The cobalt challenge - The dark side of the energy transition

The cobalt challenge - The dark side of the energy transition | DW Documentary

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4 aylar önce

To ensure that driving continues to be possible despite the climate crisis, the automotive industry is relying on electric cars. But many of their batteries use an extremely problematic raw material: Cobalt.
Heat, drought, floods. The climate crisis has arrived in Europe. To ensure that driving remains possible while the CO2 footprint is reduced, the automotive industry has turned to a solution: the rapid and comprehensive switch to electric cars. The EU Commission has decided on the same solution. Now, not just Tesla, but Volkswagen, Volvo, Peugeot and Renault are all investing tens of billions of euros in electromobility. And electromobility requires batteries.
But many of these batteries contain an extremely problematic raw material: Cobalt. Mined in the form of ore, 65 to 70 percent of global cobalt production is located in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
This film shows the dark side of cobalt mining. Child labor is just one of many problems. The entire sector is riddled with corruption. Soil is contaminated and people's health and lives are put at risk. China's market dominance is driving Europe into a dangerous dependency. Faced with the gigantic problems posed by the coveted raw material, the EU is looking for other ways to get its hands on cobalt. The film asks an uncomfortable question: should mines in Europe be reopened?
#documentary #dwdocumentary #cobalt
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YORUMLAR: 1 700

@lim8581 5 gün önce

It's a real eye-opener to see the challenges behind the shift to electric vehicles. While it's a step towards addressing climate change, the reliance on cobalt raises serious ethical and environmental concerns. The situation in Congo and the issues with market dominance are alarming. It's crucial for the industry and regulators to find sustainable and ethical solutions. This film does a great job of highlighting the complexities of green technology and the importance of responsible sourcing. It's a call to action for more ethical practices in our journey towards a greener future.

@kassidyfelix4108 4 aylar önce

It' is sad how people complimenting this documentary but never mentioned the struggle these people are facing.. don't get me wrong this is excellent work 👍 the truth is we all gonna pay for what we are doing to these people.. my heart is broken watching this show 😢

@MSDGroup-ez6zk 4 aylar önce

The problem is why the USA allies still colonize some Africans or other parts of the world?

@KyleRuggles 4 aylar önce

I agree. :( The real truth is often hard for people to face, ever see that episode of South Park when Kyle's dad goes to San Francisco with his Hybrid EV and they're all smelling their farts? Kind of the same thing.

@SpaceBugFood 4 aylar önce

@@MSDGroup-ez6zkas a Russian my country has plenty to be ashamed of in Africa

@Jake00001 4 aylar önce

DW ups the game consistently - fabulous work sets high standards for others to follow. DW, keep the excellent work going!

@monopalle5768 4 aylar önce

Rainbow parades and women, am I right everyone on earth?

@kingnghi 3 aylar önce

Lpp

@spy_balloon 3 aylar önce

@monopalle5768 👍

@HuyNguyen-yh6vc 3 aylar önce

DW - politics - bias - China - Russia = true news

@rossengeorgiew9589 2 aylar önce

@@HuyNguyen-yh6vc😂 yeah, they always talk for some issues where only China and Russia are bad, comfortably forgetting to mention where the Investitions have their origin from... 😅

@darnellrobeson4761 2 aylar önce

I feel awful for the citizens. Im shook watching this. I cannot understand why their government cant just create a real mining company and hire the adult locals. And force the Chinese to pay the mining company actual prices. How are they sitting on money but remain so poor. Mind boggling. I hate seeing people mistreated. It doesnt have to be like this. Great documentary DW.

@devverma144 2 aylar önce

The history of Congo is extremely sad. Look up the "Congo Free State atrocities". For the longest time it was the personal property of a Belgian king. Yes, not a colony but a personal property of King Leopold II. He made the lives of natives a living hell to extract as much Rubber as possible for his personal gain. The state was later transferred to Belgium which didn't change much. Then they gave independence to the country in a very deplorable state with no infrastructure or measures taken to make sure the country could run on its own. The country has been highly unstable since. The native leaders continued on the same path of exploitation. Multiple coups and civil wars later, the country is still not run properly. They don't really have money to set up their own mining company. The country is running on foreign aid.

@sylvieamani780 2 aylar önce

This is an example of why I support the Niger Coup which has now made it able for the new leaders to increase the price for their Uranium. This price is what other competitors pay on the international market. Finally some fairness for their people. I look forward to the day the Congolese people will be able to benefit the same way.

@anonymousprivet1227 2 aylar önce

@@devverma144 They are constantly battling big industry high tech countries although they have never had the opportunity to regroup from the previous devastating external government occupations.

@chasejones8302 2 aylar önce

@@devverma144 Didn't Europe go through WWII? Didn't Asia get obliterated in the 60's and 70's? King Leopold died in 1909.

@NavigatEric 4 aylar önce

Excellent documentary and very informative, thank you DW. The eV generation is simply trading old problems with petroleum for new problems with heavy metals. Not mentioned, Lake Saimaa has endangered fresh water seals living in it. Lets hope they are considered during Finlands development.

@st-ex8506 4 aylar önce

Please tell me which "heavy metals" you are talking about?

