By Imani Holmer, Alliance Intern from U California Berkeley ‘25
Apple, Dell, Google, Tesla and other companies made billions of dollars in 2023, relying on forced and child mining labor to make profits. They’re being sued for knowingly buying cobalt used in their products which is mined by illegal labor in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Children and others are being exposed to cobalt, which is toxic to breathe and touch. Mining has ravaged the DRC landscape. Millions of trees have been cut down, air around mines is hazy with dust and grit, and water is contaminated with toxic effluents from mining processing.
These companies must be held accountable for the damage done at their hands. Countless children have died or been injured in these dangerous, exploitative working environments, and these companies have the power to stop this now. Join the Alliance in signing Action Network’s petition demanding that Apple and these other companies fairly compensate Congolese children and their families for the injuries and damage done while ending their exploitation of child labor.
What about replacing the trees as well and suing for Environmental damage
I am horrified after reading cobalt red
Unacceptable. Working conditions needs to be improved. Shame on these companies
How can these companies in good conscience use cobalt in smartphones and electric cars, knowing that it is a toxic substance mined by children and others who are being paid ‘slave wages.’ We would never put our own children in such conditions so why do we feel comfortable allowing these Congolese children and their families to do so?
We would never put our own children in such conditions.