Source of profit for some, pollution for others: since the discovery of gold more than 20 years ago, a once peaceful Paraguayan village, which previously focused only on mate herb cultivation is now deeply divided by gold fever. The discovery of gold in the soil of Paso Yobai, 210 kilometers east of Asuncion, has transformed the village. Currently, one in six residents that has become a town of 30,000 people is busy digging enormous pits to sell the gold-bearing soil. Farmers and Indigenous peoples claim they are victims of air and water pollution and demand that the mining territory be clearly demarcated. This is a non-negotiable demand for the gold seekers, most of whom are operating illegally. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES