Blood, Sweat, And Batteries: Inside Congo's Cobalt Mines I Fortune
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- Опубліковано 23 сер 2018
- Africa's copperbelt contains two-thirds of the entire world's cobalt, a mineral required for the production of cell phones, laptops, and most importantly, electric automobiles. Produced with support from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.
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Europe and America enriching themselves off Congo's rich resources using child labour while Congo suffers poverty. Congo should be in control of their own resources and uplift the Congolese people
Somehow people in these comments don't understand that no producer of a base product gets the retail price. The price basically has to double every time it exchanges hands, regardless of the product or who produces it. The final seller does not "collect all of the profit."
people should spread this video it isn’t getting enough attention
@Willa-jane's opinion DId you not watch the whole video or are you plain stupid? This is an opportunity for a country with extreme level of poverty to have a source of wealth. Instead of going against it companies should campaign to eradicate child labour. Or do you prefer to seeing the country starve forever.
Eduardo Alves what are children going to do? They are poor, probably alone, no home, no money...are you going to support them?
🗣SPREADING THIS TO EVERY NEWS STATION, SENATE, AND ALSO MUSICIANS..✌THROW A PEACE SIGN IF YOU ARE TOO!!!✌
Agreed.
This should be globally recognized and resolved ASAP.
and i wonder why there is a global out cry over 19 American children dying. There chould be a global outcry for these children first.
If you know any AFRICAN history, you would know there's absolute ZERO chance of resolution. These people want and need these mines or survival becomes even harder and more cruel. These are the most illiterate, unskilled, and most easily corrupted people on the planet.
2 years later, it still isn't
Congolese take back your mines and build your infrastructure and tech companies you have the resources help and protect your people from foreigners greed who don't care about you ASAP
This rape of our continent may cause a world war one day
But than Americans can't buy our smartphones cheap.
They would need training and education for that to happen.
Go to Congo. I have. There is no way this can happen. Desperate poverty. More than you’ve ever seen
But what if their government does not exactly agree? Yikes.
didn't see much visual proof of thousands of minor children in the mines??? how come?
All this wealth and it will end up in the pockets of a few . Those who could change this terrible situation have no motivation to do so . It's all greed
If this is how you currently get money in Congo, then what will happen once you stop it? Where will they then get money from?
How about giving them better tools for mining the cobalt in a safer manner?
exactly !! I was thinking the exact same thing!!
It'd be good to see the African people improving their lives by profiting from this mineral, but alas, it's the rich companies who profit.
Agreed. It's in the African people's land they should collectively get their share from those multinational corporations, which could be invested in whatever the people desire.
They are exploited
They just have to say "the price is this". They are not exploited by the big companies, they are exploited by their own people, someone from there country gets a lot of money to keep price low.
@@ee02108 you know what's proxy war is ?
That's not improving, this is oppressing black people to dangerous environment, so white liberals can feel like a hero driving their electric car
'Despite them' you made a great and informative video. Thank you very very much for your ethical journalism, and humanity, in dealing with this sensitive subject. We need to be aware of the consequences of our lifestyles in the developed countries.
Thanks for this insightful reporting
Very touching and interesting. Great film.
You kids are bringing people their phones and devices. You have my thanks.
Give the power to the PEOPLE, NOT THE GOVERNMENT
Moving to cobalt-free batteries will just make these people even poorer. This is their income.
The tech companies need to develop ethical supply chains, where children cannot work and miners are well paid. This means it can't go through China.
@Sensaii Tutz how does it make people’s life in congo better?
As long as there is no regulations in capitalism the problem remains.
@Sensaii Tutz I’m not defending child labour. I’m not an owner and i have no interests in any of those companies that use child labour. Unfortunately kids who lost their parents has no choice. Nobody helps them. If those companies payed enough of the labours then parents could afford to feed and educate their children. Maybe i’m wrong but that’s how I see it.
Ohhhh but they couldn't do that! That would make them less profit! That's the problem with capitalism. It's far too easy to exploit the poor when you're up at the top.