@MSDGroup-ez6zk 4 aylar önce

@@st-ex8506 for example blades for a wind turbine that cannot be swallowed by the earth.

@st-ex8506 4 aylar önce

@@MSDGroup-ez6zk No, but turbine blade materials can be re-used, or now even recycled with new generation blades... it is even mandatory in my country Switzerland. No dumping or burying of any kind is allowed. But my question was about heavy metals...

@agolftweetler3995 4 aylar önce

@@st-ex8506batteries can be recycled too. Tesla does this and half it's battery line is now cobalt free.

@qaisarjanjua 4 aylar önce

This Documentary is a powerful eye-opener, exposing the heartbreaking reality of cobalt miners in Congo facing exploitation by Chinese companies. It's time we question when human greed will wane. Just like the oil industry in the last century, cobalt mining today shows how we must learn to care for one another. Let's stand united, demanding ethical practices and respect for human rights in the mining industry. Together, we can create a fairer world, where profit doesn't come at the cost of lives and dignity. This documentary serves as a wake-up call, urging us to prioritize humanity over greed and work towards a more compassionate and sustainable future.

@DWDocumentary 4 aylar önce

Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts!

@Jkl62200 3 aylar önce

Are you and DW going for give Glencore of Switzerland and ERG of Luxembourg a free pass? You do know that many of the locals miners are on a freelance basis? How about the Belgians who ruled them for eons? It's offensive to always blame the Chinese. Yes.. They could invest more on LEGITIMATE employees but at least they pay. There was a time when westerners came in and just took.

@RedLemon69 2 aylar önce

@@DWDocumentaryhi, may I ask is there reference somewhere regarding what did china trade or pay in term of the corruption mentioned in the video? And how do they compare to other mining operations that are owned by other countries besides China? Although it's good intentions to find unethical practice, but it seem pretty vague by concluding everything by saying corruption running in the background without some tangible reference. When mining industry as a whole seem to be open secret for them to exploit wherever they exist.

@chubiforever1 Aylar önce

@@Jkl62200 These people are such hypocrites. I grow tired of the double standards and hypocrisy. Hope these western "experts" get their comeuppance

@zodjenkins2595 3 aylar önce

It's hard to look at these global problems, but we as the global community need to see it for ourselves. Thanks DW

@mayito9100 4 aylar önce

“You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.”-Malcolm S. Forbes.

@alexcarter8807 4 aylar önce

ok boomer.

@TodaTruth 4 aylar önce

@@alexcarter8807Gen Z 🧟‍♀️ 📲

@jerahmeelli5508 3 aylar önce

Amen

@lucamckenn5932 3 aylar önce

Thanks Mario you rock.

@katebl2704 4 aylar önce

This is the most brilliant documentary by DW yet. Thank you for this incredible work.

@piddy44-hl5ln 4 aylar önce

Calm down mate 😬

@monopalle5768 4 aylar önce

bot

@matik1662 3 aylar önce

It's biased but not as bad as western media 😂

@AusFlip 3 aylar önce

The problems are: 1. No source information for these images. A lot of them I recognise from quite an old BBC documentary that has been slammed by people who know how it was made. 2. Cobalt from "artisinal" mining probably provides a fraction of 1% of cobalt. Also, Green Energy isn't the only use. It's also used an important catalyst in oil refining. 3. Most batteries now are LiFeP - no cobalt. Cobalt anodes tend to be high end. Eg, with model 3 now onlt the aWD LR uses a cobalt battery. 4. Last but far from least, this isn't a cobalt problem. It's a DRC problem. It's a badly undeveloped country with terrible conflict issues. If these kids weren't mining for cobalt they'd be doing whatever else they could do to make money. If they had uranium they'd be digging that up, if they had easy to access oil they be digging that up, or diamonds, or gold. Stop tying it to EVs. That's a favourite line of the oil companies, and part of the disinformation they love to put out to try to discredit EVs, which they know will kill their business model. It's an issue with development and conflict and exploitation, of which the oil companies have been at the top of the banner.

@diegovirgen8484 2 aylar önce

Not a DW documentary. They are only the broadcasters. The production team and filmmakers… you probably meant to say that. Still, thanks DW to show a bit of this unfair world.

@alexcarter8807 4 aylar önce

Another excellent DW documentary. This is why I'm happy with my bicycle, not an e-bike just a bike, and a flip phone and an oldie-old laptop I keep plugged in lol - I'd be pretty happy running it from a gel cell (no cobolt, lithium etc in those) and keeping my life as low tech as possible.

@wiezyczkowata 3 aylar önce

if you keep your laptop plugged in then you are using more energy then you should if you had a good battery, it means you are using more fossil fuels to create electricity then cobalt...

@begonaRR 3 aylar önce

@@wiezyczkowata, what's the environmental impact of a new computer?

@wiezyczkowata 3 aylar önce

@@begonaRR what's the environmental impact of having your old laptop constantly plugged in? you don't need to buy new laptop, just new battery so it won't be plugged in, then make sure you don't degrade it too fast,

@begonaRR 3 aylar önce

@@wiezyczkowata , plugged in just when you need it.

