DENTRO LE MINIERE ILLEGALI DI SMERALDI IN COLOMBIA 🇨🇴

DENTRO LE MINIERE ILLEGALI DI SMERALDI IN COLOMBIA 🇨🇴

Emeralds are not for everyone. You either feel the emerald’s energy or you don’t. Emerald is a stunning gemstone. To me, it’s unmatched. I’ve seen diamonds, rubies, sapphires… But emeralds have something that pulls you in. And when you break the stone off the pole, you can actually feel the energy it radiates. This is the square where emeralds sell best in the world. This one’s worth 300 thousand pesos, and that one 100 thousand. This one’s worth 2 million. Emeralds delivered to your door! Plaza del Rosario. Better known as Emerald Square, because everyone around me here is selling and trading emeralds. But why is such a precious stone sold out in the open, in broad daylight? Well, because it’s the sunlight itself that helps buyers tell if a stone is real or not. But for us, this is just the start of a great journey. A journey that will take us deep into the earth to understand and discover the stories of the people who dedicate their whole lives to searching for the most precious stone in the world. My name is Giuseppe and I have a mission: to explore the most remote corners of the planet to meet guardians of ancient secrets, men and women with extraordinary stories and lives that can inspire us and make us see the world through different eyes. And to each of them I’ll ask the most important question of all: “What does happiness mean to you?” A question so powerful it reveals the deepest essence of humanity. Welcome to “PROGETTO HAPPINESS”. We’ve all heard about gold fever. But the people we’re about to meet are struck by a very different kind of fever. The green fever. An obsession to find an emerald that might even be here in this cart. Or maybe never be found. But they say that once your eyes catch even a glimpse of the shine, the sparkle of an emerald, you’ll chase it for the rest of your life. And we are going to meet those miners who actually aren’t ordinary miners. They’re the legendary “guaqueros”. That is, treasure hunters. The word “guaquero” means someone who looks for hidden treasure under the mountains. But why are they illegal miners here? Because they’re looking for what now belongs to multinational companies who bought this land, monopolizing emerald extraction. But these people have been here for centuries. Since precolumbian times they’ve been searching for emeralds that they see as their rightful heritage. So they stand against the government, against the multinationals. But that’s only part of their story. We want to go into the mines to follow them during the actual extraction of emeralds from the bowels of the earth. We just need to find someone willing to take responsibility for bringing us into a real mine. The “guaqueros” have been digging for centuries. Long before the multinationals, long before someone claimed this land as theirs. Here, knowledge is passed down quietly from father to son or daughter. Through tunnels, dirty hands, and shared dreams. They have no protections or contracts but have created their own rules. Shifts, shared tools, leaders — a parallel system born to resist. To the big companies, they’re just a nuisance. Ants to be blown away. But those born here never leave. To them, this land is no concession. It’s home. It’s identity. And sometimes the mountain answers. With a stone. Here they call it “inguaqarse”. Which means, when fate tells you: today it’s your turn. It’s rare, but it happens. Getting into the tunnels isn’t easy. You need a leader’s approval. And to find them, we have to go into the small towns born around the mines. This is one of the typical miners’ villages. In fact, in front of us are lots of young guys returning from work, covered in black dirt. Just like the ground we’re walking on. It’s no coincidence that it’s black. Because this is the actual earth extracted from the mountains. What does that mean? That dirt was dug up even here. It’s all waste rock from the mountains. So this used to be a mine. Imagine that. Now they’ve built some pretty rundown homes here where miners rest for a bit before going back on shift. Many of the miners we meet are very young. They didn’t choose the mines. They were practically born into them. Like Maria, who’s just over twenty and already an expert miner. Many people wouldn’t do what we do, they say it scares them. Sometimes you feel alive, and sometimes you come out (of the mine) completely, utterly exhausted. It gets unbearably hot, over 40°, your skin feels like it’s burning, and there are places where oxygen… Where there is no oxygen. There are places where oxygen levels are extremely low. One day we’re poor, and the next