DoomsdaysCW
@DoomsdaysCW@kolektiva.social  ·  activity timestamp 3 weeks ago

In pictures: #SouthAmerica's 'LithiumFields' reveal the dark side of our electric future

By Maeve Campbell
Published on 01/02/2022

"Lithium extraction fields in South America have been captured by an aerial photographer in stunning high definition.

"But while the images may be breathtaking to look at, they represent the dark side of our swiftly electrifying world.

"Lithium represents a route out of our reliance on #FossilFuel production. As the lightest known metal on the planet, it is now widely used in electric devices from mobile phones and laptops, to cars and aircraft.

"#LithiumIon batteries are most famous for powering electric vehicles, which are set to account for up to 60 per cent of new car sales by 2030. The battery of a #Tesla Model S, for example, uses around 12 kg of lithium.

"These batteries are the key to lightweight, rechargeable power. As it stands, demand for lithium is unprecedented and many say it is crucial in order to transition to #renewables.

"However, this doesn't come without a cost - mining the chemical element can be harmful to the environment.

"German aerial photographer Tom Hegen specialises in documenting the traces we leave on the earth's surface. His work provides an overview of places where we extract, refine and consume resources with his latest series exposing the '#LithiumTriangle.'

"This region rich with natural deposits can be found where the borders of Chile, Argentina and Bolivia meet. And roughly a quarter is stored in the Salar de Atacama salt flats in northern Chile."

https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/02/01/south-america-s-lithium-fields-reveal-the-dark-side-of-our-electric-future

#EVs#LithiumAlternatives#RecycleLithium#NoLithiumMining#NoMiningWithoutConsent#LithiumProcessing#WaterIsLife#NatureIsLife#HydrogenFuelCells#SodiumIonBatteries
The Japan Times
@thejapantimes@mastodon.social  ·  activity timestamp 4 weeks ago

Jair Bolsonaro was ordered into house arrest by a justice of Brazil’s top court who said the former president disobeyed a ban from using social media while standing trial for an alleged coup attempt. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/05/world/politics/bolsonaro-house-arrest-brazil-court/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #politics #brazil #jairbolsonaro #southamerica
The Japan Times
@thejapantimes@mastodon.social  ·  activity timestamp last month

The seizure of one of the largest known mercury shipments in history, moving from mines in Mexico to illegal Amazon gold mining zones, exposes the wide use of the toxic metal in the rain forest, according to authorities. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/28/world/mercury-amazon-gold-mining/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #gold #mining #latinamerica #southamerica #amazonriver
The Japan Times
@thejapantimes@mastodon.social  ·  activity timestamp 2 months ago

Producers of Italy's renowned Chianti wine have demanded a new export strategy targeting markets such as South America, Asia and Africa following U.S. President Donald Trump's threat of additional tariffs on imports. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/07/15/markets/italy-chianti-wine-asia-tariff/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #markets #italy #chianti #wine #us #donaldtrump #trade #southamerica #asia #tariffs #spain