@begonaRR 3 aylar önce

@@wiezyczkowata what's the carbon print of making a new battery, from extraction of components to delivery to the consumer?

@paula003 3 aylar önce

Excellent documentary! Im not an expert in history, but it seems to me that this is an old story, it’s the same business model used in the past centuries: a small bunch of men benefit, the rest of the people are exploited and either in poverty or financially crippled.

@julians472 4 aylar önce

Great work DW! This film is shocking and horrific how the Congo people are being treated. And not to mention nature

@DWDocumentary 4 aylar önce

Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment!

@Wilson-xd4zq 4 aylar önce

DW is late to the party. What's going on in Congo has been reported for over a year now. Lithium also has pollution risks. So the self-described environmentalists who sanctimoniously preach about how green they are really aren't that green. They are just polluting in a different way.

@1timbarrett 4 aylar önce

We have got to start valuing nature as part of our shared heritage…!😢

@controversial_7 3 aylar önce

Your people are putting those kids in mines and y'all don't cre

@shuaipeng602 4 aylar önce

Here is the thing, business will push for the maximum legal benefit of what it can do without blow back. It is up to the government to push back, to protect its citizens against outside sources. If this problem resists there is something seriously wrong with the government

@rivfaderTV 4 aylar önce

African countries were structured by their colonial master nations to transfer their wealth to them even after independence all in the name of servicing bad debt. While corruption exists in Africa, it is impossible to service these debts and grow a national economy.

@shuaipeng602 4 aylar önce

@@rivfaderTV it may be true, but nothing is impossible, china came back from what it was to now. History is history, is the future people Have to focus on.

@dekev7503 4 aylar önce

@@shuaipeng602 China’s case is entirely different. Most Chinese are of the same tribe, speak the same language and share the same cultures. China also has over 4000 years of history. Most African countries were formed by force( divide and conquer) by colonialists. These countries are made up of multiple sovereign tribal kingdoms that in many instances were at war with each other for centuries. After independence the former colonial powers still exploit these countries either through direct control or indirectly by turning a blind eye to the unscrupulous practices of these multinational companies, now the Chinese have gotten in on it. This exploitation takes place because it is almost impossible to have a stable and competent government in most African countries. If a president from tribe A gets elected into office, his 1st action in office would be to appoint his tribes men in key positions in government and to pass policies that victimise various marginalised tribes that have been in attrition with his tribe in one way or the other. When the next president, who is from tribe B gets elected, he repeats the same process, and the vicious cycle continues.

@pietrodeveloper 4 aylar önce

That's a very dishonest take. It's easier to think that some evil and greedy people are the cause, but the reality is they are just satisfying the REAL demands of the public. It's buyers who, for good reasons, try to get the most out their money. People when buy a t-shirt or a solar panel will filter by price, that's the reality. And if you offer them the same product at a higher price saying they were more responsible with they employees and environment, at least 80% of them will choose a cheaper. 80% of solar panels sold are made in China, just 1% was made in Europe.

@arbaz79 4 aylar önce

As always an excellent & informative documentary❤.Keep it up 👍.

@jorgeuzcategui5713 2 aylar önce

As someone who works as cobalt and nickel mining analyst, this is a great documentary. It shines a light on the great need for these critical minerals that go into EVs and renewable energy systems to reduce carbon emissions, but also the challenges that this brings - particularly to the local populations who do not benefit from the riches of their own nations/lands, and in many instances, suffer from it. More sustainable mining is needed.

@ct1762 Aylar önce

reduce carbon emissions by what... .02% IF we get to 80% of sales to EV's? This is not the way... not by a long shot.

@ANERI2005 11 gün önce

Wiesz jaki jest teraz poziom CO2? 0.4% w atmosferze. Możesz to sprawdzić. Poniżej 0.03 % zacznie zamierać życie na Ziemi. To też możesz sprawdzić. ECOFASZYŚCI prowadzą świat i ludzkość do zagłady ‼️😡

@dakotaarya9017 4 aylar önce

From a E.U. citizen: I once again thank you all for this precious work, and I'm really sorry for the things I don't know and for the things my country might contribute to, that hurt other human beings. I'll try to be more conscious and more wise about my life on this earth. I value you all. peace

@turboed1337 4 aylar önce

The most underrated human. I salute you good sir/ma'am. You are the reason I breathe peacefully everyday in this world. If people like you understood things I am sure this world would be far less miserable than right now

@tmada8270 3 aylar önce

Thanks so much, as an African it's comforting to know that you feel empathy for what our leaders in collusion with ours are doing to our detriment

@julianparker2758 3 aylar önce

Sounds like your blaming the victim

@fakuridesne 4 aylar önce

i been watching DW documentary for many years. Love this. Keep up good work

@funland777 4 aylar önce

I eagerly wait for Documentaries from DW, I loved their unbiased reporting, and to the depth analysis.

@DWDocumentary 4 aylar önce

Thanks for watching and for the positive feedback! We're glad you like our content. :)

@rsc9520 3 aylar önce

Me too !!!

