Searching for Rare Metals and Renewable Energy - At The Expense of Humans and the Environment | Episode 1.7

Technically Biased

Jun 21 2023 • 34 mins

Listen to Krystyn Gutu, M.S. introduce award-winning journalist and author, Vince Beiser, who has had his work featured in Wired, Time, The Los Angeles Times, Harpers, and National Geographic, among others. His first book was "The World in a Grain: The Story of Sand and How it Transformed Civilization," which highlights how sand is the most important solid substance on earth - and what that means for the environment and its people.


As we have started to run out of sand, and organized crime is starting to increase, it is important we understand the downsides of the energy transition and digital revolution. Beiser is now working on his next book "Power Metal" about the rare metals and renewable energy that might come at the expense of the environment, and its people. Metals like lithium cobalt, rare earth metals, and nickel are needed to build machines like solar panels, wind turbines, and electric cars. What's the trade-off?


In this episode, we discuss:

~ The importance of sand – for roads, buildings, glass, and technology

~ The exploitation of the environment for technological needs

~ The exploitation of people for the mining of rare metals

~ Illegal sand mining and organized crime

~ If we should turn to the ocean and outer space for our tech needs

~ Minimizing harm to the environment - on an individual and societal level


Tune into this episode of Technically Biased to learn more!

You can find it on our website at https://gakovii.com/podcast/


Technically Biased is also available on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, and RSS, among others. If you like what you hear, feel free to visit our ⁠website⁠⁠ and subscribe to our newsletter. You can also follow us on ⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠⁠.


Tune in next week to learn about AI's role in creative and journalistic writing.

https://gakovii.com/


#algorithmicbias⁠#predatorytech⁠#TechnicallyBiasedPodcast #Gakovii

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