day we’re rich — it changes a lot. It’s all about God and luck. And have you been lucky so far? We make it out alive every day. That means we’re lucky, and that the Lord is walking with us for good. But yes, it’s actually really cool. I totally recommend trying it! No, not that way, no, grab that one! Guys, what you see behind me are the typical lookouts for the “guaqueros”. At the back there’s a mine entrance, and he’s watching to make sure the police don’t show up. If the police show up, he radios his colleagues with a walkie talkie, to warn them to hide inside because the police would never dare go deep into a mine. It’s too dangerous for them, they lack the experience. While the others can run inside and wait for the police to leave. That’s his job. Right now I’m in charge of security. I have to stay here and watch out for the police, and raise the alarm. If for any reason they come, I have to warn them over there. So they can hide the tools, so they don’t get taken away. Has it ever happened? Yes. And you all hid inside? Yes, of course, we have to go hide the tools. And hide ourselves. And the police never enter the mines? No… or yes, sometimes. But why do the police show up? Because what we do is sort of illegal. More or less. So they come to stop us from working. They take our tools so we can’t work. Hey, how do we get up? What’s up? We’re reaching one of the hidden entrances. A passage secretly dug by the “guaqueros” in the heart of the mountain. This is the only thing they found in the load we just saw — and it’s worthless. Look. This is what comes out of the mine — still no sign of emeralds. We’re working in this mine, and even though we know there are many people inside, we hope to strike it lucky here. Have you found anything today? No, not even enough to buy soap to wash our clothes. But maybe, with God’s help… We’ll be… We’ll be there when it happens, if God wills it. If all goes well, we’ll get rich. Our job is to go in there and blast the rock, and then, along with everyone else working inside, extract the earth and hope that with a single blast we find something. Maybe luck will smile on us and we’ll find the product we’re looking for — the emerald. And… That’s why we ask God and the Virgin to let us come out safe and sound, just like we went in. Because that’s the point. We have family and lots of friends waiting for us outside, too. One of the leaders agrees to take us inside, asking us to respect the mountain because, sadly, it doesn’t forgive mistakes. Once you go in, you have to be very careful — no mine is truly safe. There is no such thing as a 100% safe mine. So the moment you enter, you’re taking a risk. You have to be cautious, always wear a helmet and gloves. Always check the ceiling, because by doing so, you’re also protecting your friend, the person ahead of you. In the mine, think first of yourself, then of yourself, and then again of yourself. Because otherwise, you won’t know if you’ll have the strength to help someone else. You don’t know if your body will make it out of there. First save yourself — only then can you think about helping someone else. You always have to stay alert, always — you can’t let your guard down… because you’re in a mine. Helmet on! Water’s coming in — something’s happening. We’re literally entering the bowels of the earth. These tunnels were built by thousands of people before us who died building this, who dedicated their lives to digging these tunnels. This part is usually busy — carts going back and forth — and we have to let them pass. They’re carts full of rocks that must be taken out to keep the tunnels clear, but also to check if inside any of those stones there’s a microscopic trace of emerald. We’re getting closer… No, from here we still have a long walk. Today we’ll find the treasure. Come on, let’s see if you find it. First, dig up the earth. What does “guaquear” mean? It means finding the “guaqo”. Finding the treasure. We always have to watch our heads. So… among miners they say “Inguacarse”. To get rich — and that’s everyone’s dream. It’s the hope and wish they give each other at the start of every shift. Let’s see how I get out of this adventure. If I didn’t have the helmet by now… Let’s go, it’ll be a long one! This tunnel goes on for kilometers. “Guaqueras” at work! Good afternoon! How’d it go? Very well, very well. We work hard to get rich. There are also many women in the mines. It’s definitely not just a men’s job. In fact, they say women have a lot more patience. It’s hard to talk to you like this, but I’ll try to tell you about this adventure as best I can. Obviously all these supports were built to hold up this tunnel, which isn’t always safe. If at any