@RodgersOmbongi 3 aylar önce

Me three😂

@tjlovesrachel 3 aylar önce

It’s not unbiased when it comes to guns

@pcnz 3 aylar önce

Great documentary into cobalt. Would have been nice hear about the moves to cobalt free batteries. Like the LFP battery. The bulk of cars being produced currently by car manufacturers like Tesla, BYD and MG are using these batteries.

@angelokennedy3650 3 aylar önce

"As of 2023, LFP (lithium iron phosphate) batteries have a market share of about 30% in the global electric vehicle (EV) battery market, while NMC (nickel manganese cobalt) batteries have a market share of about 60%. The remaining 10% of the market is made up of other battery chemistries, such as NCA (nickel cobalt aluminum)."

@angelokennedy3650 3 aylar önce

For now, its factually NCMs that move the EVs. You need the range from cobalt! Lets just fix the upstream investment and ESG issue; needless to downplay it

@pcnz 3 aylar önce

No you don't need cobalt for range and historically its true that was the case, but the industry is moving away from it. Only performance models are still using it from the manufacturers which are evolving their technology quickly and have already moved to LFP for high volume vehicles. 450km range from LFP and higher is plenty for 95% of people. There is also the next generation LMFP (Manganese) coming. The new Tesla Model 3 (aka Highland) will be using this, it has higher power density over LFP and while also being free of nickel and cobalt. Then there is the fact that LFP batteries are far more stable when damaged. The solution to the cobalt and nickel problem is to stop using them.

@trickyabb 3 aylar önce

Lithium mining has the same problem. You just missed the point

@pcnz 3 aylar önce

@@trickyabb pretty sure Australia where most lithium comes from doesn't have a child labour problem. I think you missed the point.

@pensacolapads 2 aylar önce

Great reporting, thank you for keeping us informed!

@DWDocumentary 2 aylar önce

Thanks for watching and sharing your feedback!

@icstrim87 4 aylar önce

Incredible how you make such good documentaries every week!

@ericscottstevens 4 aylar önce

One could expect that China will lodge a protest.. Or at least influence other rival producers from delving further into this human rights debacle.

@diegovirgen8484 2 aylar önce

Not a DW documentary. They are only the broadcasters. The production team and filmmakers… you probably meant to say that. Still, thanks DW to show a bit of this unfair world.

@infraredsprouts2073 Aylar önce

Thank you DW for bringing the plight of these people forward, something sadly the BBC would never tackle. 'Cobalt red' by Siddharth Kara is a great read on the subject.

@DWDocumentary Aylar önce

Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.

@Schoritzobandit 2 aylar önce

The songs from the Finnish and the Congolese choir were both amazing and really good ways to round this documentary out. I would have liked to understand why the Finnish fishermen lost their lawsuit, but otherwise I learned a ton about the whole world of cobalt and its impacts in politics, the economy, and the lives its production has impacted.

@Viper881 Aylar önce

You enjoyed their songs as you typed your comment on your Apple IPhone. You're the problem

@ItsOttis 11 gün önce

@@Viper881and what did you type on? Your typewriter?

@JohnnyP414 2 aylar önce

Such brave men. The look of pure anger on the miners face @19:46 sums it all up. Such a shame that those who govern the DRC care only enough to enrich themselves in the short term rather than reaping the full benefits of their newfound global position

@user-fg6lm3ef5o 3 aylar önce

This is a 5 Star production, thank you for spreading awareness.

@PixelShade 3 aylar önce

Thank you DW... I have been raising this subject like these for several years. But people around me get continuously swayed by large corporations green washing. Causing a false sense of moral high-ground, as they are thinking they are "doing the right thing". I wished we had a financial system that was not built on constant growth, exploitation and consumption. What we really need to do is to find prosperity of owning and having "less". That's what I am doing right now and I am down to 0.6tons CO2/year according to WWFs climate calculator. With Swedish society adding another 3 tons on top of that. I guess that would be hard for a lot of people, but for me personally that journey has only been positive to my well-being and my life.

@weirdshibainu 4 aylar önce

Whenever I bring this subject up when talking about the transition to E.V.'s, first I'm told I'm wrong, then I'm told that it can't be as bad as I describe, then I'm told that non-cobalt batteries are just around the corner and it's not an issue.

@user-ri8zj4mx2x 4 aylar önce

your not wrong,the people that say your wrong are wilfully blind.

@agolftweetler3995 4 aylar önce

depends what your argument is. biomass extraction is far less and cleaner here than fossil fuels (even with cobalt which is just byproduct of copper). Meanwhile Tesla recycles their batteries & using cobalt free in half of its new cars produced. One of the greenest lithium factories in world is being built in SoCal as I type.

@johnnyblue4799 4 aylar önce

@@agolftweetler3995 Are you trying to say the mining for lithium is any better?

@weirdshibainu 4 aylar önce

@@agolftweetler3995 You're the perfect example of willful blindness to the issue detailed in this video.

@joelsanikomoonga1763 4 aylar önce

DW is rising daily. Thank you for sharing real issues with us. Longlive DW!

@monopalle5768 4 aylar önce

bot

@user-kg4fr9jr7v 4 aylar önce

Thank you DW, great job, this is really the things people should know about

@DWDocumentary 4 aylar önce

Thank you for your comment!

