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SnooAvocados763 t1_iyb6g23 wrote

Modern Slavery Is a Global Problem in All Most Renewable Energy Supply Chains would be closer to reality

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Secondary92 t1_iybjwc3 wrote

This just smells like the latest campaign cooked up by fossil fuels executives in a boardroom somewhere to muddy public sentiment and to slow down the transition as long as possible to squeeze out every last cent.

Joins a long list of other smokescreens about why renewables aren't perfect yet, despite the problems rarely ever being unique to renewables and at the same time being far, far better than their alternatives.

Not to mention other nonsense like putting the responsibility on general citizens to "reduce their own personal carbon footprint".

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Howiebledsoe t1_iybt0kp wrote

This is exactly it. Most of all production is marred by slavery somewhere along the line, in pretty much all major industry. Putting the spotlight on green energy without mentioning everything else is clearly setting an agenda. Yes, we need to find a way to abolish all slavery, but many of these people are also the ones who will be most affected by global warming and climate change.

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patchmedicine t1_iybyvd7 wrote

i’m not sure that’s the point of the article. I think the main point is that a lot of these green energy companies claim to be “squeaky clean” and what not, and that’s what attracts a lot of people to their business. for example apple doesn’t advertise its climate impact as part of phone marketing yet electronic bike companies do even those they both use these supply chains to get rare earth metals like lithium for their batteries. I think the point is to draw attention and say hey it’s a good idea but the execution isn’t there yet. But regardless still extremely screwed up how awful some areas are in the world, I hope that changes soon.

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MacaroniBandit214 t1_iydqw9q wrote

Except the fact that Apple does use their climate impact as a part of advertising. After every announcement they talk about how their production is “on track to be emission free by 2030”

Edit: emission not admission

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Loki-L t1_iyckfuv wrote

Yes, my home country just made a deal with Qatar or future gas imports and everyone knows that there are no issues with slavery in Qatar.

Unless you happen to buy your oil from Norway you are definitely supporting some human rights violating regime.

Avoiding renewable energy for humanitarian reasons is stupid.

We should definitely work on these issues, but we shouldn't give up on renewables because of that when the alternative is so much worse.

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JEEPFAN123 t1_iydh26i wrote

There is still no viable solution for the replacement of fossil fuels…

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polishlastnames t1_iyf1rfc wrote

You’re getting downvoted, but you bring up a legitimate point.

The cost of capital is becoming immense. Every new part requires a new machine, etc. Are we including that in carbon costs for production? Are we really net positive building something high tech that requires hundreds of different supply chains and non renewables, just so there’s no emissions?

I don’t have the answer but I’d like to see an analysis that says it’s a net positive, with a total analysis of all pieces out together, transportation costs (not just for parts, but people having to drive to work, etc). Because only in a truly total analysis can you say it’s a net positive. I think we’re all grasping for straws, especially when a car says “zero emissions” (it should say “zero direct emissions”)

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Few_Advisor3536 t1_iyf4dd1 wrote

Hydrogen fuel cell. Clean, has better milage than standard electric, doesnt require all the lithium that battery vehicles use, service stations can remain in place aswell all the jobs associated with logistics, hydrogen is the most abundant resource on our planet (and off) and theres no 8 hour charge time or extra stress on the electrical grid.

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[deleted] t1_iycobvc wrote

[removed]

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travelin_man_yeah t1_iybbmjf wrote

Right? No mention of the Chinese sweatshops where locked down workers are pumping out everything from iPhones to computers to electronic parts to all those dollar store items for a measly several $ a day....

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IcyChard4 t1_iybl9n9 wrote

On the bright side though, Foxconn employees in China are now protesting due to unpaid bonuses.

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ahfoo t1_iyc25vx wrote

Keep your eye on the ball here --solar power is uniquely evil. The manipulation is so plain. Apple products? Oh, we wouldn't want to hurt the tech market with tariffs. Solar though? Oh fuck yeah. Democrats and Republicans alike will slap them with tariffs in a heartbeat and tell you that they're made from the kidneys of sex trafficked children etc.

How does this insanity persist? Easy --follow the money. The US is third place after Saudi Arabia and Russia in the list of the world's oil producers. The US military is entirely dependent on oil. The name of the game is oil, oil, oil. Did I mention oil?

The world consumes 88 million barrels of oil per day. Poof! Its goes up in smoke literally and then tomorrow you burn another 88 million barrels. That's about seven billion dollars per day every freakin' day --two, three trillion a year just in revenues at the pump. Global semiconductor revenues are not even 600 billion which is less revenue than insurance. Tech is just a game compared to the oil money.

The only things that can compare to oil in terms of revenue and value are real estate, finance and banking. Tech is a bit player in the global economy but it's sexy so it's in the news all the time. The only time the knives come out is for anything that threatens oil.

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camisado84 t1_iybo8nc wrote

I'm going to assume you've never been to China and just hear stories from other people.. because that's not remotely accurate. The foxconn employees are making 13k base salary a year.. with a ton of things americans dont get. Keep in mind the cost to live in shenzen is probably 1/3-1/4 the cost to live in a rando tiny town in the US.

They get overtime at 1.5x after 40, 2x weekends, 3x holidays... paid vacation etc.. lol

https://www.businessinsider.com/foxconn-apple-largest-china-iphone-factory-sign-on-bonus-omicron-cny-2022-1

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bob123838123838 t1_iybu78n wrote

Yeah honestly let’s stop vilifying the one way out of the current fossil fuel crisis

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Dave5876 t1_iyc1qa9 wrote

Nuclear Power is the better option. Renewable tech isn't quite there yet.

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JDGumby t1_iyc7yde wrote

> Nuclear Power is the better option.

Yep. The option that poisons 3.8 billion litres of water per day per plant and where we have to store the waste products deep underground in the most geologically-stable areas we can manage and keep under perpetual guard for fear that they get out is obviously the better option.

edit: I see the Nuclear Nuts are still refusing to acknowledge that any part of nuclear power generation other than the emissions might matter.

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Salt-Artichoke5347 t1_iycc2jj wrote

you are uneducated and should really go actually do some learning

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tree-molester t1_iycws6y wrote

Don’t be to hard on him. Just a typical product of American society. Might have been home schooled or went to private/parochial. Blame his parents and everyone who has ever voted red.

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Salt-Artichoke5347 t1_iyf75iy wrote

actually I blame environmentalists for this they have pushed anti nuclear bullshit for 40 years now at the behest of their pay masters oil companies. Also both parties in the US are anti nuclear

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vernes1978 t1_iyck5wh wrote

Here is a tray of Monster power drink, and 50 bags of Doritos.
I need you to go over Google again.
Make sure what you just said is actually true.
Because there are subtle hints here in this community that you might be...
wrong.

2

Hubertus-Bigend t1_iycngr0 wrote

Modern slavory is a problem. That’s all that needs to be said. The headline suggests it’s unique to renewable energy supply chains and that’s defies reason. Why exactly died such a study and reporting on it exist? Hmmmm.

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thrwcnt1x t1_iye60zi wrote

Pretty upsetting that the top comment is literal whataboutism instead of considerations of improvement. Logical fallacies are OK when we do it, I guess.

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tree-molester t1_iybp8nd wrote

Try in ‘capitalistic society’

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eli7vh t1_iyd29dd wrote

Which is anywhere that uses lithium batteries

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Pryoticus t1_iye5if2 wrote

Let’s not discuss the clothing and fashion industry.

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