Inquiring Minds

Power Metal: The Race for the Resources That Will Shape the Future with Vince Beiser

Nov 26, 2024
Vince Beiser, an award-winning journalist and author of Power Metal, joins the conversation to dissect our growing reliance on critical metals for technology and renewable energy. He unveils the environmental and social fallout from mining practices, particularly cobalt and lithium. The discussion highlights the 'right to repair' movement and ways to minimize e-waste. Beiser also advocates for urban planning that promotes car-free living as a sustainable alternative, presenting hopeful innovations for a greener future.
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ADVICE

Recycle Responsibly

  • Recycle electronics responsibly, as most e-waste isn't recycled.
  • Consider the environmental and social costs of recycling, like pollution and exploitative labor practices.
INSIGHT

Recycling's Hidden Costs

  • Recycling is better than discarding, but it's not cost-free.
  • It's energy-intensive, polluting, and often relies on exploitative labor in developing countries.
ANECDOTE

E-waste in Lagos

  • Vince Beiser witnessed poor working conditions of e-waste recyclers in Lagos, Nigeria.
  • Workers extract valuable metals from discarded electronics, often with harmful methods.
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