@Sensaii Tutz electrical cars already have regenerative braking what you are insisting on doesn't work since you will lose more energy than created. the wind would affect the aero and create drag thus needing more energy. solar panel at home would be far more effective then including them on the car making it more expensive and one more thing to fail/get damaged in a accident. same reason they don't use alternators because there is no such thing as perpetual motion.
Why don't more people know about this
5:13
Tesla has developed batteries that dont use cobalt. nickel, iron, and/or manganese will replace it.
@Sensaii Tutz that's one of the most fallacious statements I've ever heard
Nickel iron phosphate batteries do not need cobalt.
Pollution has killed more people, not just children, than the entire population of the DRC.
@Sensaii Tutz furthermore, telsa, like every other battery maker, buys cobalt from the DRC government, which controls foreign trade. Their own government is covering up the child labor violations because it makes them money, and they couldnt care less.
@Sensaii Tutz of course it's not okay, which is why they've literally developed a battery that doesn't need it, and they've sourced cobalt from less productive countries for the mean time.
Big oil (7 out of the top 8 companies by revenue) wants Tesla to be the scapegoat for all of the DRC child labor violations, despite them being a tiny slice of the cobalt market, less than 1%, and being literally the only company developing and producing better batteries that don't need cobalt.
The Congo is about 60% of the cobalt market. Tesla was using less than 1% of Congolese cobalt.
You need to do some research on the direction battery technology is moving.
Nickel iron phosphate, lithium manganese, pretty simple.
I'd stop listening to Alex Jones and Q-anon if you aim to be well informed.
It’s always was and will be like that
C'est un transformateur que les gouvernement congolaise est sont vraiment besoin
It is lamentable that DR Congo keaders since 1959 were unable to establish true democracy, manage the abundant minetal wealth b.m.o. good mining and international business practice and develop the full potential of Congo River commerce and industry! Furthermore the Gospel of Peace was burried in a Conflict Mineral mine somewhere just after the Simba Rebellion in Kisangani, since 1959!
Hope its over now!!God Bless Congo!!
Um no it's not 💀😂🤒 smh
No! Don't let it be over. People still need their phones.
Its a real shame they had to mine the material that way
We drive nice electric cars and need that cobalt but nobody can send them good ropes to climb into the mine.s.o.b.wow,I just can't believe it.
Are these people being employed or are they freelancers and taking their own risks?
Integra Hellsing
Human cost to life 😢
Conflict Battery 😟
They make almost 800$ a month in a country where if you make 60$ in the same time period is considered rich.
Literally everyone in those mines is considered VERY WEALTHY!
It's fine
The profit Apple Tesla and all these other companies make could pay for machines, safety equipment, training and implementation of standard and not take a dent.
Those companies buy their Cobalt on the world open market. Apple and tesla etc don't operate cobalt mines themselves. The only way to improve this is *action by the government of the DRC*. THEY are the ones at fault ! This is a ridiculously simplistic video, making questionable connections.
DRC has to somehow get their birth rate down from 6 births per woman.
I am sorry, but the Congolese Government have failed their people, the same as other African Governments. Congo has the worlds biggest supply of copper and cobalt, yet the government allow other buyers from other countries to come and dictate the price. The Congolese government had the upper hand and could have held the world to ransom far better than the oil producing countries. Instead they are willing to sit back, pocket the Foreign Aid sent to them and make their people suffer whilst mining in these poor conditions.
And how about the consequences?
Let say that all battery companies somehow start to shame of themselves and stop buying cobalt from Congo, then could you please tell me how the Congolese will earn money to survive? Is there a way for them to earn even more than now?
Don't just say what is wrong, but tell how to make it right.
Petko Vasilev : I understand your concern, but the same is true ‘the battery company’ are also highly in constant fear to lose the cobalt from Congo. They could not survive !
The battery must be produced in Congo. Sad story !
God bless people of Congo , I pray that let balance shift in Gods power. In the name of Jesus Christ.
@@at4371 "The battery must be produced in Congo" - this is a way, but in a perfect world. In the real world, it is just a way some businessmen to fill up his pockets and all will end up with a higher price of a Tesla car for our beloved poor american citizens.
P.S. no hard feelings, but I think your God has forgotten the people of Congo.
Petko Vasilev You seriously think this is the only way they can earn money? Slavery? These people should be filthy rich doing the type of work that they do but because of the evil world we live in things end up this way
@@vincentandrews6230 You misunderstood me, pal.
