avatarDan Dawson

Summary

This article discusses the ethical and humanitarian issues associated with cobalt mining, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), for the production of electric car and mobile phone batteries.

Abstract

The article highlights the increasing use of cobalt in electric car and mobile phone batteries as a shift away from fossil fuels. However, it raises concerns about the conditions in which cobalt is mined, with 70%+ of the world's cobalt produced in the DRC. The article describes the dangerous and appalling conditions in artisan and corporate-owned mines, including low wages, fatal accidents, ethnic conflict, child labor, and health hazards like mercury poisoning and ebola. It also points out the industry's worth and the low wages of workers, questioning the ethical implications for consumers using products containing cobalt.

Opinions

  • The shift away from fossil fuels to lower carbon emissions in cars has ethical prices to pay.
  • Artisan and corporate-owned mines in the DRC are dangerous and appalling, with low wages and numerous health hazards.
  • The industry is worth 800 million a year, but workers are paid 2 an hour.
  • Ethical supply chain visibility might affect buying decisions.
  • The article questions whether consumers should feel guilt about using products with cobalt content.
  • The article suggests that the end product of a must-have premium electric vehicle has seemingly been 'washed' of guilt, similar to criminals washing dirty money.
  • The article asks whether ethical supply chain visibility would affect buying decisions.

Children are dying as you pre-warm your Tesla car seat. 5 things you need to consider about Cobalt mining.

Original image by Mr Borys from Pexels — Courtesy of Canva

1). Cobalt is a nonrenewable natural resource used to produce electric car & mobile phone batteries.

It’s awesome we are shifting away from fossil fuels in cars to lower our carbon emissions but there are other ethical prices to pay.

2). 70%+ of the world’s cobalt is produced in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

There are two types of cobalt mines, artisan (local self run) mines which are really appalling and really dangerous. And then there are those owned by the likes of Glencore, which are slightly less appalling and dangerous.

3). A day in the life of a DRC miner might be to witness some fatal accidents, avoid a collapsing mine, experience awful pay and receive a packed lunch which wouldn’t feed a squirrel.

Then in the afternoon, sprinkle on some ethnic conflict, child labour, ebola, a soupçon of violent clashes between workers and security personnel and add mercury poisoning — et voila.

4). Workers get paid $2 an hour, the industry is worth $800 million a year

A handful of big players own the majority of the industry.

5). What exonerates us from feeling guilt about using products with Cobalt content?

Is it the many links in the supply chain between us and the dying children in the Cobalt mines? Is it that the end product of a must have premium electric vehicle has seemingly been ‘washed’ of guilt. A bit like criminals washing dirty money?

Would ethical supply chain visibility affect your buying decisions?

Is your seat warmed to temperature yet?

Thank you for reading.

#ethicalsupplychain #cobalt #childlabour

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