The feel-good, self-righteous emotions that are prevalent in leftist movements, such as environmentalism, often override the consequences and details. Details and consequences should be addressed later, preferably by another person.
Some metals are required for green technology, including cobalt, zinc, and lithium. These metals must be mined. Because in Joe Biden’s America, every kid must submit an environmental impact report before building a sand castle on the beach. Mining is not something that the administration or its cronies can smile upon.
Fox News reported that the Biden administration has placed regulatory barriers in place to allow the mining of copper, molybdenum, and lithium in states like Nevada, Arizona, and Alaska. Notable:
The Department of the Interior canceled two hard rock mineral leases in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, northern Minnesota, earlier this year. It also announced that it would implement a 20-year ban on new mining projects in the area, citing environmental concerns.
These projects contained 88% of the nation’s cobalt reserves. A labor agreement was in place to allow the site to be unionized.
We cannot find these metals and minerals in America, where they are abundant. So where, oh no, will we get the things we need to make wind turbines, electric cars, and other amazing technologies that will help us survive? Joe is on it.
Fox reported that the administration had reached a deal to fund mining operations in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). On Tuesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed an agreement with both countries. To borrow a line from Dune: the cobalt is going to flow. This means that there will be no U.S. mine jobs. The same goes for revenue for the states. There is one concern. The DRC is well-known for child labor.
UNICEF and Amnesty International conducted investigations that revealed that approximately 40,000 children are employed in the DRC’s mines. They can work for up to 12 hours a day and carry anywhere from 44 to 88 lbs of lithium up the mines. They are often hungry and earn between $1.00 and $2.00 US per day. Children can get skin irritation from cobalt dust. They don’t have masks and could be exposed to dust. This deal seems to be better than hiring Americans to work in mines at living wages and OSHA regulations. However, that is something we will work out in the future.
The White House is working to solve our energy problems and the Green New Deal is becoming reality. Democrats and environmentalists alike can take pride in the wind farms and solar panels, and brag about their electric vehicles. It is important to not think about the fact that children in DRC are dying from exhaustion and living with cobalt dust.
