内容摘要：Shortly after Tesfaye loses his voice, a psychosomatic ailment, he meets superfan Amina, portrayed by

Shortly after Tesfaye loses his voice, a psychosomatic ailment, he meets superfan Amina, portrayed by

“The easiest way to earn money today is gold mining,” Camara said. “Subsistence agriculture will not provide you enough for food or other needs.”In Senegal, gold processors like Camara typically process between 5 and 10 grams of gold per month, earning the equivalent of $370 to $745 — more than double the national average salary of about $200.

Senegal ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury in 2016, pledging to reduce mercury use and pollution. But the substance remains widely accessible. Most of the country’s supply comes from Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana, with smaller amounts smuggled from dental clinics in Dakar, according to a 2022 report by the Institute for Security Studies.A mercury-free gold processing unit sits unused at a mining site in the Kedougou region of Senegal on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag)A mercury-free gold processing unit sits unused at a mining site in the Kedougou region of Senegal on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag)

In 2020, the government promised to build 400 mercury-free gold processing units. So far, only one has been constructed — in Bantaco, about 15 miles from Camara’s home. The facility uses gravity to separate gold from ore, eliminating the need for mercury by relying on sluices and shaking tables.During a recent visit, the rusting slab of metal sat unused beneath a corrugated roof.

“People used it for a while, but then they stopped, because one single unit can’t cover an entire community,” Goumbala said. “Naturally, those who were nearby could use it. But for those who are very far away, they can’t afford to transport the ore all the way, process it and then go back. It’s extra work. That’s a problem.”

Camara said she tried the unit, but in addition to being far away, it was less effective at isolating gold – some was lost in the process.“But to put him inside the back of a pickup truck, does that really help or does it hurt the process?” continued the teen’s father. “It just seemed like some things happened that were passive concerning him, and especially when it could cost him his life and, indeed, did.”

The family is being represented by, a prominent civil rights lawyer.

The district did not respond to questions about Laster’s death. In a court filing, it denied the allegations and said that Laster’s “alleged injuries were not caused by a policy or custom of the defendant” without providing details.An autopsy confirmed that Laster collapsed due to the heat but said the cause of death was cardiac arrythmia due to a gene mutation - a finding the family disputes, saying their son was previously healthy.