point someone panics, suffers from claustrophobia, or feels unwell… …they need to tell us right away, so we can step in, help them get out, or do whatever’s needed. We’ve been walking like this, crouched down, for about half an hour now. This is probably the hardest part. By now we can’t even stretch out anymore, and our backs are starting to hurt a bit. But we keep going. We’re not even halfway there. Now comes the hardest part. Very tight, very low, we need to crouch down even more. And we still have about half an hour to go like this. Let’s go. All these tubes are air ducts, bringing fresh air inside for the miners. And then there are the wires — the electric cables used to detonate the dynamite. Here the excavation front is like an anthill. Right now there are several entry and exit points leading to where the digging is happening. But we have to go up the other side, because we can’t get through here. Not up there either, it’s way too hot, impossible to pass. Are you blowing it up from that side? Or from over there? From there. And we stay here? On this side, here. Germán, they still need to get into position. And as soon as you connect it, it explodes? Immediately, yes. Fire! Fire, fire! You can really feel the shock wave! Let’s go to the other side, plug the other one. What’s happening now? They just detonated this part of the mine. To blow up another section they need to pull the electric wire to create a short circuit in the other part and blow up that corridor too. Let’s follow them. Done, it’s ready to explode. Perfect. Now! We’ll go when the smoke comes out. Want some water? No, we’re good — you need it more than we do. No worries. No, we’ll go get it now, thanks. If you want it, don’t hesitate. Alright. I got myself into this and… every day that goes by I feel more like leaving. But there’s still hope for tomorrow… The next day, and the next, and the one after that, and before you know it, a year has passed. Today makes exactly one year. And did you find anything? Nothing. In a year I earned 1,200,000 pesos (€257). Nothing more. I earned 1,200,000 pesos (€257) in a year. But you keep going because you believe that one day… The hope that… maybe! You never know when the blessing of… …finding the treasure will come. Finding the treasure — one day. What would it mean to you to find the treasure? Finding an emerald… would mean earning well, improving quality of life. That’s what everyone here hopes for. But it’s tough, isn’t it? Yes, and I’m telling you, this stretch is still the easy part — I work here. It’s not so bad here, there’s still a bit of fresh air! But when you think you might find it… well, you imagine a completely different life. You wouldn’t have to kill yourself working anymore, with a stable income, you could slow down and live more calmly. That’s what everyone dreams of — at least, I dream of it. You see? There are people here who’ve been digging for months… …and haven’t even made enough to buy soap. That’s the bitter side of the mine. Every day there’s hope, prayer, asking God to find even just one little precious stone… …that could change your life. That’s what people dream of down here. Thank you. Thank you. We don’t even know where we’re going. Our camera is completely fogged up. Now we’re really descending into the bowels of the earth. Okay, I think we’re here. It’s hotter that way. Where are we? We’re at the first work level. We came from up there and came down to the first level — now we have to go lower. It’s a bit hot, but it’s fine. It’s different from the first part of the tunnel. Here, you can’t breathe at all. There’s no air. It’s tough. It’s tough, really tough. We go down the tunnel and head to the production front to break up the vein. Then we gather up some earth, carry it out and wash it — that’s how we get the emerald out. Do we have to go lower? Yes, three meters — just a small tunnel — then we reach the front and see what we find. Alright. Down here, the temperature goes over 40 degrees and humidity hits 95%. The air is heavy, and ventilation is almost nonexistent. Every extra meter means less oxygen. Your body wears out quickly. The darkness messes with your head, and if you don’t manage your energy right, you won’t make it back out. And in fact, a collapse isn’t the only danger. Here, you can also die just like that, by staying too long. Blinded by that hope of finding something. I don’t know if you can hear the sound of the air ducts blowing wind. The guys advised me to get some fresh air before going down into this very, very tight hole. There’s a lot of people, I didn’t expect this many. There must be hundreds of people underground. As if there were another city, a bustling city