We can't Live without exploitation

We can't live without Exploitation!

Image source: Google

It makes my heart sob that we people can't live without exploitation. Yes, you read it right!.

We live in a world where we are dependent on advancing technology. We are trying to make our life easier that we often forget it's repercussions.

Recently I have read a bunch of articles because I want to live in a way that harms the earth less. I started my research and most of the articles or blog I read opened my eyes by the harsh truth.

Exploitation occurs in every industry imagine this world has. But I'm talking about mostly manufacturing and mining part of it.


We all are aware that our phone batteries are made of lithium. But what about the natural resource we use to make lithium?. Cobalt, Cobalt is the natural resource which is extracted by mining. You may or may not the harsh reality of mine workers and the danger of it. An article in Washington post talks about the danger and living conditions of the miners. Congo, South Africa is rich in minerals and a cheap source of cobalt. Cobalt is basically used in every battery device we use, for e.g Phones, laptops etc. With the growing demand for lithium, even children do mining for some extra money. It is estimated that over 100,000 people in congo work in cobalt mines. There is low to zero safety measures in this Cobalt hollows. All these mining activities expose the people living in that locality to extreme levels of toxic metals that later cause breathing problems, birth defects etc.

Image Source: Washington Post

So we should stop using phones and other battery-operated devices? Most importantly can we?

If we talk about fashion, then most of the people who watched the documentary "The True cost" know the ugly side of the fashion industry shown in the movie. Since labour in developing countries is inexpensive most of the big brands have their manufacturing units or gets their products manufactured in the same.

Over 80 billion pieces of clothing are produced each year, according to green peace. 25% is recycled and the rest 75% ends up in landfills. People working in factories work more than 16hrs a day.

Having earnings below the minimum wage. The workers work in old factories are exposed to toxic chemicals used while manufacturing with no extra money for overtime. Fast fashion its fashion industry is the 2nd largest industry contributing to global warming. We do like to buy cheap and fashionable clothes but we often forget how these clothes are made. India, China and Bangladesh have most of the factories for manufacturing fast fashion items.

Makeup products with Mica in it.

Children Mining Mica in Jharkhand, India 

Don't we all love highlighter and glitter in our face and eyes? But guess what they to come at a cost. Most of the shimmer products contain mica. A mineral mostly found in India and South Africa.A. documentary video made by refinery29 tells about the working condition of mica miners in Jharkhand, India. Most of the miners were children starting from age 4yrs old. The families who work in these mines don't have access to education and don't know how to get out of the mining work.

Most of the mines in Jharkhand are unauthorized and are pretty dangerous to work in. Children working in these mines are exposed to bad air, labour work and the risk of getting stuck under the rocks of the mine.

Finding a way of living without using any product which is not cruelty-free, biodegradable and has child labour involved is difficult but not impossible. If we make small changes in our lifestyle then only we can collectively make a difference.

I would suggest stopping using makeup and skincare products of brands which are not cruelty-free.


Switch to more environmentally friendly options such as steel or glass straws, carry your own water bottle, use reusable products instead of one-time-use products and most importantly recycle all the recyclable products and use which are biodegradable.

Sources:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/business/batteries/congo-cobalt-mining-for-lithium-ion-battery/

https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/05/229746/mica-in-makeup-mining-child-labor-india-controversy

http://www.shwowp.com/the-dark-side-of-the-fast-fashion-industry/