In the late nineteenth century, rubber latex became an ever-more important commodity for bicycle and automobile tires. As European and international demand rose dramatically, colonial administrations such as the Belgian Congo forced African workers to collect rubber latex under harsh labor conditions. This exploitation resulted in the destruction of entire forests in West and especially Central Africa.
Themes:
Regions:
Further Readings:
- Hochschild, Adam. King Leopold's Ghost. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1998.
Day:
0
Month:
0
Year:
1890