searching for emeralds. And today we’re part of it. There could be an emerald over there. We can proceed, if we keep going, emeralds might show up here. We enter backwards to get in. It’s easier this way. Yes. You place your hands. Now it’s getting serious. Let’s go. Come on, come on. It’s like touching the heart of the mine, so hot, I’m going down. Okay, let’s go. Lean here. Yes, and then? Keep going that way. What a feeling, it really feels like we’re in the beating heart… it’s hotter, the earth is warm as if it were alive. And here… Here there are more chances to find emeralds, right? Yes. It takes a bit more courage and physical effort, but here you might find some. This looks greenish. Don’t shine the light. No, there’s nothing here… Look. Film it, there’s green here, look. Emerald? Emerald green. Here, don’t shine the light directly. Yes, yes, yes, I see it. This is an emerald. I see it, I see it. So that means here there is? Yes. There’s a chance, it’s likely. What do you feel when you come down here? The feeling is that you might find something that changes your life, that lifts you out of poverty. That’s our ambition: to find the treasure, to get rich and live better. To give a different future to our families. That’s what we feel every time we go down: the hope of finding the treasure. Don’t you get the feeling you’re in the heart of the earth, where everything began? Yes. It’s something prehistoric, you know? I think the guys are more focused on finding emeralds than on thinking about something philosophical, but… that’s what I feel, what you feel here. A little piece. Leave it, look here… emerald. Oh, can I? Yes. Can you see it? This is a piece of emerald, a sign… you can’t see it well, but… signs that here… There are emerald veins. There’s not a breath of air. Do you want some air? You okay? Yes, I’m fine. I’m fine, I’m fine. Also the hand. Wow! What an experience! I don’t know if you heard. It’s like… I was just born again. Water, the water! Give him water here and air there. Amazing guys. Thank you so much. No, they thought I was fainting, but I’m fine, I’m just emotional. I’m just emotional, I’m fine. Okay, okay. No, I’m fine, I’m fine. Thanks, guys. I know for you this is work, not fun, but for me it was something special. And I really want to thank you in front of everyone, because you let me come down with you, do something tough and I’m grateful, because I’ll never forget it. You’re welcome, we’re showing a little bit of our work to the whole world. Thank you. To show that it’s not easy to turn that precious stone into a jewel, there’s always sacrifice behind it. Can you say this stuff is adrenaline packed? This is adrenaline. This is adrenaline… Pure. Daily, pure. I can assure you. You go in and don’t know if you’ll come out alive again. You leave in the morning, say goodbye to your kids and your wife, but you don’t know if you’ll be back, because here so many, so many things have happened, so many tragedies around these mines. So here, adrenaline is always at 100%. And like my mate said, we have the hope of extracting that stone so precious to the world, to entire nations. Guys, if I asked you now what happiness is to you, what would you say? A vein full of emeralds. The thrill you get, the unique feeling of being able to gather them, to extract them from mother earth. And holding them in your hand is a unique sensation. Who’s the first person you think of when you find the stone? Family. Family, right? Family, you immediately think of family. Because all this sacrifice—who do you do it for? For the family, for the well being of the family. If we found something today, I’d just want each of us to bring home a bit of bread. So no one gets left behind. Because we’re a team, we’re one. If something happens to one of us, it’s like losing a family member. We support each other every day, we keep each other standing. And if a tragedy were to happen… we’d all feel it, as if it happened to us. And you know this well, because they didn’t see it, but I slipped and… And he caught me mid air, I don’t know if my face is scratched. He grabbed my face mid air, to keep me from falling. And you saved my life, thank you so much. I don’t know, I don’t know. All I know is I’m so happy. These experiences really make me feel alive. And you know it. You two who travel with me, you know how it feels. But now we need to get out. Now we need a bit of… We need to save some breath to get out, because it’s still a long way… Yeah, yeah. Let’s go. This way. It’s been seven hours and I can already feel my body giving up, yet for them it’s just another normal day. Always down here, but together, united. Down here there’s a dig front and there’s