{"id":243185,"date":"2023-02-04T11:59:09","date_gmt":"2023-02-04T10:59:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=243185"},"modified":"2023-02-04T11:59:15","modified_gmt":"2023-02-04T10:59:15","slug":"biden-admin-blocks-mining-project-days-after-deal-with-child-labor-hotbeds-for-rare-metals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=243185","title":{"rendered":"Biden Admin blocks mining project days after deal with child labor hotbeds for rare metals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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From\u00a0CFACT<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BY ANTONIO CAMBRIA:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Biden administration signed a deal with countries rife with child labor nearly a week before blocking a major Minnesota mining project as part of its \u201cgreen\u201d push.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Thursday, the Biden administration announced it would prohibit mining in more than 200,000 acres of land from being mined for waterway protection, effectively canceling a major Minnesota mining project. But just one week prior, the administration agreed to a memorandum of understanding with Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, two countries known for mining rare metals cobalt and copper and using child labor to mine these metals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Memorandum of Understanding<\/a> was signed to strengthen electric vehicle<\/a> batteries, according to a State department press release. The adminstration has been pushing for electric vehicles to replace traditional gas ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The DRC produces over 70% of the world\u2019s cobalt, and Zambia is the world\u2019s sixth-largest copper producer, according to the department press release. These metals are vital in making electric vehicle batteries as well as other devices like cellphones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The department\u2019s press release states, \u201cThrough this MOU, the United States will support the commitment between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia to develop jointly a supply chain for electric vehicle batteries.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the mines producing the metals for these electric vehicle batteries are run largely by child labor<\/a>, according<\/a> to the Department of Labor. In Congo, \u201cThousands of children also work in cobalt and copper mines in the southern Copperbelt region,\u201d the department says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPrevalence of child labor is highest in the country\u2019s artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector, which operates with minimal oversight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Child labor has been detected at one in four ASM sites, with informal or illegal ASM operations leaving children uniquely exposed to hazardous working conditions and, in some instances, to forced labor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The department also notes that, while the exact numbers are unknown, between 5,000 and 35,000 children work in artisanal cobalt mines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article originally appeared at The Daily Caller<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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