Mexico’s Children and The Pursuit for Profit: a Double Tragedy
by The latest casualties of the capitalist enterprise and the pursuit for profit are trapped inside a coal mine in San Juan de Sabinas, Northern Mexico. So far, only one person has been rescued, a teenage boy. The US Department of Labor reports that it is not uncommon for children to be employed in such hazardous occupations, in fact there are between eight – 11 million workers in Mexico under the age of 15.
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Mexico’s Children and the Pursuit for Profit: A Double Tragedy
Yet another tragedy has struck the hearts and minds of those of us who cannot tolerate the greed and corruption that all too often drives the capitalist enterprise – the pursuit of profit. At the time of writing this, 14 people are trapped in a coal mine in San Juan de Sabinas in Northern Mexico. It is believed a gas explosion is the cause and contact cannot be made with any of the trapped workers due to the dangerously high levels of methane gas.
One crewmember had been rescued, a teenage boy. Either there are no security measures in place to keep unauthorized individuals off the property, or one can only assume this child was employed by the mine owner. In fact, there are somewhere between 8 – 11 million employed children in Mexico under the age of 15, according to the United States Department of Labor. Some teenage workers have yet to have their 14th birthday, yet the positions they take up are centered on manual labor. It is not uncommon for these children to spend long hours in assembly factories or, possibly, the coal mines. These are worrying statistics for those of us who believe that education and training are the cornerstones of any economy. This latest crisis in Mexico is a double tragedy, for those who have to endure the most hazardous conditions for a pittance of a wage, and for the loss of childhood.
While the solution to any economic problem is complex and multifaceted, it’s possible if there were a more progressive approach to education, the country might find itself more profitable. Businesses would move into their locale looking for skilled, educated workers. Then, Mexico’s children can be themselves instead of miniature adults with all the burdens and responsibilities of a parent. It may be an idealists perspective, but it’s a step in the right direction.
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Post CommentDonnah Clark
On May 3, 2011 at 8:07 pm
The latest report declares that a 14 year old boy lost his arm in the blast. Pray he will recover.
Ruby Hawk
On May 4, 2011 at 6:47 pm
It’s shameful that children are taken down into the mines. All mining work is dangerous anyway.
Donnah Clark
On May 4, 2011 at 6:57 pm
I too am outraged at the possibility of children working in these mines. A friend of mine told me today that she has heard of children as young as 5 being employed in these hazardous conditions. I just couldn’t bare to imagine sending my children to work – and they are 12, and 17. I can barely get them to put dishes in the washer.
Robert Moran 51
On May 5, 2011 at 11:29 pm
It is sad about the situations that the children of today are put into, but not long ago in the United States, our children worked in the coal mines, and lumber factories, dress and clothing manufacturing and so forth, and many of them weren’t force by business but by their parents, or by their moral standings as they were needed to put food on the table, but they did the same thing as their fathers and mothers had done, and as their fathers and mothers.
When I was in the military and traveled across the world, I have seen young children young boys and girls turning to prostitution, as they were told or taught by their mothers.
When I was in Afghanistan, I saw young boys of 9 years of age, carrying rifles and Ak 47s, as that is how they were taught and how their fathers were taught.
In Muslim countries you see the young girls wearing Hijabs as that is the way their mothers taught them and the way they will teach their daughters.
In America you see young children being dressed up too look older than their age and also dating at so young of a age, as though the parents want to raise them up and get them out.
I am also a part time counselor at my Church where my daughter is a volunteer, many times we talk to the children there, and I cannot tell you how many times a child smokes or drink because of their parent(s), as the parents don’t tell them the harm of it or the effects of it, as a child is but a child, and then the saddest I have seen, is when you see children with a parent and that parent doesn’t practice or preach or believe in monogamy, and even sometimes the child see’s their parent, the same parent they take advice from, having a live in boyfriend or girlfriend, sometimes the children don’t know who their father or mother is, and who to respect or take advice from.
We are the role model for our children, we need to protect and watch over our children.
A child does as a child is taught, and what a child see’s and learns is from us the parents.
When I become an older man I will know my son and daughter, as well as my students will be better persons, and I know that they will be great parents and that they will teach their children well, and it might be those children that will help the children of our world someday.
Donnah Clark
On May 6, 2011 at 8:39 am
Yes, the world has many problems and people have many eithical dilemmas. I doubt we can blame the parents for everything that happens to a child. We do not own them, nor can we have control of every influence in their lives. But we can only direct them as best we can with the information we have available to us. There is no handbook for parenting that covers every detail. We also have to account for personality and uniqeness of the individual.
Also, i know many wonderful single parents. Monogamy is merely an ideal, but in a relationship that isn’t working for whatever reason, then to stay in that relationship can be hazardous for any child.
The issue i was discussing here was child labor, and i do believe we should allow children to be themselves without the burdens of adulthood.
Kristie Claar
On January 12, 2012 at 1:16 pm
thank you for sharing this