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Workers, including children, labor in harsh and dangerous conditions to meet the world’s soaring demand for cobalt, a mineral essential to powering electric vehicles, laptops, and smartphones, according to an investigation by The Washington Post. Via GTANSW & ACT 
David G Tibbs's curator insight,
March 29, 2018 3:36 PM
We take the luxuries that we have for granite and forget where it comes from, or who pays the physical price for us to have them. One example is electronics and the Congo. The Congo is a country filled with Colbolt which is critical to lithium batteries which powers majority of products that are rechargeable. The price they pay is unsafe mining conditions, indecent wages, and environmental hazards to local communities. 60 percent of the cobalt used today comes from the Congo, and while some companies track it to make sure its "clean" some companies do not check its origins. In 2010 there was a push to add cobalt to a list of resources that come from the Congo to be from a militia free mine. Individual companies have started to be stricter about where they get their Cobalt it's still not mandatory under international law. However with the demand for cobalt is increasing due to more electric power styling for vehicles and other products. In order to meet these demands the cobalt will continue to come from abused people until companies or international law limits and outlines how to deal with the cobalt question. 2 
Douglas Vance's curator insight,
April 21, 2018 2:10 PM
Given the absurd amount of minerals present in the country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo should be basking in immeasurable wealth. However, as shown by this inetractive and enormously in-depth piece by the Washington Post, the country constantly struggles with child labor, water pollution, and widespread dangerous working condition because of the global demand for minerals like cobalt and copper.
David Stiger's curator insight,
November 10, 2018 4:05 PM
The Congo, like Venezuela, is another example of a post-colonial country rich in valuable natural resources whose people, ironically, live in abject poverty. The Congo is a victim of its own geographical blessings as the industrialized world's bottomless need for Congo's cobalt, copper, and other minerals has put this former colony of Belgium on the map. The Congo reportedly supplies half of the world's cobalt. With few other options for mineral sources, lithium-ion battery manufacturers turn a blind eye as Congolese "diggers" endure inhumane, dangerous, and unfair conditions to produce cheap cobalt. Companies have not reacted to this injustice because of a desire to maximize their profits. With Western consumers acting as indirect accomplices, China leads the pack of this neo-colonial process of exploiting the Congo for its valuable underground minerals. The Chinese companies offer so little money for the cobalt that workers are forced to put up with hazardous conditions and unbelievably low pay for their labor.
The problem lacks an easy solution because it is highly complicated by the forces of globalization and geographical factors. Congolese diggers obtain the raw materials, who sell it to Asian middlemen, who then sell it to big Chinese manufacturers. These manufactures produce rechargeable batteries to sell to Western companies like Apple and Samsung. These products are then sold all over the world. The long supply chain makes it difficult for consumers to feel and see how their actions are impacting the lives of other people. The companies who should be held accountable justify their business decisions because there are not sources of cobalt to turn to. If there were other sources, companies like Huayou Cobalt could turn to other sources that treat their workers better, forcing Congolese suppliers to raise their labor standards. A short-term remedy, it seems, would be to classify Congolese-based cobalt as a conflict mineral. Western countries should fine and punish companies that are linked to the unjust cobalt trade, forcing these companies to raise their standards.
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The U.S. Department of Defense’s latest assessment of the Chinese military provided new detail on China’s land reclamation efforts on several of the islets that it occupies in the South China Sea. These include Fiery Cross Reef, Gaven Reef, Johnson South Reef, Mischief Reef, and Subi Reef in the Spratly archipelago. By December 2014, the report estimated that China had reclaimed as much as 500 acres of new land, creating full-fledged islands where only coral reefs or sand spits existed before. Since then, China has only accelerated its efforts, expanding the total land area that it has reclaimed to 2,000 acres and building military facilities, ports, and at least one airstrip on the islands. Via Ben Salve
Marc Meynardi's curator insight,
May 13, 2015 1:49 AM
By doing so, China is not only digging land, but also preparing futur heavy discord. It's so strange : China critisize US hegemony and try to balance it. As result, China is having the same agressive attitude that US Bush era. Of course, not using bombs, but "pacifically" invading south China Sea. 
Gene Gagne's curator insight,
December 1, 2015 8:15 PM
I was wondering with the world being 80% ocean how much ocean can be transformed into land with these man made islands. Once again creating military strategic posts.
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From
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The scale of China's land reclamation in the South China Sea is leading to "serious questions" on its intentions, a top US official says. China is building artificial land by pumping sand on to live coral reefs - some of them submerged - and paving over them with concrete. China has now created over 4sq/km (1.5 sq miles) of artificial landmass. China is creating a great wall of sand with dredges and bulldozers over the course of months. Tags: borders, political, conflict, water, China, East Asia.
PIRatE Lab's curator insight,
April 3, 2015 10:45 AM
In addition to the original BBC article, here is another article from the Telegraph with some aerial imagery showing the extent of this geo-engineering project. This has plenty of geopolitical implications and the United States government is on record saying that it is "concerned." 
Danielle Lip's curator insight,
April 6, 2015 9:16 PM
Pumping in sand to cover coral reef and create more land is a very inventive way to make new territory, using concrete and placing bulldozers and other machinery is helping China gain more land and gain more access in the South China Sea yet this who pumping is making people question and causing places such as the Philippines to file complaints saying they will not be associated with the whole plan that China has. Why is China exactly pumping sand and spreading concrete over the live coral reefs? Does China know they are killing live animals and plants underneath the sea? While looking into the matter I found that China believed the whole act of reclaiming land to be "entirely within China's sovereignty and are totally justifiable". Now people all over the world are focused on land and power, not about other social matters. This land pumping is not only causing conflict but it is creating more opportunity to better work and living conditions. 
