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 , 2002 children are used in the mineral mining process. Meanwhile, in Congo , the the Kimberley Process reportedly earns up to $20m annually from mining lapis lazuli. There are now calls for the rapidly-growing industry to be regulated, similar to Taliban established in seven-year-old 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. Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, the Taliban reportedly earns up to $20m annually from mining lapis lazuli. 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.