11/20/2023 0 Comments Child labor in cobalt minesSeeing that manufacturers are using these minerals to power various gadgets and automobiles,the demand is increasing and more cobalt will be required with time. As one of them reported “I could only eat when I had enough money” (Amnesty International and Afrewatch, 2020). ![]() Others do so to go to school or be able to eat. Some try to support the family as their parents may not be capable of doing so. Instead, they use local tools or even bare hands to sift through rocks in search of the mineral.Ī large number of children do this daily to survive. When they mine, they don’t use masks, gloves, or protective coverings to shield them from the harmful substances within such an environment. Also, they lack parental care and as such, grow wild while trying to earn a living. It is an illegal and unhealthy practice because they are still young with little or no experience. These companies use cobalt to make batteries used in phones, laptops, electric cars, and various gadgets. Most tech companies push them into artisanal mines to extract cobalt. (Amnesty International 2020).Ĭhildren are thrown into a dangerous and wild environment with little or no hope of survival. Amnesty International estimates that around 40,000 childrenwork in southern DRC. Being that more than half of the world’s cobalt comes from the nation, more amateur “ miners” are pushed into the field to balance the demand. ![]() For instance, in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Central Africa, little children as young as seven are pushed to mine cobalt, a mineral found in rocks. The issue of child labor and slavery in cobalt mining is one of the most abhorrent practices by humans towards children. However, what happens when there are no young ones to take the place of the adults when they pass on? Children or Cobalt? As time passes there’s a gradual shift and while the old pass on, the young ones take over. While the older ones lead, dominate, and make decisions in our society, it is important to not neglect the presence of the younger generation. Now, the sustainability of our environment depends on how we treat each member of our society. Whilst western kids play with their gaming gadgets, some kids in Africa are hard at work mining the very material that goes into making those devices.
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