What is mica? As unknown as it might sounds, mica is an ingredient found in electronic devices, paint and toothpaste. But it is not because of these products that the mica industry became so popular that is now worth it over half a billion dollars. The cosmetics industry’s demand for the glowing-radiant-shimmer effect increased the one of mica and thus the number of children working in mine to extract it. India and Madagascar are the two largest exporters of sheet mica globally, with most mining happening illegally. These areas involve families with a high-poverty economic background that, in order to survive, are forced to let their children work instead of studying and shaping their future.
Once again on one side there are the perpetrators and on the other the victims. On one, people sacrifice their childhood and life in order to survive, on the other, people make money out of the wounds, broken bones, respiratory illness and deaths of the former.
We can’t change this industry in one day but by being conscious of our purchases and raising awareness, a small difference will be noticeable.
How long are we going to deprive these children of their childhood?