The Democratic Republic of the Congo produces nearly three-quarters of the world’s cobalt, an essential component in rechargeable batteries powering laptops, smartphones and electric vehicles. But those who dig up the valuable mineral often work in horrific and dangerous conditions, says Siddharth Kara, an international expert on modern-day slavery and author of Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives. In an in-depth interview, he says the major technology companies that rely on this cobalt from DRC to make their products are turning a blind eye to the human toll and falsely claiming their supply chains are free from abuse, including widespread child labor. “The public health catastrophe on top of the human rights violence on top of the environmental destruction is unlike anything we’ve ever seen in the modern context,” says Kara. “The fact that it is linked to companies worth trillions and that our lives depend on this enormous violence has to be dealt with.”
The vast portion of minerals, chemicals, and elements are toxic, dangerous, and carcinogenic, and that should not stop us from using them if there is no better alternative.
The primary focus is that workers and literal children are being forced to mine this by hand in abject slavery for the betterment of billionaires and capitalists.
This stuff should be mined by veteran, experienced miners in full hazmat gear and using robots where possible. As is done with uranium mining.
This mining can be done ethically and effectively, but it costs a few dollars more of course. Disgusting.