Cobalt Red

By Joyce Minkler CoL

Cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo is crucial to the manufacture of rechargeable batteries, on which mobile phones, laptops, electric vehicles and so many other tech products depend. Our Springfield Dominican neighbors recently shared what they have learned about this issue with Motherhouse residents — and we were appalled. Cobalt miners, including thousands of young children, work in horrendous conditions for a few dollars a day. Cobalt is a toxic mineral, so public health risks linked to mining are enormous. Mining is done by large foreign corporations which have devastated the environment as they create huge areas to be mined, resulting in the displacement of local residents who are now homeless and without opportunities, other than mining, to make a living.

The history of the mineral-rich DRC is one of continued exploitation by foreign powers and corporations. Poor and suffering local residents are the bottom line of a supply chain that enriches each step up the chain: mining companies, technology companies and all of their off shoots. 

Watch this DemocracyNow.org interview with Siddharth Kara, author of “Cobalt Red” for a full picture of the real cost of our modern tech world.