Jen’s Reviews > Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives > Status Update

Oh, and if you are getting an electric car to “save the planet”, mining cobalt does nothing good for the planet and ecosystem. Those being exploited as workers are called “artisanal” miners. Ie-they use pickaxes, crowbars and shovels and have no protective gear, living wage or recourse if they are injured or a loved one is killed on the job. Artisianal my great aunt Fanny!

So basically all rechargeable batteries use cobalt and it is impossible to follow the source to non-slavery/non-child labor violative cobalt. So every time we buy a smart phone, tablet or electric car, we are supporting exploitative forced child labor, slavery and violence of the people of the Congo. As are the companies that produce those products.