If we are to believe the EU's Green New Deal and national climate plans, the solution to global warming is surprisingly simple: electric cars, wind turbines and solar panels. But how green is this growth and how clean is this energy, if it comes at a high environmental and social cost?

Not only does the question remain whether these supposedly sustainable solutions are not far too expensive for the average European. Above all, the batteries and magnets of electric cars and wind turbines require huge amounts of lithium and cobalt. 

We start the program with Cobalt Rush, a short documentary on the mining of cobalt in Kolwezi in DR Congo, demonstrating how these essential minerals are extracted through polluting extractive industries that also violate human rights. This is not only the case in the Global South, but increasingly in Europe as well. For example, the lands of the Sami, in northern Scandinavia, are being seized for the construction of large-scale wind farms. 

So how sustainable is this transition for human beings and the environment? Is there no alternative for this green colonialism? We will address these questions and more, with the following experts: 

Diego Marin, policy officer on raw materials and environmental justice at the European Environmental Bureau.

Sara Geenen, professor of globalisation and poverty, specializing in the global social dimensions of the mining industry, at the Institute for Development Policy (UAntwerpen).

Chipo Mbawu, cultural anthropologist specializing in due diligence of business with regard to human rights and environmental standards (VeriNest Consulting).

Wies Willems, resource policy officer at Broederlijk Delen.

Stephanie Collingwoode Williams, anthropologist, consultant and curator specialising in climate justice, anti-racism and intersectionality, will moderate the conversation.

The conversation will be in English.

Cobalt Rush (2022) was produced by the University of Bath, directed by Prof. Roy Maconachie, Simon Wharf, and Prof. Bossissi Nkuba.

This programme is an initiative of Grenzeloos, a collaboration with 11.11.11, Oxfam, Broederlijk Delen, MO*Magazine and Spreken is Goud by De Roma. Under the banner Grenzeloos, these partners co-organise various activities with a focus on global solidarity and justice.