> Child cobalt mining is far worse than McDonalds no?
Indeed, but how is that important for this story? That there is worse child exploitation doesn't mean that this is excusable.
Indeed, but how is that important for this story? That there is worse child exploitation doesn't mean that this is excusable.
It is most certainly possible without child labor. It's not like adult labor in the DRC is particularly expensive. The per capita value of all the cobalt America uses per year is less than $1. If it were lying on the sidewalk, you probably wouldn't bother to bend over to pick up the amount of money you save by having child labor in those mines. The idea that we need child labor is asinine.
When you do see it in the US, it's tied to some other illegal activity.
I'm going to guess that none of these children have parents that are either legal or present, or possibly both. There was a similar story about migrant children working in auto component factories in the South that made parts for Hyundai/Kia.
...and the higher-ups do usually escape in these things. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postville_raid