kid who was in the middle of a 14-hour trek. That was heartbreaking – as we talked to the guide and other locals later, he probably doesn’t have a choice because he is responsible for supporting family (like in the movie Devil’s Miner). As you said, the miners don’t want charity and are proud. But, what is a shame is that there are usually no other economic opportunities in town to offer alternatives to young people.

Like you, the dynamite explosion at the end of a sobering and educational experience really bothered me. But, I did feel that the tour did a good job otherwise providing information and an understanding of the history and present situation of the mine and city of Potosi.

By: Fida

Fida — Tue, 01 Jun 2024 16:04:59 +0000

I feel the same as you. It’s a dilemma that I often face when traveling. If I go I feel like an intruder, if I don’t, it feels like I don’t want to see the ‘real’ life. I agree that gifts don’t change anything. Why not ask for an entry fee that goes toward better protective gear or living conditions down there? I don’t have the answer either but coca leaves for a few or awareness alone doesn’t change a thing.