Implication of Colonial Thinking in the Exploitation of African Resources

The cobalt mining industry in Africa involves thousands of workers, including teenage boys, who work in dangerous conditions without safety equipment, earning a minimal wage, while companies making products with cobalt profit billions. This exploitation not only powers our technology but also fuels the production of electric cars, under the guise of combating climate change. The speaker highlights the hypocrisy of destroying the African environment to save our own, questioning why African lives and their environment are deemed less valuable. This exploitation reflects a colonial mindset, reminiscent of the 17th and 18th centuries, where Africa was seen as a source of resources to be plundered, devaluing the lives and environment of the people in the region.