21/07/2024
“THIS IS WHAT WE DIE FOR”
Did you know your electric car and celo phone batteries kilo children in order to provide you these luxury items?
Amd now that you do know!?:
A significant report by CNN in 2018 revealed that children as young as nine were found working in hazardous conditions in cobalt mines in the DRC. These children often work without protective gear, are exposed to toxic substances, and face the risk of serious injury or death from tunnel collapses. CNN’s investigation found that child labor was rampant at several mining sites and documented instances where children were physically abused by officials when discovered by investigators .
The Washington Post also conducted an extensive investigation into the cobalt supply chain, exposing how children toil in hand-dug mines and carry heavy sacks of cobalt ore. The report highlighted the lack of oversight and the dangerous conditions these children face daily .
A lawsuit filed in December 2019 by International Rights Advocates accused major tech companies like Apple, Google, Microsoft, Dell, and Tesla of knowingly benefiting from child labor. The complaint described severe injuries and fatalities among child workers and called for the companies to create a fund to provide medical care for the affected children
“How can I do anything about it?”
Well Iʻm hlad you asked because there is plenty we all can do instead of being child killing hypocrits:
1. Educate Yourself and Others:
• Stay informed about the issues by reading reports from reputable sources like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and news investigations.
• Share this information with your friends, family, and social media networks to raise awareness.
2. Advocate for Change:
• Contact Apple and other tech companies to express your concerns. You can write letters or emails urging them to ensure their supply chains are free from child labor and to increase transparency about their sourcing practices.
• Support and engage with advocacy groups and campaigns that focus on ethical sourcing and human rights.
3. Support Ethical Products:
• Research and choose products from companies that have strong commitments to ethical sourcing and have transparent supply chains.
• Look for certifications or third-party audits that verify ethical practices in the supply chain.
4. Promote and Support Legislation:
• Advocate for stronger regulations and laws that require companies to disclose their sourcing practices and hold them accountable for human rights abuses in their supply chains.
• Support organizations that lobby for these changes.
5. Encourage Corporate Responsibility:
• Push for companies to invest in initiatives that improve mining conditions, provide education and alternative livelihoods for children, and support local communities in cobalt-producing regions.
• Encourage companies to use technologies such as blockchain to improve the traceability of cobalt and ensure it is ethically sourced.
6. Support Transparency Initiatives:
• Back initiatives that aim to bring more transparency to the supply chain, such as the Responsible Cobalt Initiative and the Fair Cobalt Alliance.
By taking these steps, you can contribute to creating a demand for ethically sourced materials and help ensure that the products you use do not contribute to human rights abuses.
For more detailed actions and resources, you can refer to the following reports and articles:
• Amnesty International’s recommendations
• CNN’s investigation on cobalt mining
• The Washington Post’s report on the cobalt supply chain
• Details of the lawsuit against major tech companies
This report documents the hazardous conditions in which artisanal miners, including thousands of children, mine cobalt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It goes on to trace how this cobalt is used to power mobile phones, laptop computers, and other portable electronic devices. Using basic han...
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