@diegovirgen8484 2 aylar önce

Not a DW documentary. They are only the broadcasters. The production team and filmmakers… you probably meant to say that. Still, thanks DW to show a bit of this unfair world.

@jasonrhl 3 aylar önce

Did they mention we already use tonnes of the stuff cleaning fuel? Cobalt plays a vital role in catalysing the removal of sulphur from oil, contributing to a more sustainable society. Desulphurisation is the process by which sulphur is removed from oil. A significant use of cobalt globally is as part of catalysts in this desulphurisation process.

@waitawhileexplorer3904 4 aylar önce

We really need to ensure that the electricity being sourced is not supplied by coal first. If not why are we going down this path?

@begonaRR 3 aylar önce

We waste so much energy. We need to save energy first and learn how to love with less. Having and wasting more doesn't make us happier anyway.

@huzaifasafdar8035 2 aylar önce

Seeing highly unsafe and precarious working condition and activities in Congo was extremely painful. We need to work systematically for mitigating those!

@thorfactor Aylar önce

I can go on about greed and all the inequality in this world. But it just breaks my heart to see what these people and especially the children in these DRC mines have to go through .

@gabrielj9776 Aylar önce

Their struggle is, and has been very real! 👑🔥

@es9382 4 aylar önce

Amazing job DW..every cent spent, well spent.

@mantisgardens1375 3 aylar önce

These companies should be required to display their involvement in this type of cobalt mining it's pretty clear something is wrong here

@Boo-pv4hn 4 aylar önce

THANKYOU for broadcasting this! It could be seen as contribersial and I imagine the companies would of tried to suppress it, I agree we need to switch our energy and come of petrol and oil based products but this isn’t the way, we’ve got options like wind and water pressure ect there are buildings on “grand designs” that are specifically made to be eco conscious but sending people into the mines isn’t the answer

@robertpounds4842 4 aylar önce

Cobalt is used in fuel to remove sulphur never to be recovered. It is also used in phone and laptop battery’s ,it is being removed from car and storage battery’s as we speak for cheaper and safer chemistries

@Boo-pv4hn 4 aylar önce

@@robertpounds4842 I agree with reusing what’s already in stock but not doing this to get more. We should be putting resources into making them in the lab. Or making alternatives in the lab

@djinn666 2 aylar önce

@@Boo-pv4hn "We should be putting resources into making them in the lab" Okay, so you want to make cobalt, an element, in the lab? Do you have a 6x10^23 particle accelerators in your back pocket that you'd like to share with the world?

@Piyesis71 4 aylar önce

Out of the frying pan and into the fire. Most informative documentary. Thank you.

@DWDocumentary 4 aylar önce

Thanks for watching!

@controversial_7 3 aylar önce

You don't care about the people that are suffering?

@BBoyBiff 2 aylar önce

I think that this is the most amazing documentary ive seen in ages , countries and continents basically exploiting the poor , stealing their resources virtually, then trying to give it the blue sky thinking positive climate goodness spiel , this has saddened me more than anything ive seen in recent history , those poor kids and parents will be doing this work til they die , at probably a younger age than they should

@AwokenEntertainment 2 aylar önce

wow, this is eye-opening.. many people do not realize the impact of batteries in our phones and daily technology

@gasfe1 4 aylar önce

Exceptional documentary. Thank you for the public service.

@DWDocumentary 4 aylar önce

Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Be sure to check out our channel for more content.

@yemio1005 Aylar önce

The businesses who want the cobalt should be forced to build schools and support local infrastructure in and around the areas the workers live and the mines. They should have audits for the amount they have given back to the community. I don’t understand why this can’t be done

@evanmcarthur3067 4 aylar önce

I’ve gotten in fights with people about this at work cause I talk to kids about these things and people get upset. No one wants to hear about this but I often bring it up in “polite society”! Along with the face that while I use a fair number of electronic I haven’t driven in 10 years or own a car. EV cars are not the answer. If we want to keep any semblance of a normal comfortable life, ordinary citizens need to stop driving in cars, push for more public transportation and walking cities. Only vehicles on the streets need to be emergency vehicles, transport vehicles and buses!!

@ganaspin 3 aylar önce

Although I would be super happy if it's like the guys on the video said, from what I researched, it's not possible to recycle minerals for an indefinite amount of times. Each time the material gets more and more contaminated with undesirable elements and thus they increasingly lose performance and reliability to the point when it actually gets too expensive (at least in the commercial standards we have today) to recycle that same patch to build a reasonably good device. Please, people, understand that I'm not saying we shouldn't recycle or whatever. I'm just making a point that, from what I have studied, it's an illusion to think that recycling of minerals we'll solve all our problems alone, at least for the long-term planning. I might be wrong, but as a guess, I would bet that in the medium-term future, it will get cheaper and more attractive to obtain some of those minerals from extraterrestrial sources, like comets. And, maybe, extraterrestrial mining plus excellent management in recycling could both relieve some, if not all, the burden on poor communities that are exploited by mining companies in so many countries around the world, especially the most vulnerable to foreign interference and institutionalized corruption.

@IppodoTea327 4 aylar önce

In addition to the similar topic- dirty copper, DW team is the only few media in the world to report this kind of things. Keep up the good work!

