The article claims that the speed that the electric vehicles were evolving at has hit the speed bum. The speed has been cut short by the issues surrounding the lithium-ion batteries that power these cars. According to the article, the silverfish-gray metal has raised serious ethical concerns because the cobalt production takes place in Democratic Republic of Congo and children work in hazardous conditions while mining the precious metal. Therefore, the fact that lithium is mined by children in a war torn country is an issue of concern. The most saddening fact is that the demand for this chemical substance is intensifying due to the rising demand for electric cars. Car manufacturers around the world are eliminating gasoline vehicles and manufacturing electric enabled cars in large quantities. Renowned companies such as GM have visions of producing 1 billion cars by 2050. This means that the production of lithium has quadruped and will multiply as days go by. Surplus production of lithium means thousands of children in Congo will work in hazardous condition. According to reports by UNUICEF 40,000 boys and girls worked in mines in Congo and it saddens to note that these children work without gloves or masks that prevent them from inhaling the poisonous substances emitted in the mining process.
The article is relevant in the sense that it highlights the issue by looking at it on a demand and supply perspective. The author argues that the more the demand for lithium enabled battery, the more the Congolese children are exposed to hazardous effects of the substance. However, the article fails to analyze the underlying damages that the mining has already inflicted to the children. More so, it fails to highlight what measures have been taken or should be taken to save these children.
Ideally, Congo is a war-torn country whose political and economic stability is still a matter of debate. Instability in political dimension has destabilized the economy; hence, exposing everyone in an economic quest. The children are not exempted in the context and they have to make a living since their parents were killed in war or are misplaced as refugees in other countries. Though this may be the case, I believe that a better option can be executed to help these children. Concerned parties such as UNICEF, World Bank and other charitable organizations can chip in and improve the lives of these children. These organizations should think of ideas such as assembling these children and placing them in secured camps where education, food and medicine is provided for. Such camps will curb child labor and allow the children to acquire education and normal lives similar to other children. Lithium mining will become an adulthood affair and the children’s future will be sustained. Low lithium supply due to lack of children labor will push investors to invest in lithium processing plants which will end up improving the livelihoods of people within such communities.
Work Cited
Rob Nikolewski. Electric Vehicles' Future Relies On Cobalt. It's Often Mined By Children And Is Soaring In Price. Los Angeles Times. Feb. 2018. Web. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-electric-car-cobalt-battery-20180222-story.html. Accessed 18th October 2018.
