With sustainability increasingly
becoming a topic on many people’s minds, we all ask ourselves how can we do our
part. One answer that has become popular is purchasing or leasing an electric
or hybrid vehicle. It would appear you are doing your part to reduce the
consumption of a non-renewable resource, petroleum. However, have you ever
taken the time to ask yourself, where does the Lithium used to make that
rechargeable battery come from? How about the batteries in your mobile phones,
laptop computer, or digital camera?
The burgeoning industry
of Lithium Carbonate mining is booming in Argentina. Lithium Carbonate,
nicknamed White Gold, has had its price increase 250% over the last 5 years
and currently is selling at $20,000 USD per ton. There is a growing debate on
who is getting rich of this “gold rush”, is it international businesses or the
locals where lithium is being mined? There is also increasing debate on how environmentally
friendly the mining is due to the large amounts of water required in isolating the
lithium.
Please enjoy this article
found in the Washington Post analyzing the true sustainability of Lithium
production and its effect on the local economy within Argentina.
Work Cited:
Frankel, T. C., &
Whoriskey, P. (n.d.). Tossed Aside in the ‘White Gold’ Rush. Retrieved February
21, 2017, from
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/business/batteries/tossed-aside-in-the-lithium-rush/
Thank you for sharing this information; it is definitely sad to see the locals are not benefiting at all from the lithium carbonate mining. Even though this article is disappointing, I have to say that I will continue to use my cell phone, tablet, and laptop. I will most likely never purchase an electric or hybrid vehicle, unless I save up enough money for a Tesla or BMW i8.
ReplyDelete- Kevin Rindfleisch
I find it amazing how we want to become a "greener" society, yet plunder many developing countries in light of "sustaining" the environment.
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