Bob Beaven's curator insight,
April 16, 2015 2:41 PM
China is a large and powerful nation that is not afraid of flexing military muscle to its smaller neighbors. The developments of China building artificial land to strengthen its claim in the region shows how determined the country is to have its claims honored. It also shows that China will stop at nothing to have regions were resources could be to aid in the countries economic growth. However, China is causing a great deal of controversy through its actions. Also, China's neighbors are becoming increasingly frustrated with the large nation, yet they are all much smaller nations that really can't prevent the Chinese from doing what they want, especially with China declaring it won't listen to what the UN has to say. China is a country that is not afraid of strongman politics to get what it wants.
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As the climate shifts, rivers will both flood and dry up more often, according to the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Shortages are especially likely in parts of the world already strapped for water, so political scientists expect feuds will become even more intense. To track disputes worldwide, researchers at Oregon State University spent a decade building a comprehensive database of international exchanges—-both conflicts and alliances—over shared water resources. They found that countries often begin disputes belligerently but ultimately reach peaceful agreements. Says Aaron Wolf, the geographer who leads the project, “For me the really interesting part is how even Arabs and Israelis, Indians and Pakistanis, are able to resolve their differences and find a solution.”
J. Mark Schwanz's curator insight,
June 21, 2014 11:01 AM
Add water to geography education curriculum? You better believe it. The crisis of the 21st century is and will be water. 
Courtney Barrowman's curator insight,
May 21, 2015 11:36 AM
summer reading KQ2: How have humans altered the Earth's environment? Water Security 
James Piccolino's curator insight,
March 24, 2018 10:01 AM
The idea of going to war over water is a scary one, but is still possible in an unfortunate future. After all there must have been a time when going to war over oil was a scary possibility and nothing more. Water being a necessity would surely make it more justified in the minds of many, but would lead to disaster down the line.
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Competing territorial claims have led to maritime disputes off the coast of Asia. See a map of the islands at issue.
This is an nice interactive map that allows the reader to explore current geopolitical conflicts that are about controlling islands. This is an good source to use when introducing Exclusive Economic Zones, which is often the key strategic importance of small, lightly populated islands.
Tags: EastAsia, SouthEastAsia, political, unit 4 political, territoriality, autonomy, conflict, economic. Via English Gallery, Mike Busarello's Digital Storybooks
Elizabeth Bitgood's curator insight,
April 24, 2014 2:40 PM
This interactive page gives relevant information about islands that are disputed over in southeast Asia. I liked it because you could see the information in context with the map. 
Jess Deady's curator insight,
May 4, 2014 9:47 PM
This is like a game of Monopoly when people try and get all the houses or businesses. Except this is real life and real isles. Whose is whose? How does Asia decide where and how the EEZ's should be divided. 
Benjamin Jackson's curator insight,
December 14, 2015 12:05 PM
considering that half of the nations involved are island nations, this is hardly surprising. every nation has issues with their neighbors. even the us and Canada dispute some territory. but these disputes can hardly end as well, when half of these nations have fought wars with each other for most of their histories.
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Satellite photos show the speed, scale and ambition China has exerted to assert ownership over South China Sea islands, far from the mainland.
Norka McAlister's curator insight,
April 15, 2015 10:06 PM
China is a powerful country with a population of 1.357 billion people. China as a regional hegemony, the more land means expansion of territorial control on the region and projecting sea power on international waters. However the main reason why China, the Philippines, and other countries are trying to claim these islands is due to the oil and natural gas exploitation in the South China Sea. Even when geopolitical conflicts between Philippines and other countries arise, any of these countries will have to form powerful armies in order to fight against China. The U.S. would be the only country that could pursue different strategies and mediate agreements between China’s neighbors. However, through military intimidation, China would overpower any country that tried to claim these islands as part of their territory. 
Lora Tortolani's curator insight,
April 20, 2015 1:37 PM
China has its hopes on securing the land that is rich in oil to bring prosperity to the country. China is building a great wall of sand and seems as though they are not fearful of others stopping it even though China has been warned that these actions create tension from Taiwan, the Philippines, and Vietnam. 
Olivia Campanella's curator insight,
December 14, 2018 10:17 PM
In this article there are satellite images showing China gaining land in the South China seas, and shacks being replaced by actual buildings. By 2012 to 2015 the Mischief Reef is growing where there are several dredgers visible at the northern and western edges of the reef and there is a widened entrance of 275 meters to the south of the Reef.
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One of the geography videos embedded in this interactive map: http://bit.ly/KDY6C2 Via Mike Busarello's Digital Storybooks
John Nieuwendyk's curator insight,
December 17, 2014 5:24 PM
China is imposing these territorial claims as it is a benefit for their economy. That being said this can cause geo-political tensions that can have detrimental effects on how one country trades with another. 
WILBERT DE JESUS's curator insight,
April 27, 2015 12:09 PM
China is currently creating islands in the south china sea to be able to claim the 200 nautic miles around those islands as their EEZ, a chapter of cheeting in its claims over control of the south china sea. 
Felix Ramos Jr.'s curator insight,
May 6, 2015 3:08 PM
China's rise to prosperity over the last couple of decades is not solely alarming for far-reaching regions of the world but also its neighbors. This video highlights that with its coverage of the land-disputes between China and its Eastern and Southeastern Asian neighbors. It's only common sense to realize that once a nation becomes a world power it will seek to grow even more powerful. couple that with the fact that a small nation will inevitably feel self-conscious compared to its huge neighbor you get the phenomenon that is covered in this video. |
