Now, That’s What I Call Green.
This is going to be a very deep episode. We’re talking human rights violations, genocide and human trafficking and it all comes down to the devices you use and the batteries that power them.
While Electric Vehicles are definitively better than fossil fuel vehicles, they are not perfect and it’s important to understand why. I’m not doing this episode to induce guilt or horror, but before we can make impactful change, we often need to first understand exactly what is going on.
In this episode I share:
- Why EVS are definitively better than fossil fuel vehicles
- Why EVS are not perfect
- The downside that comes from getting the metals we need to make EV batteries
- The horrific human cost of mining Cobalt
- Why the horrifying history of the congo laid the groundwork for the present day humans rights abuses
- The appalling crimes happening in the congo because of the mines resources
- How western companies have been funding conflicts in the congo
- One of the biggest companies involved in causing these problems
- Some of the companies that are doing better when it comes to congo mining
- How battery technology development may help
- How to recycle your tech
- Why I see positive change on the horizon
Key Quotes
“You do not want to be responsible for someone else’s horrific struggles, but also what are we going to do about it?”
“We talk a lot about fast fashion, we don’t talk about our obsession with tech. And it’s actually a very similar premise and arguably just as destructive.”
“We all need a phone, we often need a laptop, so don’t feel guilty that you need these things. But you can do better with what you buy and how long you keep it.”
More Information
Some places you can learn more and donate to help the situation in the congo:
https://friendsofthecongo.org/children/
https://donate.unhcr.org/int/en/democratic-republic-congo-emergency
https://www.wfp.org/countries/Congo
https://goodweave.org/the-issue/child-and-forced-labor-in-artisanal-cobalt-mining-in-the-congo/
https://www.theclimateclub.co/environmental-healthblogs/347zlomifb9x9jsyogvi4kymlynxfb
More information about Fair Phone: https://www.fairphone.com/nl
You can get involved with the podcast online
Find our full podcast plus our sister podcast via the website here: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallpodcasts/
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Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/ For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/