Unreported World investigates the dirty business of cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The mineral is fuelling the planet’s green revolution, but at what cost?
Around seventy percent of the world’s cobalt is mined in the Central African country, mostly from the southern Katanga area, thought to be one of the ten most polluted places on earth. Reporter Jamal Osman travels to Kolwezi, a city dependent on supplying Cobalt, a critical component for electric cars and rechargeable batteries. Residents are employed by large multinational companies, or in smaller, and more dangerous artisanal mines. We meet the men who clamber down dark weaving airless tunnels to extract cobalt for as little as $150 per month. But is the paycheck worth the health risks that doctors have uncovered?
What you don’t care about the conditions of cobalt miners? Is it because they have the wrong skin color? Because there’s no pictures of them in your newsfeed? You don’t want to watch because you’d rather play with your toys oblivious like the petulant child you are? Get off the internet and read a book! WE DON’T NEED COBALT MINES! They just perfected a sodium battery, learn to stop hating black people for what’s happening to our environment!
I honestly have no idea what’s going on with this thread. My entire point was to criticize mining operations, exactly like what you’re saying, but don’t conflate it with the notion of going green. Honestly baffled. Then the person below things I was going against them.
I’m just annoyed that they used the term “the cost of going green”, when really it should be “The cost of mining batteries” or something. Going green can also mean planting trees.
People are really assuming my thoughts here.
Lithium Iron phosphate batteries already use zero cobalt and are proven tech at this point.