IN STEREO

Potosí is a city that has a lot of wealth on the mountain. The mountain has a long history, since Diego Huallpa. That’s the first one who found the mountain, only looking to make a fire. And there, or when he woke the next day, he saw a few lines of silver. Our mountain has been exploited by the Spaniards. All the people of Potosí, all of them live off the mountain. For what we have, so many people have died there. The people work there to be able to get ahead. [I do it] for my children at least. If the mountain disappears, where would all the people go? Like they have said, they’re going to close it all. Where would people work? Because there are thousands of people working on the mountain. So Potosí would become a deserted city, if not for the mountain.

I mean, Bolivia too. Potosí has maintained almost all Bolivia, because Potosí has more wealth than all the regions. Little by little [the mountain] has been falling. When I look at the mountain, it’s a shame. There were antennae there for channels, for radio. Now the antennas have moved to the little mountain. I do not think there is a solution on the mountain because the people who work continue to extract ore. The mountain will sink. The mountain is the only place I have lived. It has been like my second home, because since the moment I started working, it has always been on the mountain. I have been there more than in the city. – Cathy