15 year old Joseph* was mining for cobalt in a tunnel
barely wider than his body when it collapsed and buried him
alive.
Too many children are working in deadly conditions like this,
just to produce batteries for our smartphones, laptops, and electric
cars.
But we can help put an end to it.
15 families whose children were killed or severely
injured in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including Joseph’s, are
now taking Apple, Tesla, and three other tech giants to
court. It’s the first ever case that would hold these
companies responsible for letting children die mining cobalt just to
keep their profits piling up.
A major brief is due in weeks, and the families’ legal
team urgently needs the funds to keep the case moving.
If the families win, it could end child cobalt mining –
and send a massive signal to billion dollar companies that they’re
responsible for how their products are made. Can you chip in now to
keep the lawsuit going?
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The DRC has the world’s largest deposits of cobalt, an essential
element for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used by
billion-dollar giants like Apple and Tesla. Demand has skyrocketed,
and mining companies in DRC are using more and more children to meet
it, paying just a dollar or two a day.
Thousands of children have died and countless are injured
every day.
The lawsuit claims that five tech giants – Apple, Alphabet
(Google), Dell, Microsoft, and Tesla – that dominate the DRC supply
chain for cobalt should be held to account for these crimes. But the
companies have denied any responsibility for what happens in the
mines – all while claiming to have “strict policies” against child
labor in all aspects of their supply chain!
Last year, a judge appointed by former President Trump dismissed
the case, agreeing with the tech giants that they are “mere
purchasers” of cobalt, but the families aren’t giving
up. They’ve filed an appeal and are planning to see
the case through.
The tech giants have spared no cost in trying to shirk
responsibility and get the case thrown out. But if we help these 15
families win, it will force the biggest tech giants to cut their
ties with deadly mines and finally bring about change to the cobalt
industry in DRC – and show corporate giants that they’re
responsible for their supply chains.
Vladimir, can you give just a small amount to help save
countless more children from deadly cobalt mines?
If
you’ve saved your payment information with SumOfUs, your donation
will go through immediately.
Donate
$3 nowDonate
another amount
* The name of the child miner has been changed to avoid
retaliation against his family.
