(6) Travelling up and down the Lawa River on the French Guyanese Border we begin to encounter 'Garimpieros', Brazilian Miners the driving force behind frontier communities with Brazillians, Moroons, Chinese and Amerindians living in organised chaos in pursuit of the timeless allure of gold. We outline the various procesess and techniques used, creating a portrait of life in these Mosquito-ridden camps.

Hopefully guided by the advice of Karen Boven an anthropologist who has worked extensively in this area, we visit Kawemhakan an Amerindian village coping with the pressures that the mining activity is placing on their life and culture. The Mercury ends up in the rivers and is beginning to infiltrate the food chain. We show the effects of Mercury (locally 'Quick') which is used an an amalgam in the final stage of the seperation of gold from impurities. We see what responses the Amerindians have developed using plants, and downstream we visit the hospital which serves the entire stretch of the Lawa and Marowijne Rivers.

Later on we hope to feature an interview with Lie Paw Sam, a chinese miner using techniques developed in China using agitation methods, and thus eliminating the need for Mercury.

01/07/2000 An Ethical Minefield
02/07/2000 Kawemhaken- Voice of the Wayana
03/07/2000 Health Wealth & Hollow Rewards
04/07/2000 African Herbsman
05/07/00 Winti Ceremony - The Voice of the Paramacca