some soil that seems to show a little emerald reflection. So people come here and they’re given some soil to take outside and wash. So is it legal or illegal? According to the law, we’re illegal. You too? Yeah, all of us here are technically illegal. Illegal on our own land, which is illogical. But we’re not really illegal, you know why? Because before the multinationals and everyone else came, we were already working here. Right. So, we’re on our own land. We’ve been here… it’s work that’s gone on for decades, millennia. It’s like it’s your right. Yes, it’s our right, it’s our land. It’s a tradition we carry on from… Since the time of the indigenous people, right? Yes, from the indigenous people. We dug all these tunnels. Your parents, your great grandparents… Our grandparents… It’s not like a multinational came and dug here, no. All these tunnels were already here when they arrived. But they were built by our hands. Were your parents “guaqueros” too? Yes, of course, my parents were “guaqueros”. And that’s common here? Just like all of them, their parents too. Really? Yes of course, it’s a tradition, you understand? Your dad passed it on to you. Yes, and so on. Wow, wonderful. Yes. Every end of shift becomes a ritual. You climb up in line, each with their own cart full of soil hoping the mountain left something in it. Once we’re out, we’ll see. Phew, it’s hot. Looks like a magic trick. Voilà. And the “guaqueros” are absolutely right when they say emeralds aren’t found. Emeralds are earned. And even if we don’t find any today in this load, we’ve understood how much effort, how much sacrifice, how much toil and courage these people put into searching for a stone that could change your life. I see the exit. We’re almost there. The last 100 meters. No, not at the end, no! We did it! Jonathan, you’re the best! Thank you so much. We made it, we still don’t know if or what we found, but it doesn’t really matter. At least for us. Now let’s see what the guys found. It should shine if we find it. But it’s easy… Here’s another little piece. Is it worth anything? No. What’s this? There’s something green over there. And after all these hours of work, here’s what we found. Emerald shards. They’re worth absolutely nothing, but it doesn’t matter. Because it was, as always, a great adventure in search of the formula for happiness. And today we’ve learned something more. We were leaving. And I had already wrapped up this report. And the guys found an emerald. A real emerald, look. Wonderful. It’s not big. It’s not perfect. But that tiny green fragment is like a mirror. Inside it, you see everything you long for. Wealth, redemption, luck. But if you look closer, all you see is yourself. Your fears. Your dreams. What you’re searching for. Even if you don’t know its name. And maybe it makes me think we should search for happiness in the same way. Not as a prize to win, but… But as a mirror to step through. A process. A journey. An opportunity to truly see yourself. Because in the end, happiness isn’t what you find. It’s what you discover about yourself. While you’re still searching for it. We found it.

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Tra le montagne di Boyacá, in Colombia, esiste un mondo sotterraneo in cui una sola pietra può cambiare la vita. È qui che i guaqueros, minatori “illegali” sfidano ogni giorno il buio, il caldo, la fatica… per cercare un sogno verde: lo smeraldo.
Non hanno macchinari moderni. Non hanno protezioni. Ma hanno fede. E hanno una promessa che si tramandano da secoli: la montagna, prima o poi, premia chi la rispetta.

Siamo scesi con loro nelle viscere della terra. Abbiamo respirato la loro paura. Abbiamo sentito il cuore accelerare quando la dinamite esplode. E abbiamo capito che questa non è solo la storia di una pietra preziosa. È la storia di chi, nel fango, cerca una rivincita.

Questo reportage è uno dei più intensi che abbiamo mai vissuto. E ci ha insegnato che la felicità, a volte, non è in quello che trovi. Ma in quello che scopri di te… mentre cerchi.

✨ *Iscriviti al canale e viaggia con noi alla ricerca della formula della felicità nel mondo.*
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💌 Per collaborazioni: info@progettohappiness.com

Buona visione ♥︎

*⚡️PROGETTO HAPPINESS TEAM⚡️*
• AUTORE & HOST: Giuseppe Bertuccio D’Angelo
•⁠ ⁠DIRECTOR: Nicola Guaita, Davide Fantuzzi
•⁠ ⁠EDITING: Gianmarco Garimberti
•⁠ COLORIST: Andrea Sabatelli
•⁠ VFX ARTIST: Mario Stabile
•⁠ GRAPHIC ANIMATOR: Manuel Ivancich
•⁠ ⁠SOUND DESIGN & MIX: Lorenzo Sattin
•⁠ ⁠SOUND DESIGN: Riccardo De Cillis
•⁠ PRODUCER: Stefano Reposi
•⁠ ⁠TRADUZIONI: Fabrizio Chia
• DOPPIAGGIO MULTILINGUA AI: https://youdubstudio.com/_