#Cobalt

[acepumpkinpatrick]

Y'all still boycotting, right? Still following the BDS movement, right? You still remember that Boycotts are for life, right?? You read that the Israeli Zionist Occupation is connected to other ongoing genocides, e.g. in Congo, right???

[hellspawnmotel]

I continue to read astro boy

[quixoticanarchy]

“This system of severity of exploitation of poor people of color at the bottom of global supply chains goes back centuries. Few people sitting for breakfast in England in the 1700s knew that their tea was sweetened by sugar harvested under brutal conditions by African slaves toiling in the West Indies. The slaves remained far removed from the British breakfast table until a band of abolitionists placed the true picture of slavery directly in front of the English people. Stakeholders fought to maintain the system. They told the British public not to trust what they were told. They espoused the great humanity of the slave trade—Africans were not suffering, they were being “saved” from the savagery of the dark continent. They argued that Africans worked in pleasing conditions on the islands. When those arguments failed, the slavers claimed they made changes that remedied the offenses taking place on the plantations. After all, who was going to go all the way to the West Indies and prove otherwise, and even if they did, who would believe them?

The truth, however, was this—but for the demand for sugar and the immense profits accrued through the sale of it, the entire slavery-for-sugar economy would not have existed. Furthermore, the inevitable outcome of stripping humans of their dignity, security, wages, and freedom can only be a system that results in the complete dehumanization of the people exploited at the bottom of the chain.

Today’s tech barons will tell you a similar tale about cobalt. They will tell you that they uphold international human rights norms and that their particular supply chains are clean. They will also assure you that conditions are not as bad as they seem and that they are bringing commerce, wages, education, and development to the poorest people of Africa (“saving” them). They will also assure you that they have implemented changes to remedy the problems on the ground, at least at the mines from which they say they buy cobalt. After all, who is going to go all the way to the Congo and prove otherwise, and even if they did, who would believe them?

The truth, however, is this—but for their demand for cobalt and the immense profits they accrue through the sale of smartphones, tablets, laptops, and electric vehicles, the entire blood-for-cobalt economy would not exist. Furthermore, the inevitable outcome of a lawless scramble for cobalt in an impoverished and war-torn country can only be the complete dehumanization of the people exploited at the bottom of the chain.

So much time has passed; so little has changed.”

— from Cobalt Red, Siddharth Kara

[letmeinimafairy]

New big pendant for a driftwood and sea glass necklace

[luminarystimboards]

Some Beautiful Brandt Cormorants during breeding season. I love these blue patches they get! Their eyes are so magical. Free to use, just link back to this post when you do!

[vintagehomecollection]

Private Palm Beach - Tropical Style, 1992

[mothpawbs]

meet aegean and cobalt! two dragons from autumn's winglet at jma, they're goofy jocks who are best friends (and haven't quite realized they've caught feelings for each other)

[janasojka]

Night rose, night drive

[desmirai]

Robot family portrait!

[burakku-jakku]

Yukari Astro Boy coloring book (1967)

(x)

[alwaysbewoke]

[elementcattos]

What would the three "main" ultimate-fate-of-the-universe theories be like from the elements' POV? (Heat Death, Big Crunch, and Big Rip) ((and would "Big Command Block Misuse" now be considered one for them?))

[thefanartisthoho]

Yiiiipeeeee random ships goes brr

[letmeinimafairy]

A finished necklace with these painted sea pottery pieces. And sea glass beads of course.

[sugas6thtooth]

Palestine 🇵🇸 🤍 Congo 🇨🇩 🤍 Sudan 🇸🇩

[pilloclock]

FREE CONGO 🇨🇩❤️ please watch this video