@owlhouse000 3 aylar önce

Many EV batteries no longer use cobalt, and the largest use of cobalt comes from the portable consumer electronics industry. Cobalt-free lithium-iron EV batteries are used in Tesla's standard range cars. Cobalt-free sodium-ion batteries are being used in EVs in China.

@mickskov3949 4 aylar önce

I have had family members travel to Africa. Never doing an exchange of trade, though, for one event, trained an electrician during and ongoing medical camp stations. I have a few friends in resources and a geologist who sometimes joins the Sunday coffee table, he takes some of his time to identify rocks I discover while landscaping. I will speak to them about this.

@Elcapulove 4 aylar önce

I only have to express: What a bloody abuse and injustice 😡 😢.

@franzjoseph1837 4 aylar önce

I think the global economic structure put in place by financial giants who have created a business model of the cheapest labor for the highest profits is the main cause, not just the mineral itself.

@dukeofthedance8062 4 aylar önce

100% agree that's a big part of it.

@rivfaderTV 4 aylar önce

Exactly this. Windfalls of natural resources should be lifting DRC and other supplier nations out of poverty and this colonial artifact of indebtedness to the west. When it doesn't, it's only exploitation. Also, MF DOOM a legend!

@dukeofthedance8062 4 aylar önce

@@rivfaderTV I kept thinking: "why dont usa businessmen go in and set these guys up really nice with good wages and safer jobs so WE can get the cobalt?" Guess usa thinks it's not worth it even when these poor people are getting product sold with heavy Chinese thumb on it. We can't offer them better than _that_ ?? Give them a union without intimidation and it would help boost Africa as developing country, but I would be so insulted if I weighed it 5 times each with different scales and then theirs said said 10lbs lighter. Wonder how many chinese people accidentally disappear when there. Some of these people live in toughest conditions ever. They don't have anything to lose so I'm kind of surprised they haven't rebelled against china yet or firmly said "dont come back, we dont need you." and mean it. There's so many other customers or buyers they could find, so if legitimate, then the world would accept their cobalt no prob and maybe buy more of it to help prove things can change when done right.

@TheManLab7 4 aylar önce

The way it always has been then.

@Fister-kw5un 4 aylar önce

Can you explain more, or do you only know the commie headlines?

@ElishaThePirate 3 aylar önce

Good job on clarifying this DW - I'm Congolese so this gives me abit more clarity on this resource for my people's sake.

@Kodakcompactdisc 4 aylar önce

I love DW documentary ❤

@mayito9100 4 aylar önce

The greatest challenge of this world is knowing enough about a subject to think you are right, but not knowing enough about the subject to know you are wrong…

@baudlair1 25 gün önce

What a great exemple of perseverance.

@tomasanteunis39 2 aylar önce

Wauw! What a documentary!! What a Sad country but What Beautifull People and a Strong living power!

@zithekhosa1541 4 aylar önce

will Africa ever rest? will we ever live prosperously, like other nations, what did we do to deserve all these problems?

@st.peterunner8758 4 aylar önce

The exploitation is appalling, and it’s been hundreds of years. None of the vast wealth from the resources ever benefit Africans. It should be illegal for other countries to exploit like this

@dukeofthedance8062 4 aylar önce

No. It will never happen unless maybe thousand or more years go by.

@lilianasaba9846 4 aylar önce

@@dukeofthedance8062 and by then there will be no minerals left.

@JoaoSoares66 4 aylar önce

Another great doc from YOU! Hope Congo finds a way out. It is criminal what is happening there. Real greenwahing here in global North!

@user-jk4bs6ym7l 3 aylar önce

Cobalt is also used in the refinement of crude oil, which is used to make petrol, diesel, kerosene and pretty much any other fossil fuel that you can think of. The process is called desulphurisation and cobalt is used to extract sulphur from crude oil. When you compare the EV market, to that of the fossil fuel market it is almost insignificant. Perhaps we need to find a way to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels to significantly reduce our use of cobalt!

@begonaRR 3 aylar önce

Reduce the need to waste energy. We waste so much energy! From using the cars too much to keeping ampliacces plugged in and leaving unused lights on plus many more examples.

@JDAbelRN Aylar önce

Yes, think about that when flying on a commercial airline. Flying commercial airlines is exploding in demand, use massive amounts of fossil fuels, and no significant production electric powered planes are in the future.

@jamespattenden605 3 aylar önce

We want to make our countries greener and eco friendly yet we abuse and contaminate other countries and think that makes us greener, the sooner we learn to look after this planet and stop destroying it the better off we all will be, it has got to start today it cannot continue the way it is going we cannot keep poisoning the planet and expect it to be ok, clean water and clean air is what we all need to live, large companies have a massive part to play and should be doing all they can to do it. 😢😢😢😢😢

@Stunna8711 4 aylar önce

Great documentary I heard about this at the UN it's true what DW is reporting about!!

@DWDocumentary 4 aylar önce

Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Be sure to check out our channel for more content.

@anthonymanderson7671 4 aylar önce

Thanks for bringing up this issue into light.

