Gold, mercury and people in Morobe, Papua New Guinea - Documentary BTS Reel

Morobe, Papua New Guinea, will always have a special place in my heart. When I first visited in 2023, I learned a ton about gold mining in PNG, especially at the artisanal level. A local once told us, "We don't go to the ATM; we just go to the river, get the gold, sell it, and feed our families." They’ve been using mercury for ages to make gold extraction easier. My second trip to PNG was earlier this year, and I got a real crash course in the large-scale mining industry. Every day, we spent hours bouncing around in the back of a 'troopie,' munching on Em Nau, BFC, and Bulolo biscuits (which are like thick sandwiches). Being there always takes me back to my childhood, with all the greenery, the nature, and the kids doing dumb things (I was one of them).