From Despondent to Manic-Action

"The worst scenario would be if one of the men suffered severe psychosis for being trapped so long and attempting to claw their way out of the mine. As long as they are kept busy with defining roles we hope to avoid it." Dr. Jaime Manalich, Chile's health minister

Nothing can be more fatal to any living being than to submit to end-stage entropy. To react or not to react to circumstances that are potentially detrimental to survival. To submit to despair rather than to react with hope is to effectively consign oneself to death. Much was learned about human behaviour by those who studied why it was that some people, pushed to the brink of extinction in Nazi death camps managed to survive, while others did not.

Hope is the ignition to survival, and determination to survive combined with a generous portion of caring for others who are in similar circumstances can make the difference between certain death and clinging to life. With and without advice from survival experts, the thirty-three Chilean miners trapped deep below the surface of the Earth, have found a new lease on the potential they share to survive their solitary ordeal.

Solace from above, knowing that those whom they love and who return their love, are there, awaiting their rescue. Communication between themselves and those on the surface who are equally determined to move mountains of earth and rock to draw them, one by one, from the bowels of the Earth, to the safety of terra firma. And ministering collectively to their individual needs themselves.

Providing the opportunity for each of them to be productive, to assist themselves to endure the unendurable. Each of the thirty-three men have assumed some measure of self-responsibility, and collective action. "They are completely organized", according to Dr. Jaime Manalich, health minister of Chile. "They have a full hierarchy. It is a matter of life and death for them."

Some people are natural leaders, others are content to be followers. Once the hierarchy of leadership has been established, with a minority of the trapped taking it upon themselves to function as leaders, the remaining members accept their proposals and their actions, and themselves fall into their own hierarchy of skills and co-operative offerings.

There is now a recognized spiritual leader among the gathered men. The eldest of whom has established a small chamber where the 33 tiny Bibles and rosary beads provided by the Vatican, blessed by Pope Benedict and lowered into the subterranean chamber, provides religious hope and assurances.

Another miner who has some measure of medical proficiency garnered while on a nursing course, has established himself as the ministering medic, utilizing medicines provided to his trapped group; vaccinations against tetanus, pneumonia and flu. Yet another miner has discovered in himself a facility for writing prose: "Each is finding their own role and their own way to express themselves."

Boredom is perhaps the very most destructive attribute to human discouragement. The potential for nervous collapse is always there, as the most vulnerable among them to mental stress may become a burden upon the others. They will all be engaged and occupied to some degree. They are, in effect, themselves preparing to physically assist in their own rescue, by attempting to move 4,000 tones of the rock that has imprisoned them.

And then there is the miner who has an obvious flair for the stage, discovering the thespian in himself. He took upon himself the role of master of ceremonies, filming the 40-minute video that was released to those waiting with such anguish above, for news of their loved ones. He prodded and encouraged everyone to appear on camera.

Giving new meaning to candid camera performances, on an entirely new mission, that of survival.