The Cobalt Mining Conundrum As modernity propels us forward, the high-stakes demand for elements crucial to technological development, such as cobalt, continues to soar. This trend is especially significant in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which hosts more than half of the world’s cobalt mining reserves. But, beneath the allure of this treasure trove, a dire reality lingers. The Depths of Despair In the cobalt-rich DRC, where people’s hopes are mired in hardship, there exists a stark dichotomy. While on one hand, cobalt mining is viewed as a potential pathway to prosperity, on the other, it becomes a conduit…

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Humanitarian Crises: What You Need To Know Last year we saw an unprecedented number of humanitarian crises around the world. Every day there seems to be a different country in the news with a tragic headline. Yemen, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Syria, Nigeria, and Venezuela are five of the countries that have a greater need for international aid than ever before. 1) Yemen Yemen tops the list of countries with the worst humanitarian crises for the second consecutive year. The majority of Yemen’s troubles are rooted in the civil war that broke out in 2015. Peace talks have all…

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Texas has the 2nd Highest Volume of Human Trafficking Cases During the coronavirus pandemic, there has been a sharp increase in the number of crisis calls. Beyond this, online trafficking activities are soaring as criminals rapidly adapt to the changing landscape. The Lone Star State has identified 2455 victims and survivors of human trafficking from over 2000 calls placed to the hotline, second only to California in this regard. The hotline now also includes alternative methods of communication for victims like texting. As a result of calls to this hotline, 515 traffickers were identified along with 240 business linked to…

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Gender-based abuse has become a global problem in factories around the world. As consumers, we often have no idea what happens in the production facilities of those branded clothes we purchase. In May 2018, the Global Labor justice investigated what happens behind the scenes as the major American apparel brands launch new designs every year. H&M and Gap, for instance, outsource most of their production to Asian factories. Based on recent findings, gender-based abuse is a major issue at the production facilities of these fast-fashion brands. What triggers this issue is the contemporary era of fast-fashion. Outsourcing, accelerated labor, and…

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Child Labor Exploitation Still Way Too High Child labor exploitation may not be at all time high but studies have shown that more than 260 million children all across the globe are victims of child labor, in one way or another. Out of those 260 million children, about 170 million are engaged in the kind of work that isn’t suitable and too extreme for their age. It is the government’s responsibility to keep children away from work that is in some way detrimental to their health, as well as their education. It doesn’t mean that children can’t run errands or…

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