Interest in crystals and their supposed healing powers has soared over the past three years among celebrities and the wellness industry, but little consideration has been given to conditions in the mines. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, seven-year-old children are used in the mineral mining process. The UN estimates that more than a million people have died from malaria since 2000, with an additional two million dying each year due to other diseases. Their investment status is compared to fine art. There are now calls for the rapidly-growing industry to be regulated, similar to the Kimberley Process established in 2002 to stem the flow of "blood" or "conflict" diamonds, to prevent human-rights violations and environmental damage.
Interest in crystals and their supposed healing powers has soared over the past three years among celebrities and the wellness industry, but little consideration has been given to conditions in the mines. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, seven-year-old children are used in the mineral mining process. The UN estimates that more than a million people have died from malaria since 2000, with an additional two million dying each year due to other diseases. There are now calls for the rapidly-growing industry to be regulated, similar to the Kimberley Process established in 2002 to stem the flow of "blood" or "conflict" diamonds, to prevent human-rights violations and environmental damage.