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jasreist's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
amber_thiessen's review against another edition
5.0
This isn't for the faint of heart, however it's extremely important information to understand that all our rechargeable devices utilize minerals mined in the Congo and how unethical the practices are. There is no accountability for the human trafficking and devastating conditions these people work in, and don't have many people—if any—advocating for ethical mining practices in the war-torn, corrupt country of the Congo. In the end, it's about how much money these companies make and give little back to the workers or their communities.
Disheartening, to be sure. Hopefully can spur on change among policy makers and business owners.
Disheartening, to be sure. Hopefully can spur on change among policy makers and business owners.
asen123's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
This is a crucial book in discussing the horrors occurring in Congo, especially they are not communally known. The pain and the raw emotion written is unbelievably powerful. The author goes into the history of the mining in Congo and the systems that power it.
A warning: while this is such an important book to read, it discusses a lot of triggering things in detail. If you are unable to read things like that, please be careful when reading it.
A warning: while this is such an important book to read, it discusses a lot of triggering things in detail. If you are unable to read things like that, please be careful when reading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Colonisation, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual assault and War
Minor: Rape
gmd316's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
5.0
so so informative and absolutely devastating
amirahazhar's review against another edition
4.0
Since the 1500s, at the beginning of the Atlantic slave trade, the Congo has been pilfered of its riches by Western powers. Now, the West (and also China) continues to profit at the expense of Congolese suffering.
The batteries in almost every smartphone, tablet, laptop, and electric vehicle today cannot recharge without the resources from Congo's mines. The cobalt is dug up by artisanal miners, villlagers who earn less than a dollar a day, many who are just children. They exist in a violent ecosystem: exposure to dangerous levels of lead and uranium, making them prone to birth defects and diseases like cancer, the risk of injuries, and even the prospects of death. Women working in the mines risk being sexually assaulted daily, yet there is no escape from such a dire circumstance. All while earning barely a dollar a day.
In this book, Siddarth Kara's qualitative research took him to different mines in the Congo, owned mostly by Chinese corporations, of which cobalt is then is streamed into companies like Apple, Samsung, Google, Microsoft, Dell, Huawei, Tesla, Ford, General Motors, BMW, Daimler-Chrysler, the list goes on. The flow of minerals and riches is no thanks to Congolese politicians who became disgustingly rich selling off the country's mining concessions, while tens of millions of Congolese suffer from extreme poverty, food insecurity and civil strife.
Siddarth Kara's findings about the conditions in the Congo are stellar, and his interviews with the major mining corporations, the artisanal miners and also some government officials will make your blood boil. Although some find the contents of this book repetitive, I feel like it was simply a part of qualitative research as he reported his findings in different mines. A lot of the artisanal miners he interviewed had their own stories to tell and they're all heart-wrenching.
As users of electronic devices, we should be compelled to educate ourselves about the ongoing slavery that plagues the Congo. This book is definitely a good start.
"Please tell the people in your country, a child in Congo dies every day so that they can plug their phones."
Free Congo.
The batteries in almost every smartphone, tablet, laptop, and electric vehicle today cannot recharge without the resources from Congo's mines. The cobalt is dug up by artisanal miners, villlagers who earn less than a dollar a day, many who are just children. They exist in a violent ecosystem: exposure to dangerous levels of lead and uranium, making them prone to birth defects and diseases like cancer, the risk of injuries, and even the prospects of death. Women working in the mines risk being sexually assaulted daily, yet there is no escape from such a dire circumstance. All while earning barely a dollar a day.
In this book, Siddarth Kara's qualitative research took him to different mines in the Congo, owned mostly by Chinese corporations, of which cobalt is then is streamed into companies like Apple, Samsung, Google, Microsoft, Dell, Huawei, Tesla, Ford, General Motors, BMW, Daimler-Chrysler, the list goes on. The flow of minerals and riches is no thanks to Congolese politicians who became disgustingly rich selling off the country's mining concessions, while tens of millions of Congolese suffer from extreme poverty, food insecurity and civil strife.
Siddarth Kara's findings about the conditions in the Congo are stellar, and his interviews with the major mining corporations, the artisanal miners and also some government officials will make your blood boil. Although some find the contents of this book repetitive, I feel like it was simply a part of qualitative research as he reported his findings in different mines. A lot of the artisanal miners he interviewed had their own stories to tell and they're all heart-wrenching.
As users of electronic devices, we should be compelled to educate ourselves about the ongoing slavery that plagues the Congo. This book is definitely a good start.
"Please tell the people in your country, a child in Congo dies every day so that they can plug their phones."
Free Congo.
sarahataz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
4.75