A review of Clia Izoard's book: https://archive.is/r3Def#selection-393.0-393.25

"Locally, the process of radicalization of industrial #mining is detailed through the prism of its social ravages. The mine is above all a gigantic uprooting machine (p. 54), which empties spaces by expropriating the last peoples of the plant. In addition, contemporary mining exposes populations to various diseases and poisoning. In the Bou-Azzer mine in Morocco, we extract responsible cobalt for electric cars; miners and local residents suffer from cancers and neurological and cardiovascular diseases.
"The overall scale of mining sector predation in XXIe century is also outlined through the growing production of waste and pollution. The mining sector is the most polluting industry in the world. For example, an industrial copper mine produces 99.6% waste. Stored near mining pits, the waste rocks, gigantic volumes of extracted rock, generate sulfur releases which drain the heavy metals contained in the rocks and make them migrate towards waterways. Factory pipes constantly spew toxic residues which can, depending on the ore processed, consist of cyanide, acids, hydrocarbons, soda, or known poisons such as lead, arsenic, mercury, etc. Finally, zero-carbon mines are pipe dreams because they are all very energy-intensive. The amount needed to extract, crush, process and refine metals represents approximately 8 to 10% of the total energy consumed worldwide, making the mining industry a major culprit in climate change."

#environment #ecology #mining #mines #extraction #extractivism #metals #transition #energyTransition #ecologicalTransition #ecologicalDebt #lithium #cobalt #digital #digitization #smartphone #iPhone #Android #electric #electricTransition #electricCars #industry #criticalTheory #technoCriticism #capitalism #technology #technique #sovereignty #supply #supplyChain #rawMaterials #commodities #development #exploitation #policy #pollution #NIMBY #CéliaIzoard #nickel #copper #book