Because we don't use slave labor," Trudeau said in remarks at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. They also threaten to complicate its strategy in China, where a Shanghai factory manufactures vehicles for the worlds top EV market and also for export to Europe and elsewhere in Asia. Reading the phrase 'lithium mining slavery' might shock you at first. China has made strategic choices over the decades that have made Siddharth Kara's previous book Sex Trafficking: Inside the Business of Modern Slavery, won the 2010 Frederick Douglass Book Prize, awarded for the best book written in English on slavery or abolition. The . Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday suggested that China uses slave labor in the production of lithium as he discussed . Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. This puts the South American country ahead of Australia (2.7 million tons), Argentina (2 million tons) and China (1 million tons) (volkswagenag.com). More than 60% of the world's supply of cobalt is mined in the "copper belt" of the south-eastern provinces of DRC. Which isn't democratic at all. WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday linked the production of lithium in China to "slave labor" as he discussed his own country's efforts to ramp up production of . Imagine an entire population of people who cannot survive without scrounging in hazardous conditions for a dollar or two a day. At least 80 artisanal miners died underground in southern DRC between September 2014 and December 2015 alone. Diplomatic tensions between Canada and China have been running high since the detention of Huawei Technologies executive Meng Wanzhou in 2018 and Beijing's subsequent arrest of two Canadians on spying charges. I pray for change, 'Most renewable energy companies' linked with claims of abuses in mines. And then the worst of all is what happens in tunnel digging. (modern). Nor will these ecological problems be confined to specialist metals, analysts have pointed out. But separating the materials might not be that straightforward for all consumers given the complexity of EV supply chains that involve multiple stages of mining, refining, component manufacturing and assembly typically spread across multiple locations and the dangers of that obscuring the original source of raw materials. It was the kind of program that human rights groups and U.S. officials consider a red flag for forced labor in China's western Xinjiang region, where the Communist authorities have detained or. According to the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (an agency within the U.S. Department of Labor), Over 70% of the worlds cobalt is extracted from mines in The Democratic Republic of Congo. All rights reserved. It's a war-torn, deeply impoverished nation that has been subjected to generations of pillage and ransacking going all the way back, now centuries, to the slave trade. Lithium-ion technology has downsides for people and the planet. Lithium mining, which is primarily done in South America, is often associated with poor working conditions and low wages for workers. Though EVsemit fewer greenhouse gasesthan fuel-powered vehicles, their batteriesrequire more mineralsespecially lithium, which is also used to make batteries for smartphones and computers. This notion was also used by Christian colonizers who were intent on destroying traditions that they saw as idolatrous. What is the Stone of Destiny and why is it needed for the King's coronation? Lithium-ion battery prices have plummeted over the past decade or so, yet last year soaring metal prices helped to push up battery costs by 7%. In December, the United Auto Workers union called on mineral investment - particularly from China - as it worked to He signed a deal with the Chinese government for access to mining concessions in exchange for development assistance, a commitment to build roads and some public health clinics, schools, hospitals, things like that and that opened the door. Chinese firms also own, operate or finance most of the exposure to products made with forced labor. Slowly our dependance on fossil fuels is set to diminish and so ease global heating. If you look at the production of cobalt and lithium used in these batteries, a stark picture emerges of an industry exposed to issues such as child labor, modern slavery, and the undermining of. Themodern economyturns nature into a source ofraw materials: morally and spiritually inert matter that is there to be extracted and mobilized worldwide. These potato-sized globs of mineral are rich in copper, cobalt, manganese and other metals. There are some incidents that are just so burned into me that they'll come at me just like a terror, and it's hard. Yet they will necessitatea mining surgetomeet their battery demands. Men, women and children are working without even the most basic protective equipment such as gloves and face masks, said Mark Dummett of Amnesty International, which has investigated the cobalt-mining crisis in DRC. Imagine an entire population of people who cannot survive without scrounging in hazardous conditions for a dollar or two a day. People just don't know what's happening down there. His new book called, Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice| Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information| Ad Choices It is mining on a massive scale, highly mechanised and dependent on cutting-edge technology but powered by thousands of workers - more than 10,000 at TFM - who, like Pierre, are employed as. Then there is the issue of lithium mining. They also interviewed 18 cobalt traders and followed vehicles of miners and traders as they carried cobalt ore from mines to markets where larger companies buy the ore. But this promise is not worth the paper it is written when the companies are not investigating their suppliers. I arrived in the