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Lithium discovery in US volcano could be biggest deposit ever found (www.chemistryworld.com)
submitted 2 years ago by [M, B] to c/technology@lemmy.world
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Lithium discovery in US volcano could be biggest deposit ever found::Find could point to new ways to prospect for material in high demand for batteries.

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[–] 48 points 2 years ago (3 children)

You gotta choose. Dig messy holes at home, make friends with china, or rapacious exploitation of developing nations.

Which one do you like best?

I’m not advocating for a bunch of nasty mines in my backyard. I’m just pointing out that “not mining” is a choice that is pretty ugly also.

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  • [–] 56 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    Ensure that the indigenous groups that have claim to the area are entitled at least 50% ownership and profit. Provide them priority on training and jobs. Give them a stake in the entire operation.

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  • [–] 10 points 2 years ago* (3 children)

    Honestly, this. 50% might be a bit much because unfortunately, if you give them too much ownership then you'll just end up sending the mines overseas again. At least here you're (hopefully) creating jobs for Americans, both indigenous and not.

    Tbh, in my opinion if someone's building on land that is culturally and/or religiously significant to indigenous tribes in the US, then there should be something along the lines of 5% of profits gets split between all US tribes (based on tribal membership), and then a split of >30% of ownership and profits that gets split between the tribes that have a direct claim to the cultural/religiousness of the land used (with the claim again being split between tribes based on tribal membership).

    Note, those are "ass numbers" (I pulled them out of my ass) and not meant to actually be specific values so much as they're intended to get the idea across.

    My biggest worry with such a system, however, is that it could lead to increased corporate entitlement ("we're paying the "savage tax" aren't we? Fuck off and let us rape the land lmoa"). At the same time though, Native Americans have a hard enough time of getting corpos to respect them; so receiving profits and sharing ownership of companies or installations on historically significant tribal land might be worth it despite the risk of further encouraging corporate entitlement.

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  • [–] 6 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Nah I'm with the other lemmy user, 50%, take it or increase it. And they should have a say on every project and be unionized. It's time we stood up to the companies and business folks that seek to imprison people in their homeland.

    And we should push for Land Back rather than trying to make the companies and business folks feel safe here.

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  • [–] 2 points 2 years ago* (1 child)

    If the mining company doesn't make enough $$$ they won't do it and will just go somewhere else that makes $$$. You cut out 50% profit and it makes it a pretty easy decision to avoid US mines and go to other countries.

    Ultimately they are for profit businesses that will focus their investment on where they can make the most profit. It's sort of like how fracking for oil is only done once it reaches a certain price per barrel. Before a price point, it's not profitable. After, it is.

    50% profit reduction is a huge decrease. Would make virtually any other mine in the world more profitable.

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  • [–] 2 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Eh, if they fail, that just means they don't get to poison the earth and groundwater while stealing resources from the ground, sounds like a win-win to me.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 years ago (1 child)

    No, they still will. And we will still buy the lithium to run our phones and laptops.

    It's just we will export the damage to 3rd world countries instead.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 years ago (1 child)

    I believe change needs to start locally, and if we rise up and challenge capital interests, maybe other countries can too.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 years ago

    That's a noble sentiment, truly.

    So, let's consider taking a stand by eliminating our use of products like lithium-ion batteries, laptops, electric cars, and all the myriad of devices that make our lives more convenient and connected. If we really want to inspire change, locally and globally, we should start by examining our own consumption habits, right?

    I trust you'll lead the way by taking the first steps to eliminate your reliance on these technologies. It's a tall order, but change has to start somewhere, doesn't it?

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  • [–] 2 points 2 years ago

    I'm not advocating this just making a point.

    They could have 30% ownership and still receive 70% of the income. It's all in the contract. In this case, regardless of the financials, it would mean that they only have 30% of the power on decision making, and that's if that's left up to ownership, in any capacity. Maybe they only have 30% of the votes for the C-suite and after that owners are boxed out.

    There are so many different ways to set up a company. Who knows.

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  • [–] 6 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    You forgot the best option! Forcing Mexico to become the 51st State

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  • [–] 9 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    If Republicans win in 2024, they'll be war with Mexico. I'm as sure about it as the sun rising.

    They'll need a drum to beat, and since their social policy is losing, it'll be "attack the cartels" full on military on foreign soil.

    As much as the cartels are a problem, decriminalization is a better better option to defang them and then give Mexico a hand cleaning up if they ask for it. They aren't incompetent, shit, they build half of everything on this planet, more than China. We can, and should, respect their sovereignity.

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