@lowwastehighmelanin 4 aylar önce

This is heartbreaking. I'm Black myself, I think about this a lot. If right to repair becomss the standard maybe we can make less items and just fix what we have. I'm trying to consume less electronics. I don't like that people who look like me are still basically enslaved. It hurts.

@grahamt5924 4 aylar önce

You think their lives would be better if we all stopped using Cobalt?

@BlackLixt Gün önce

23:00 you're right at 7-8 years old to work in a mine is harsh . however i started working when i was 11 in constructions and felt good about it , my family was very poor so i had to work to get clothes i want or a pc or go to disco, i was happy at least that i could do it and make my life more comfortable

@evenightmare4329 4 aylar önce

I love watching your documentaries!

@DWDocumentary 4 aylar önce

Thank you, we are happy to hear you enjoy our content :)

@vinsblack2 4 aylar önce

I'm think that foreign corporation in Africa should be fulfill duty not only preserve the ecosystem but provide health care to local labors whose mining the rare earth material like the cobalt which contain toxicity

@sunshinegold9093 4 aylar önce

The layers of Brokenness Greed, and disfunction is beyond me. The fact that now documentaries shed light on the Cobalt industry. Why do we continue to not do anything? We just allow Europe,China, and America to take and take from mineral rich countries in Africa but the people there live in poverty ?

@grahamt5924 4 aylar önce

People complain about the same things in Europe. Foreign owned fish farms in Scotland polute the local environment, and the locals can do nothing.

@syproful 4 aylar önce

Globalization is the worse thing to happen after colonialism.

@grahamt5924 4 aylar önce

@syproful Nonsense. There are over 8 billion people in the world, and rates of abject poverty are decreasing. Stop looking at just one thing and then basing everything on just this. Things are generally getting better for most. We have a few problems and this problem is certainly being shouted about, which means we are already on our way to fixing it. As for colonisation. For the most part, ut has not been that bad. You would not have really wanted the alternative.

@markcampbell7577 3 aylar önce

The ambient environment is already very radioactive and the cobalt will become a potent gamma emitter eventually as batteries in your car. It is incredibly callus to use cobalt when a simple metal acid battery is significantly better battery more capacity and more rechargeable.

@anwaypradhan6591 3 aylar önce

Focus upon biofuel or focus upon hybrid electric vehicle. The future is gonna be biofuel cause it's very much environmental friendly, non radioactive, recyclable and never it's gonna be harming the workers.

@Broskisnowski 4 aylar önce

Electric cars don't really fix the climate crisis, its like taking painkillers before you get a headache.

@HailAzathoth 4 aylar önce

Exactly

@Anon-xd3cf 4 aylar önce

More like hitting yourself in the face with a hammer... because you have a headache.

@luiskross6454 4 aylar önce

They forget you have to use fossil fuels to run the power plants that supply the electric car with its power, and they will have to make more power plants for the demand of more electricity

@JasperKlijndijk 4 aylar önce

More large and small scale gravity water storage could help with the green energie storage. Pump it up when you the wind blows, let it run a generator when there is high demand

@johnorenick9026 4 aylar önce

Solar energy has gotten so cheap the power companies aren't making a profit on it; might actually curb their investment in solar. Sounds like a good argument for public power, to me. We need to be installing mass-produced, small, safe, clean, waste-burning fast neutron molten salt fission reactors for baseload power, with molten salt or pumped water instead of chemical batteries to store off-peak excess generation. We need to be shutting down fossil fuel power plants as fast as we can replace them with clean energy. It's here now. If this summer doesn't convince all y'all that it's dang time to get busy, nothing will.

@christianmoore7109 2 aylar önce

If it’s natural gas (it increasingly is) then it’s cheaper

@pcnz 2 aylar önce

No you don't have to. Look up home solar, look up your countries percentage of renewable energy...

@sakenitro 2 aylar önce

Imagine a world were energy wasn't a problem...

@dareojuoye9464 4 aylar önce

I feel like crying because corrupt leaders don't see what damage is done to the ecosystem and the future of their country or continent.

@mohamedzaki7308 16 gün önce

The government should be held responsible for this. They are the ones allowing it to happen because they just care about money from foreign countries. They are the ones that can actually do something about it.

@SuperMegaSammy 3 aylar önce

No matter what resources humanity used the poor and less fortunate always suffer.

@Polaxky 4 aylar önce

It’s about time citizens mount a big pressure on the leaders. There’s no way countries with all these rich natural resources should be poor. No way!

@Joestudly 4 aylar önce

The man at 14:57 is courageous that is the difference between bravado and courage going ahead with your convictions despite fear. Ask a brave man to do that

@mikelbrenn153 3 aylar önce

Look at all these green technology, so good for the people and the environment.

@designersan 4 aylar önce

Great documentary🙌

@alexl.3965 2 aylar önce

Complimenti. Bellissimo documentario, che mette in luce la nostra ipocrisia.

@dietlindvonhohenwald448 2 aylar önce

It’s insane that it’s 2023 and mining is still sone by hand with little hammers 😮

@pointblank0020 4 aylar önce

There's nothing wrong with the cobalt use itself -- but the fact that the chinese are so heavily invested in the Congo, the biggest supplier of cobalt, means that due dilligence can't be done. Neither Europe nor the United States can provide the amount of supply that the market wants. As a result, moving away from cobalt and researching new batteries is the only answer.

