Tag: mining
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Gold mining is one of the most destructive and unnecessary industries – here’s how to end it
By Stephen Lezak, University of Oxford, originally published at theconversation.com The 16th-century King Ferdinand of Spain sent his subjects abroad with the command: “Get gold, humanely if possible, but at all hazards, get gold.” His statement rings true today. Gold remains one of the world’s most expensive substances, but mining it is one of the…
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Lithium mining puts worldviews into conflict in Bolivia
Mario Orospe Hernández, Arizona State University Located in the heart of South America, Bolivia contains the largest lithium deposits in the world – an enviable position, in many countries’ eyes, as the market for electric vehicles takes off. Though EVs emit fewer greenhouse gases than fuel-powered vehicles, their batteries require more minerals – especially lithium,…
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Indigenous People still Face Slavery in Brazil
Story by Lais Modelli, English translation by Maya Johnson Originally published on Mongabay Since Brazil began recording cases of workers found working in slavery-like conditions in 2004, 1,640 Indigenous people have been rescued from these situations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 100 Indigenous people have been found working in these conditions. Sugarcane harvesting, which a…
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Where do trade unions go from here?
In South Africa, the seismic shifts in unionism triggered by the Marikana Massacre have sadly not resulted in a union movement better equipped to tackle the issues that workers face. By Naadira Munshi Originally published by Africa is a Country This post is part of a series that accompanies the symposium “Marikana, 10 years on,”…