5 episodes
Mining for the Climate Blue Lab
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- Society & Culture
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5.0 • 13 Ratings
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Behind every solar panel, wind turbine and electric vehicle is at least one mine and a community that has been altered by it. Mining for the Climate peels back the photovoltaic cell and peers under the hood to get to know the people and places impacted by the rush to mine critical minerals. In the process, we take a hard look at the stories told about climate change, mining and the energy transition, and we consider less mining-dependent futures.
Mining for the Climate is a co-creation of Nate Otjen and Juan Manuel Rubio. It’s a production of Blue Lab at Princeton University.
To learn more about Mining for the Climate and Blue Lab’s other environmental projects and series visit: http://bluelab.princeton.edu/
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Episode 1: White Gold Rush
A few stories about critical minerals have dominated the news lately: “We must mine to save the planet;” “China is taking over rare-earth elements;” “EVs are leading the green revolution.” These stories lay the groundwork for a future that is unquestionably mining intensive. However, does every mine need to be built?
The proposed lithium mine in Gaston County, North Carolina, has not broken ground and it’s already causing significant disruptions for residents. So how dangerous is the idea of a mine?
Mining for the Climate is a co-creation of Nate Otjen and Juan Manuel Rubio. It’s a production of Blue Lab at Princeton University.
Episode Credits
Written by Juan Manuel Rubio
Hosted by Juan Manuel Rubio
Sound design by Juan Manuel Rubio
Research and production team: Max Widmann, Alex Norbrook, Grace Wang, Nate Otjen and Juan Manuel Rubio
Music by Purple Planet (www.purple-planet.com) and Pryor Meadows
Audio Clip Credits
A Look At Lithium Mining, CNN, 2022
Behind the First All-Electric Truck Company, Rivian, CBS Mornings, 2022
Chevron Back in Court for Worst Case of Oil Pollution on the Planet, The Real News Network, 2015
Critical Mineral Mining Sees Unprecedented Growth Fueled by Clean Energy Demand, CNBC, 2023
How Critical Minerals Are Vital to the Climate Fight, ABC News, 2022
In Major Win for Indigenous Rights, Ecuador Votes to Ban Oil Drilling in Protected Amazon Lands, Democracy Now, 2023
Last Look: The Green Transition Will Trigger a New Race for Natural Resources, CNN, 2022
Neighbors Speak out against Piedmont Lithium Mine Plan, 2021 Special Report : Inside the Congo Cobalt Mines That Exploit Children, Sky News, 2017
Copyright 2023 Nate Otjen, Juan Manuel Rubio and Blue Lab. All rights reserved. -
Episode 2: Land Histories and Futures
Building a mine requires a substantial amount of land. This episode investigates the tactics used by Piedmont Lithium to accumulate a critical amount of land for its operations. We take listeners to visit burned-out houses and empty lots and to meet the neighbors who sold and those who remain.
Mining for the Climate is a co-creation of Nate Otjen and Juan Manuel Rubio. It’s a production of Blue Lab at Princeton University.
Episode Credits
Written by Max Widmann
Hosted by Max Widmann
Sound design by Juan Manuel Rubio
Research and production team: Max Widmann, Alex Norbrook, Grace Wang, Nate Otjen and Juan Manuel Rubio
Music by Purple Planet (www.purple-planet.com), Shake that Little Foot and Pryor Meadows
Shady Grove by Shake That Little Foot is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 International License
Audio Clip Credits
Senator Thom Tillis at Piedmont Lithium HQ Open House, Piedmont Lithium, 2022
Gaston County Board of Commissioners October 24, 2023 Meeting, Gaston County Government, 2023
Copyright 2023 Nate Otjen, Juan Manuel Rubio and Blue Lab. All rights reserved. -
Episode 3: The Body of the Mine
Like a body, a mine has its own metabolism. It consumes water, trees and energy, and it releases chemicals, carbon and wastewater. These metabolic processes are supposed to be hidden: few want to see, hear, smell or taste a mine in operation. Unearthing the body of the mine, we ask how Piedmont Lithium highlights certain aspects of the mine’s processes while directing attention away from others.
Mining for the Climate is a co-creation of Nate Otjen and Juan Manuel Rubio. It's a production of Blue Lab at Princeton University.
Episode Credits
Written by Alex Norbrook and Juan Manuel Rubio
Hosted by Alex Norbrook
Sound design by Juan Manuel Rubio
Research and production team: Max Widmann, Alex Norbrook, Grace Wang, Nate Otjen and Juan Manuel Rubio
Music by Purple Planet (www.purple-planet.com), Shake that Little Foot and Pryor Meadows
Shady Grove by Shake That Little Foot is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 International License
Audio Clip Credits
Gaston County Board of Commissioners July 20, 2021, Gaston County Government, 2021
Copyright 2023 Nate Otjen, Juan Manuel Rubio and Blue Lab. All rights reserved. -
Episode 4: A Tale of Two Ranchers
Many residents of Gaston County make their living through farming and ranching. We meet a cattle and a horse rancher whose livelihoods and animals are threatened by the mine. Both women are doing everything in their power to stop the mine and maintain their way of life.
Mining for the Climate is a co-creation of Nate Otjen and Juan Manuel Rubio. It's a production of Blue Lab at Princeton University.
Episode Credits
Written by Grace Wang
Hosted by Grace Wang
Sound design by Grace Wang and Juan Manuel Rubio
Research and production team: Max Widmann, Alex Norbrook, Grace Wang, Nate Otjen and Juan Manuel Rubio
Music by Purple Planet (www.purple-planet.com), Shake that Little Foot, Pryor Meadows and Olexy
Shady Grove by Shake That Little Foot is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 International License
Copyright 2023 Nate Otjen, Juan Manuel Rubio and Blue Lab. All rights reserved. -
Episode 5: Forking Paths
The road ahead for the Carolina Lithium project seems uncertain. In this final episode, we look at the greatest obstacle confronting Piedmont Lithium: convincing the Gaston County Board of Commissioners to approve their rezoning request.
Mining for the Climate is a co-creation of Nate Otjen and Juan Manuel Rubio. It's a production of Blue Lab at Princeton University.
Episode Credits
Written by Nate Otjen
Hosted by Nate Otjen
Sound design by Nate Otjen and Juan Manuel Rubio
Research and production team: Max Widmann, Alex Norbrook, Grace Wang, Nate Otjen and Juan Manuel Rubio
Music by Purple Planet (www.purple-planet.com), Shake that Little Foot and Pryor Meadows
Shady Grove by Shake That Little Foot is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 International License
Audio Clip Credits
More Mobility with Less Mining, Climate and Community, 2023
Copyright 2023 Nate Otjen, Juan Manuel Rubio and Blue Lab. All rights reserved.
Customer Reviews
Unbiased Information
Thank you for being an informative source of information and telling the stories of the communities that are resisting the electric vehicle propaganda and addressing the inequalities in the information!
Clear Information
Thank you for documenting the events occurring in Gaston County so eloquently.