@zimboy9921 4 aylar önce

The alternative will also most likely come from Africa Rinse repeat

@grahamt5924 4 aylar önce

@@zimboy9921 mining is all over the world, not just Africa.

@neoanderson6128 2 aylar önce

this is the best document of this tragedy to date. Anyone who buys new tech is complacent in this extortion

@SalesforceUSA 4 aylar önce

I love DW Documentary channel. The best!

@christineelsey3104 3 aylar önce

Thank you for this look at the seedy side of electric cars !!

@vitonildo 4 aylar önce

When one comes from a poor/developing country is staggering to watch people suffering the same poverty faith but in countries that can afford better social services. They just decided not do it. Health care, pensions, transportation. The money goes to some at the expense of so many. Just cruel society UK created for itself.

@webstars1998 3 aylar önce

They can give up some of their profits to make this right. Not pass it to the consumer. No, less to the upper level shareholders and CEO's, ect. I am sick of these people being treated so badly over, everything.

@bgmckeown 4 aylar önce

Incredible even in the 21st Century mining companies can still get away with this!

@jrlx86 Aylar önce

If they made public transport better, more reliable and more frequent, people wouldn't rely on cars so much. As for phones, force phone manufacturers to continue software updates, and make it easier to replace batteries.

@JamieHumeCreative 2 aylar önce

These companies need to ensure the safety of these workers. They have the money. They are responsible. As are governments.

@lukusamartel 2 aylar önce

😢😢😢 I've worked as an internal security for Kamoto Cooper Company in Kolwezi from 2011 - 2012, left the company after 9 months as a result of bad working conditions. It's scary what i saw happening there.

@josephpapsidero3852 4 aylar önce

I feel genuinely sorry for anyone buys into this "climate crisis" hysteria which is continually put forward by DW.

@ziggyc3004 3 aylar önce

I mean we could of spared an hour and just said China is exploiting them by owning 68% while not providing sufficient machinery or working conditions. Also would love to see where the other 22% goes. As this isn't exactly a tiny amount.

@GEMINDIGO 4 aylar önce

The images of those poor people prospecting for cobalt deep underground in dangerous and unhealthy tunnels really disturbs me.

@galaxiancitizen851 4 aylar önce

Look at history. Prospecting like this and in much worse conditions has been going on for centuries across all world cultures!

@prrrakrrra 4 aylar önce

The things that have been done to Africas are unparalleled. Anyone who thinks that this exploitation will go unpunished is very naive. This is pure undiluted evil

@Anon-xd3cf 4 aylar önce

I don't know how you fixed the audio without reuploading the video. Well done.

@davidlguerr 4 aylar önce

Actually most of the batteries produced by Tesla are already cobalt free. Recent changes in battery chemistry allowed to remove cobalt completely without sacrificing capacity or performance.

@alexcarter8807 4 aylar önce

Big if true.

@sandrataylor5063 4 aylar önce

hydrogen?

@peterkompter2417 2 aylar önce

lm surprised that something that hasnt been considered, l grow all my own vegetables all summer and local seed companies heirloom and taste is so amazing compared to even some organic farms around here, the one thing that wasnt talked about is how unripe vegetables and fruit are picked because of better shipping, how much does that affect vitamins and minerals?

@Bernard-fo2qo 4 aylar önce

Science must invent synthetic cobalt, or a substitute.

@GenealogistBuchanan 4 aylar önce

EVs do not require Cobalt in their batteries. Most Teslas now use LFP batteries (cobalt-free) in most of its EVs. Some other EV manufacturers (e,g, Ford and BYD) are also switching to LFP or LMFP batteries for their basic automotive lines. Batteries for high-performance .models are still using cobalt.

@alekkoomanoff7281 4 aylar önce

But the high performance Teslas that Musk made his reputation on still use plenty of cobalt. I would venture a guess that trucks also need it. Elon is South African;he cares squat about Congolese.

@grahamt5924 4 aylar önce

@@alekkoomanoff7281 You know Musk and his personal thoughts now. 🤔

@ensiyeitu1012 4 aylar önce

You just write nonsense

@angelokennedy3650 3 aylar önce

First of all 50% of Teslas (or model 3 in particular) is NOT the most. Secondly, as of the last quarter, LFP EVs accounted for ONLY 30% of the total market share; and NCM at least 60%! Moreover, even if Tesla moved for more LFPs in their EVs, that wouldn't impact much of the market. REMEMBER: EVs, besides industrial green energy, are only a portion of the battery market. And again China or Chinese place RANGE top of their EV choice, and the same is true even in the US and cold regions. So spare us the need to downplay what's going on, as range won't be coming anything other than cobalt for the foreseeable future.

@shumailkhan6278 4 aylar önce

There should be strick rules regulations for all the companies working on mining and DRC including Good working environment for labours with all kinds of protective gears and training also new plants to build for treatment contaminated water once the minerals are extract .there will be some solution of protection the United Nations needs to force all mining companies towards sustainable mining .