morning and would leave the following morning. The new firm is 49 per cent owned by Ganfeng Zhongkai Mining Technology itself a joint venture between Ganfeng Lithium and Jiangsu Nonghua Intelligent Agriculture Technology Co. with state-backed Xinjiang Geology and Mineral Investment holding the remainder, according to Chinas National Enterprise Credit Informational Publicity System. In some cases, predominantly artisanal mining is taking place. Global demand for cobalt is increasing, but the global cobalt market remains largely unregulated as it falls outside conflict mineral legislation regulating the extraction and sale of other mineral such as gold, coltan and tin from the DRC. Young mothers with babies strapped to their backs, all breathing in this toxic cobalt dust.". In 2012, Unicef estimated that there were 40,000 children working in all the mines across the south, many involved in mining cobalt. Children as young as seven are working in perilous conditions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to mine cobalt that ends up in smartphones, cars and computers sold to millions across the world, by household brands including Apple, Microsoft and Vodafone, according to a new investigation by Amnesty International. These could be hoovered up using robot submersibles that would criss-cross the 4.5m sq km that make up the zone. It is estimated that it takes 2.2 million liters of water to produce 1 ton of lithium. Companies have found themselves caught between the US and China over the issue of Xinjiang. "Our research shows that lithium-ion batteries are produced with an input - cobalt - made by child labor," it said. This is because removing these raw materials can result in soil degradation, water shortages, biodiversity loss, damage to ecosystem functions and an increase in global warming (euronews.green). Because we count on working with, in partnership, with Indigenous peoples, paying their living wages, expecting security and safety standards.". The dangers to health and safety make mining one of the worst forms of child labour. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. The battle to stave off Earths looming climate crisis is driving engineers to develop hosts of new green technologies. Bureau of International Labor Affairs (an agency within the U.S. Department of Labor), Over 70% of the worlds cobalt is extracted from mines in The Democratic Republic of Congo. of two Canadians on spying charges. The disruption of the land can lead to loss of land and water, and can force the communities to migrate away. Activists and Western associations have urged them to cut ties completely, but any moves to distance themselves from the region risk drawing the ire of the Chinese government. Two multinationals denied sourcing cobalt from DRC. Amnesty International and Afrewatch claim that despite the denials by some of the named multinationals, none of those companies named could independently verify where the cobalt in their products come from. Between 2008 and 2018 alone, annual production in the major producing countries rose from 25,400 to 85,000 tons. Their claim is simply not credible, said Mark Dummett. Bolivias lithium projects pose a new potential clash of worldviews. None said they had been in touch with Huayou Cobalt or traced where the cobalt in their products had come from prior to Amnesty Internationals contact. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. "If the pandemic taught us anything,it's resilience, redundancy and reliability in our supply chains," Mr Trudeau said. Rather than renouncing cobalt entirely, he says people should focus on fixing the supply chain. In Uyuni, for example, where one of thetwo new lithium plantswill be constructed, Indigenous communities acknowledge the presence of these sacred beings. Bridget Bentz, Molly Seavy-Nesper and Gisele Grayson adapted it for the web. Technically, under the law, there should not be artisanal mining taking place in any industrial mine. It is a major paradox of the digital era that some of the worlds richest, most innovative companies are able to market incredibly sophisticated devices without being required to show where they source raw materials for their components. The report shows that companies along the cobalt supply chain are failing to address human rights risks arising in their supply chain. It documents testimonies from illegal miners and natives involved in the cobalt mining. "We shouldn't be transitioning to the use of electric vehicles at the cost of the people and environment of one of the most downtrodden and impoverished corners of the world," he says. REUTERS/Blair Gable/File Photo. Scientists are currently working to develop this completely metal-free battery, which marks significant progress towards a sustainable and recyclable model. While all 60 lithium exploration stocks own projects that are focused primarily on lithium, 19 of the 24 cobalt-related stocks were actually focused primarily on copper, nickel, gold or silver.. Lithium Mining Is Leaving Chile's Indigenous Communities High and Dry (Literally) As the metal fuels the clean tech boom, companies race to mine the Atacama Region. suggested that nearly every major automaker has significant A lithium producer for car makers including BMW and Tesla is beginning work to assess battery metals projects in Xinjiang, deepening links between electric vehicle supply chains and a region at the heart of human rights allegations against China. Responding to the allegations, Huayou Cobalt told Amnesty International that our company has not been aware that any of our legitimate suppliers has hired child labour in their mining sites or operated in unsafe working conditions CDM has rigorously selected its ore suppliers to ensure the procurement of raw materials through legitimate channels. Password, My 2023 Fortune Media IP Limited. In theory, Tesla and other auto makers could find a way to keep their relationships with Ganfeng going while avoiding any metals that come from Xinjiang. According to the International Seabed Authority, some deposits contain millions of tonnes of cobalt, copper and manganese. Volkswagen has also faced pressure over a production facility in Urumqi, prompting chief executive Herbert Diess to argue the car makers presence in Xinjiang can be a force for good. Kitco News. The church and the empire believed it was critical todesacralize these more-than-human beingsand treat them as mere resources. Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. Bolivia is home to36 ethnic groupsacross its highland and lowland regions. Last year, a USlaw took effect banning imports from China's Xinjiang region over concerns about forced labour. The 17-year-old escaped the mines and now attends the school with the help of Good Shepherd, a Catholic charity. The United States has alleged use of forced labor by China in sectors including mining and construction. Cobalt does not fall under existing conflict minerals rules in the USA, which cover gold, coltan/tantalum, tin and tungsten mined in DRC. I just want their voices [to] reach the world and then the world will decide what to do with the truth and the testimonies of the Congolese people. As the Spanish discovered the mineral bounty of the so-called New World, like gold and silver, they began an intensiveextraction of its riches, relying on forced labor from local people and imported slaves. Screen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. Siddharth Kara's previous book Sex Trafficking: Inside the Business of Modern Slavery, won the 2010 Frederick Douglass Book Prize, awarded for the best book written in English on slavery or abolition. an Account, Activate China denies abuses in Xinjiang, a major cotton producer that also supplies much of the world's materials for solar panels. In the case of cobalt, 60% of the worlds supply comes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo where large numbers of unregulated mines use children as young as seven as miners. Junior Kahhah/AFP via Getty Images But in addition, perhaps other cultures could learn from Andean relations with nature as more-than-human beings: an inspiration torethink developmentand turn our own way of living into something less destructive. And yet I met mothers pounding their chests in grief, talking about their children who had been buried alive in a tunnel collapse. that also supplies much of the world's materials for solar The human rights groups say they traced the supply chain from these mining sites to Congo Dongfang Mining (CDM), one of the largest mineral processors in the DRC and a wholly owned subsidiary of Chinese mineral company Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Ltd (Huayou Cobalt). Transaction Status, Reset Any indication that Tesla, or another EV or battery manufacturer, is in fact collaborating with businesses that seem plausibly to be using forced labor would be very concerning to investors, said Richard Clayton, research director at SOC Investment Group, which works with union pension funds that manage assets worth more than $US250 billion ($367 billion) and hold Tesla shares. ", Kara says the mining industry has ravaged the landscape of the DRC. By clicking submit, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy. The customer could likely request to buy lithium from Ganfengs other operations, he said. Lithium and Cobalt are two crucial components to create electric vehicles and many batteries. However, the UK still has no method for safely storing nuclear waste underground and relies on keeping highly radioactive remnants from power plant operations above ground. The DRC has a long history of bloody conflict fuelled by the regions mineral wealth and the region still has an estimated $24 trillion in untapped minerals. Paul, a 14-year-old orphan, started mining at the age of 12. According to the government agency charged with oversight of the informal or. It is a major paradox of the digital era that some of the worlds richest, most innovative companies are able to market incredibly sophisticated devices without being required to show where they source raw materials for their components, said Emmanuel Umpula, Afrewatch (Africa Resources Watch) Executive Director. other batteries. In the so-called Lithium Triangle of South America made up of Chile, Argentina and Bolivia vast quantities of water are pumped from underground sources to help extract lithium from ores, and this has been linked to the lowering of ground water levels and the spread of deserts. With 8 million tons, Chile has the worlds largest known lithium reserves. Monday, May 1, gold and silver, PCE Price Index reveals latest data suggests inflation slowing but elevated, The Metals, Money, and Markets Weekly April 28, 2023: Sittin' on a fence, Gold and silver: what you are really paying. China denies abuses in Xinjiang, a major cotton producer that also supplies much of the world's materials for solar panels. Even the nightmares and the terrors, it's all worth it. Catch up with The Loop, 'No idea how long we can continue': East Palestine families still living in limbo, months after fiery train wreck. China denies abuses in Xinjiang, a major cotton producer that also supplies much of the world's materials for solar panels. It's a war-torn, deeply impoverished nation that has been subjected to generations of pillage and ransacking going all the way back, now centuries, to the slave trade. And the reason is, it's a penny-wage way to boost production. supply chains," Trudeau said. In a previously undisclosed document, it was revealed that the company is generating $250 million in profits per year while only paying the six local indigenous communities between $9000 and $60,000 annually (Frankel 2016). Canada has significant