Blood in the Batteries: The Tragic Cost of Child Exploitation in Our Renewable Energy Revolution is an eye-opening course that explores the complex and often hidden connections between cobalt mining, child labor, and the renewable energy industry. This course sheds light on the ethical, environmental, and social challenges surrounding cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and seeks to empower participants to advocate for change.

Throughout the course, participants will examine:

• The importance of cobalt in renewable energy technology and the subsequent rise of cobalt mining in the DRC.
• The harsh realities of child labor in Congo’s cobalt mines and its impact on the environment, miners, and their families.
• The role of corporations, consumers, and governments in perpetuating or combatting child labor and exploitation in cobalt mining.
• The ongoing efforts to reform the cobalt industry, promote fair wages, and address the environmental consequences of mining.
• The irony of renewable energy’s dependence on child exploitation and the global reach of cobalt supply chains.
• The challenges of balancing environmentalism and human rights in the pursuit of clean energy solutions.
• The potential of consumer activism, innovative technologies, and sustainable mining practices to create a more responsible cobalt industry.
• The personal stories of those directly affected by cobalt exploitation and the journey of cobalt from Congo to the hands of consumers.
• The call to action for individuals to make a difference in the fight against cobalt exploitation and envision a world with ethical cobalt mining.