Author of Cobalt Red
This author wrote Cobalt Red, a book about the human cost of mining cobalt.
Siddharth Kara
Before it became the Democratic Republic of Congo, this country was known as the Belgian Congo and later as Zaire.
Democratic Republic of Congo
The DRC provides over 70% of the world’s supply of this key material used in batteries for electric cars and smartphones.
cobalt
Cobalt miners in the DRC often work in these dangerous, narrow spaces, where they face the risk of being trapped or killed.
Tunnels
The DRC is a presidential republic with this type of political system, allowing multiple political parties to compete.
multi-party system
Siddharth Kara's book focuses on the exploitation of workers in this African country, known for its cobalt mines.
Congo
This Belgian king personally controlled the Congo, calling it the Congo Free State, and imposed brutal treatment on its people.
King Leopold II
This type of mining is done by small-scale miners using basic tools, often in dangerous conditions.
Artisanal Mining
These substance found in mining dust can cause severe health issues like lung diseases and cancer.
arsenic and sulfur
The DRC’s political instability and corruption have often allowed this type of exploitation to occur in the mining industry, where foreign companies and local elites extract wealth.
resource exploitation
Kara’s work often highlights this issue, where people are forced to work under terrible conditions, sometimes for no pay.
modern slavery
The Congo was exploited for valuable natural resources, including rubber, diamonds, and this mineral often used in electronics.
tin
In the DRC, this method of mining is done by big companies with heavy machinery, while also using many workers.
Industrial Mining
Miners, including children, are paid as little as this amount per day for their dangerous work in the cobalt mines.
$1 or $2
Despite the DRC's wealth from cobalt, this issue remains widespread across the country, contributing to high levels of poverty and inequality.
economic disparity
Siddharth Kara uses these to tell the real stories of people suffering in industries like mining.
Personal Accounts
The Democratic Republic of Congo gained independence from Belgium on this date, marking the end of colonial rule
June 30, 1960
Many children work in the mines in the DRC, sometimes as young as six, due to this.
Poverty
Miners frequently suffer from this physical risk caused by falling rocks, debris, and tunnel collapses.
Broken Bones
The DRC’s mining industry often involves this form of labor, where children are exploited to work in hazardous conditions.
child labor
Kara pushes for these changes to make sure companies treat workers fairly and respect human rights.
Legislative Reform
Despite independence, the Democratic Republic of Congo has faced ongoing political and economic interference from former colonial powers and these global actors.
foreign powers
The profits from cobalt mining in the DRC often go to these big companies, not local communities.
Global corporations
In addition to physical danger, many young workers in the mines experience this mental health issue due to the trauma and fear of their environment.
anxiety or trauma
The mining of cobalt and other resources has led to this type of damage, including pollution and soil degradation, affecting local communities and the environment.
environmental damage