sources of lithium, Trudeau said, but Tesla, which has invested heavily in the Chinese market and previously opened a showroom in Xinjiang, said in the report it found no instances of child labor, forced labor or inhumane treatment in audits of its suppliers. The organizations are also calling on China to require Chinese extractive companies operating overseas to investigate their supply chains and address human rights abuses in their operations. Ganfengs plans to expand in Xinjiang risk drawing Elon Musks Tesla closer to the controversy over human rights in the region. The report documents how traders buy cobalt from areas where child labour is rife and sell it to Congo Dongfang Mining (CDM), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chinese mineral giant Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Ltd (Huayou Cobalt). and Scrap, Open Now, add to that the menace in many cases of armed forces pressuring people to dig, parents having to make a painful decision, 'Do I send my child to school or do we eat today?' The DRC produced approximately 74% of the world's cobalt in 2021. divest from Canadian critical minerals, citing national The partners will aim to take advantage of local lithium resources and contribute to the regions economic development, according to a statement posted to WeChat. Junior Kannah /AFP via Getty Images Amnesty International and Afrewatch are calling on multinational companies who use lithium-ion batteries in their products to conduct human rights due diligence, investigate whether the cobalt is extracted under hazardous conditions or with child labour, and be more transparent about their suppliers. That means, if you want to turn all the UKs 31m cars into electric vehicles you would require about 12% of the worlds entire copper output just for Britain. However the mining and processing of these materials often involve many labor and ethical malpractices, such as child labor and borderline slavery. At the so-called national lithium table, a high-level meeting of ministers and regional politicians, Argentina's President Mauricio Macri announced that 100,000 tons of lithium would be sourced in the Puna region over the next four years. Because we count on working with, in partnership, with Indigenous peoples, paying their living wages, expecting security and safety standards.". The mines have taken over everything. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. This puts the South American country ahead of Australia (2.7 million tons), Argentina (2 million tons) and China (1 million tons) (, In an interesting article about South Americas lithium fields by Maeve Campbell, last updated November 21, 2022, it states that any type of resource extraction is harmful to the planet. World production is set to soar over the next decade. But this promise is not worth the paper it is written when the companies are not investigating their suppliers. One of the largest mineral processors in the country is Huayou Cobalt subsidiary CDM. There they breathe in cobalt-laden dust that can cause fatal lung ailments while working tunnels that are liable to collapse. To this day, worshipers in nearby Lipez region explain the salt flats origin witha traditional legend: It is the mothers milk of their Apu, a female volcano named Tunupa. This is currently only guaranteed in large-scale industrial mining. Rather, they are treated as integral to peoples earthly everyday life. Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. And not just that, they dominate the chain all the way through to the battery level. The remaining companies either accepted Amnestys claims or were investigating the claims. Ties to Xinjiang-exposed suppliers are becoming more problematic for a swathe of industries. In Idaho, America's first, and only, cobalt mine in decades is opening, Belgium returned a single tooth to the Congo this week. supply chain problems. Companies in the sector face significant reputational, regulatory, and potentially legal risks stemming from the environmental and human rights practices associated with battery metals mining, he said. In 2014 approximately 40,000 children worked in mines across southern DRC, many of them mining cobalt, according to UNICEF. And while those outside of the DRC differentiate between cobalt extracted by the country's high-tech industrial mining companies and that which was dug by artisanal miners, Kara says the two are fundamentally intertwined. hide caption. In Chile, for example, where the majority of the worlds lithium is extracted, many workers are paid as little as $1 per hour and are not provided with adequate safety equipment. The Student Newspaper of Westminster Christian Academy. Xinyu, Jiangxi-based Ganfeng prioritises the importance of environmental protection, social responsibility and corporate governance, which includes defending employee rights, the company said in a statement. by child labor," it said. One solution put forward to these green technology problems would be to limit the exploitation of resources on land and turn instead to the sea to gather the materials we need. So if you don't play ball with the power brokers at the top of the chain and with the Global North, Patrice Lumumba showed what's the outcome, what will happen. Kara acknowledges the important role cobalt plays in tech devices and in the transition to sustainable energy sources. I would spend 24 hours down in the tunnels. Because we count The United States has alleged use of forced labor by China in sectors including mining and construction. It's a demise that is almost impossibly horrific to imagine. to be more expensive. There is no alternative there. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accuses China of using slave labour to produce lithium, Catch up with The Loop, your quick wrap of this morning's news.
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