But maybe the problem is in my poor English.
@@vincentandrews6230 Good conditions in countries like that don't happen overnight. I assume you have never been in a poor environment.
Sad
Why the RDC government don't take control of the international price of their cobalt on the world market just like the Arab countries are doing in the oil industry and use the money to regulate their industry by adding security RAISE THE WORKERS SALARY and stop Child labor once and for all. So they could be more competitive and respected arround the world as this thecnology is developing the demand will increase for sure and taking control of this raw material's price would be the key of an economic development of Republic of Congo
EXACTLY. The Government of the DRC needs to take action. Then we can stop crying crocodile tears over their poor workers' conditions. This IS NOT the fault of the developed world.
So sad...
Nice
These people who are rich and supporting the Endeavor of getting this Cobalt mind out of this country should be paying them a wage that they can obviously afford to do which would allow the people to live and a type of civilization which we have here in America a modernized country we have the profit to be able to pay them such and it would be an equal exchange of goods for services financially speaking this is a chance to give them a jump shot into the Modern Age
Make batteries cobalt free, all of those miners will have nothing to eat.
Cobalt-free lithium batteries are already being fitted in increasing numbers to EVs and being used in other energy storage applications. They've been around for a number of years. They are less expensive and last longer too at the deficit of having a bit less energy density. This video is a shameful attempt to muddy the waters and smear 'green' initiatives.
Pass it on to everyone and to the Australian people down under Australia Says IAM who Iam Amen and opposition Says IAM who Iam Amen and amen
i jus blazed one n i wanna go help dig some kobelt
Well thanks anonymous
I think it's crazy that media just triggers people's emotions on this, blaming companies etc. But it's really complex than that. Even Europe during the industrial revolution had children working in factories, not saying it is OK, but it is an economic reality that happens when your country is at the developing stage. Actually preventing these kids from working will throw them deeper into poverty.
well said !
Sadly, simple presentations of rather complex issues appeal to simple minds. It's a trend that can be found everywhere today and polarises popular opinion for no good reason.
So, problem is children working in the mines, or the children that need to work in the mines bcs of poverty?
Essentially it's a POVERTY issue, nothing else. The government of the DRC needs to act to improve the situation. You can't change it externally.
Elon Musks father should purchase this mine and see safety for all.
IM HERE BACUSE I HEARD ELON MUSK FAMILY OWNED A MINE HERE.
Copperbelt Province is in Zambia 🇿🇲 not Congo
WEWEEEEE
Ah on est laaa
Did Pete Buttigieg thank the kids who mined the cobalt for the EV cars?
For christ's sake, ENGAGE YOUR BRAIN before being misled by misinformation !
Yes cars and Smart phones have huge demands on lithium battery technology but so do all forms of GREEN energies like Wind and Solar farms. Mining cobalt for ion-lithium batteries is the front-end dark-side, there is also the back-end (recycling) side that is equally devastating. Due to the complexity of making ion-lithium batteries make it non-cost effective to recycle. Basically most used lithium batteries just get deposited in landfills where they eventually leach into the water tables. When we destroy our fresh water supply system, well grab your ankles.
Cobalt is NOT an ESSENTIAL ingredient of such batteries either. This is DISINFORMATION pure and simple. Cobalt-free lithium-ion batteries are increasingly popular as they are less expensive and last twice as long at some relatively modest reduction in capacity.
Is anyone ever gonna blame Chinese?
since Biden you can only dream.
Is anyone going to blame the DRC GOVERNMENT for taking no action to improve matters for their own citizens ? THINK before apportioning blame.
So this is the ugly truth of just how the electric car is made. I know that my petroleum based truck supports good paying jobs in an industry that is highly regulated for safety standards, wages and employment and the mined Alberta oil is also very ethical.
Now, when I see an electric car, I will look at them as a supporter for child labour in impoverished conditions. The sad reality is this video barely scratches the surface of what is really going on.
The exploitation of children in cobalt mines is shocking, here is how we can help goto.gg/27750
DId you not watch the whole video or are you plain stupid? This is an opportunity for a country with extreme level of poverty to have a source of wealth. Instead of going against it companies should campaign to eradicate child labour and improve conditions or do you prefer to seeing the country starve forever.
