{"id":31093,"date":"2023-03-26T09:43:33","date_gmt":"2023-03-26T13:43:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wadesarver.com\/Podcast\/?p=31093"},"modified":"2023-03-26T09:43:35","modified_gmt":"2023-03-26T13:43:35","slug":"is-wireless-power-irresponsible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wadesarver.com\/Podcast\/2023\/03\/is-wireless-power-irresponsible\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Wireless Power Irresponsible?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Here\u2019s a thought I had. How responsible are we in tech? I believe we try to be, but knowledge is power. Knowledge can make us uncomfortable. Especially when we learn ugly secrets. Awareness is the key.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is lithium-ion one of those ugly little lies we\u2019re living without even knowing it? Maybe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listen, we all love our devices, but let\u2019s face it, the lithium-ion batteries we rely on have faults. I realize we need batteries to make things wireless. We need wireless power. In this case, specifically, we need lithium-ion batteries to make things happen longer. They seem like an amazing invention, but at what cost?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wireless power is the cost. Smartphones, laptops, power tools, and electric vehicles all need lots of power. We rely on lithium-ion for almost everything in our hi-tech lives. It doesn’t stop there! Watches, toys, lights, soap dispensers, towel dispensers, and more. Can you think of any new device without a lithium-ion battery?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All these devices have cobalt in them. Most cobalt comes from the Congo where human rights mean nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you remember when child labor was a horrible thing for clothing makers? I remember when Kathie Lee Gifford was told her clothing was made by children in another country<\/a>. She didn\u2019t know until she was told and then she was horrified. We should be reacting the same way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am telling you now, we have real issues with the mining of cobalt. Think child labor, human trafficking, and environmental destruction. Especially now that we have electric vehicles going mainstream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who is to blame for this? We can sit here and blame big nameless corporations, but you know, we had laptops and power tools before smartphones. It’s easy to point the finger at Apple, Samsung, Tesla, Ford, GM, or Nissan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s face it, we are to blame. That\u2019s right, look in the mirror and see the guilty party. We buy all of this crap. And now we’re buying EVs which are going to accelerate the problem unless we find alternatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We can’t take all the blame though; local governments are pushing vehicles to go electric. In California, the state will stop selling anything but EVs by 2035<\/a>. They want to save the planet, but are they inadvertently promoting child labor and destroying Africa\u2019s environment? Clean cars, dirty conscience, but the California government will be happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, I want to cover how responsibility around Lithium-Ion batteries needs awareness, and we have alternatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ll talk about recycling, which is being addressed today. Recycling is a key issue moving ahead. While we all like it, I know tons of batteries will be in landfills. How bad is that? Really bad for our kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then I\u2019ll cover the corruption in the cobalt mining industry and how it promotes child labor and human trafficking. How it will destroy the Congo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember, in the US it\u2019s mostly an environmental push. They\u2019re doing it to save the environment. But at the cost? How many new problems have been created? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was inspired by a book, \u201cCobalt Red<\/a>\u201d by Siddharth Kara, to write this and get the word out. We have to act now to stop this.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Problem #1 is Battery Recycling Overview<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are millions of smartphones and they all have toxic chemicals inside of them. Recycling is more than a good idea; it should be your first choice for anything with a battery inside. Just think about all the landfills that will have batteries breaking down in them. Eventually, something will leak and then get into a water supply. Chances are good it won\u2019t be a happy ending for the environment and the people that live close by. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The United States must build up battery recycling infrastructure now because in 10 years we’ll be destroying the environment all over again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For smartphones, Apple and Samsung offer this service, free recycling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For household items, like smartphones, power tools, and other devices with batteries, we can usually take them to Lowes, Home Depot, or another store and drop them off. You have to see if they are a recycling center. Not everyone does this, but it gives you a few options. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To look for a place to recycle lithium-ion batteries, look at these links.<\/p>\n\n\n\n