50 signatures reached
To: Tesla, Nissan-Renault, BMW, VW (VAG group) and BYD
Stop Exploiting children for Cobalt
We ask you to verify that your cobalt is sourced ethically and without the exploitation of artisanal miners, in particular children.
Why is this important?
Like most people I use a mobile phone. I am also the owner of an electric car and believe they are one way of reducing carbon emissions. I live on the Isle of Man and my son has a Facebook page for users called EVIOM (Electric Vehicles Isle of Man).
It has come to the notice of EVIOM that several automakers and battery makers are being accused by Amnesty International and Afrewatch of using cobalt in their lithium-ion batteries which is sourced by child labour in the Democratic Republic of Congo. These children are paid about $1-2 per day (less than £2).
More than half of the world’s total supply of cobalt comes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where according to the government’s own estimates, 20% of the resource is extracted by what they call “artisanal miners” (approximately 110,000 to 150,000 workers).
Amnesty says that these “artisanal miners” mine by hand, using the most basic tools to dig out rocks from tunnels deep underground and can include children as young as seven years old. They have little or no basic safety equipment such as gloves or face masks.
End users of products containing cobalt are becoming aware of the exploitation of these workers. This exploitation may be condoned either knowingly or unwittingly by manufacturers. It is claimed that the supply chain can be complicated and the original source of the mineral difficult to ascertain. However, according to prevailing international standards, it is the duty of companies to ensure that their raw materials are ethically sourced.
We ask you to verify that your cobalt is sourced ethically and without the exploitation of artisanal miners, in particular children. Please can you verify your sources and commit to making changes if indeed you use cobalt from the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is likely that only when market forces and public pressure dictate will the government there commit to improving conditions for the miners and providing education for the affected children.
It has come to the notice of EVIOM that several automakers and battery makers are being accused by Amnesty International and Afrewatch of using cobalt in their lithium-ion batteries which is sourced by child labour in the Democratic Republic of Congo. These children are paid about $1-2 per day (less than £2).
More than half of the world’s total supply of cobalt comes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where according to the government’s own estimates, 20% of the resource is extracted by what they call “artisanal miners” (approximately 110,000 to 150,000 workers).
Amnesty says that these “artisanal miners” mine by hand, using the most basic tools to dig out rocks from tunnels deep underground and can include children as young as seven years old. They have little or no basic safety equipment such as gloves or face masks.
End users of products containing cobalt are becoming aware of the exploitation of these workers. This exploitation may be condoned either knowingly or unwittingly by manufacturers. It is claimed that the supply chain can be complicated and the original source of the mineral difficult to ascertain. However, according to prevailing international standards, it is the duty of companies to ensure that their raw materials are ethically sourced.
We ask you to verify that your cobalt is sourced ethically and without the exploitation of artisanal miners, in particular children. Please can you verify your sources and commit to making changes if indeed you use cobalt from the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is likely that only when market forces and public pressure dictate will the government there commit to improving conditions for the miners and providing education for the affected children.