@@duardo48 No Eduardo, you are the idiot if you can't see the elitist Leftist "environmentalist" exploitation and hypocrisy
No, it's NOT how electric cars are made. Cobalt-free batteries are increasingly being used. This video is just a smear tactic.
IM SPREADING THIS TO ALL NEWS, SENATE, MUSICIANS, ETC. THROW A ✌ IF U R 2
its gonna get ignored since all those are Chinese owned and controlled. Also musicians? they wont dare stand against master who gives lots of cash. Look up NBA who folded after support for Hong kong.
If only Tesla n smart phone companies can establish their industries down there n make their products there .th only way to solve this cutting th midle man
you mean China which is suicidal if they don't get backing from President and not puppet to Xi.
@@RihardololzR u alright
@@johnmwangi8706 wake up sheep
Who is here after anonymous Video on Elon Musk
So they're mining just has people have for all of human history, yet somehow now it's exploitation?
Yes, in a nutshell, but the bleeding hearts want us to sympathise with their hardship. Laws and regulation are the way to improve the situation and only the DRC can do that ITSELF.
Sti2d
i dont believe it , looks fake ,no way this works like it today for this amount of evs
Its kind of like wakanda and vibranium... sad
I'm sitting here looking at this video on my phone wondering if I should break it.
Tell Elon Musk.
@gooka boo He knows. Tesla, Google, Microsoft, &Apple are being sued for the deaths of children mining the cobalt for less than $2 per day, and they continue to get their cobalt from Congo. I guess paying these claims s a cheap cost of doing business.
Tesla has developed batteries that don't use it, while they're using this new chemistry, the rest of the world will continue to use child mined cobalt. What would Tesla have to do to right this wrong? or have you made some arbitrary decision about whose the enemy and who isn't, and wont consider changing that viewpoint as circumstances change.
no wonder apple is rich. sonia elon mosk the guys who does things for "the love of humanity" 🤦🏻♂️
A dollar a day to the miner. The battery in a Tesla is two thirds of it's cost. What will a Tesla cost when these miners are paid a reasonable wage ?
No,the battery in a Tesla is a maximum of ONE third the cost, often rather less.
I prefer to deal with europeans bcz we share the same values and vision of the world.
11 years old carrying 40 pounds of cobalt, illiterate, never been to school, poor lil guy. Looking over at my little man his age it breaks my heart. There is no difference between those kids and mine. My heart breaks for them and I wish the world wasn’t like this 😔
bruh
Transition….that’s a joke
Le's send "The Squad" into the pits!
AOC+3 ? sure
The main problem is Africa was taken over by several European countries who proceeded to take the knowledge and resources away. Leaving the place fragmented and with no government. That’s what causes this.
INCORRECT. It was Europeans who INTRODUCED learning /teaching into sub-Saharan Africa. There was literally NOTHING there before. They just lived in mud huts and had no infrastructure whatever. Most of Africa was TOTALLY undeveloped if you can imagine that.
and then someone is telling Africans to ambrace LGBTq rights,... How about these rights???!!!
So what they are in the mines. You dont care about the african people you just care about canada getting that money.
excuse me they are dying there
Lets go Brandon
Pass it on to everyone in Northern Hampshires and Southern Hampshires as well as Newsmax and Wnd and Oan And to the American patriotic and down under Australia and Australian people and European people as well as Sky news Australian and new Zealand 2gb and affiliates across Australia Says IAM who Iam Amen and amen
You Say Elon Musk is a good guy?😂😂😂
Elon is a horrible guy
Terrible tragedy of the "green" suffering around the world
The fault here is the damned DRC.
"If you don't understand white supremacy (racism): what it is and how it works, everything else that you do understand, will confuse you." - Neely Fuller Jr.
Poor countries with cobalt are now being invaded for the rich first world countries. This is blood cobalt here Elon Musk.
Very simplistic view you have there. Try thinking a bit harder !
And u all care about the poor...Congolese people...e....?
Probably most don't actually.
Reminds me I need to charge my phone.. Thanks ninjas!