The future of the automobile company is in electric cars and no one is happier than environmentalists some but not all are those people is the world who tend to believe that corporate world is bad. The unfortunate thing for the environmentalists is the electric company is operated by a battery. The battery is a lithium-ion battery and one of its primary material is a metal called cobalt. Cobalt has one source in the world (alt’sugh more maybe found) and the country is called the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Congo history in regards to Europe is in the 1880’s the major powers of the Europe decided each were going to a piece of Africa and the Congo went to Belgium. Similar to every country, people were sent to see if money could be made and sent back to the home country. Farming was tried, but moved to mining and some of the world’s biggest mines are found there. The country became independent and changed its name to Zaire and then changed its name to Democratic Republic of Congo. At the moment, the governance of the country is less democratic as civil war and corruption have been widespread.

Mining has been an economic source of income and the world’s mining industry pay private armies to protect its mines. The Congo is the primary supplier of cobalt with production of 123,000 tons.  There is likely an non official or grey area where cobalt is mined, some of the mining is with child labor and some controlled by various militias. Domestically it is complicated, but the metal is mined and world at the moment can overlook the internal happenings of the country.

Linking to dividend paying stocks, the supply chains while everyone would loved the people are well paid and have many of the same freedoms, the reality is usually less so. At some point you have to overlook or slowly work on those areas where you object to. It is difficult in a global economic portfolio. With your money you can make a difference or try to minimize the worst of the economic cycle, but overlooking the profit margins can mean less money in your bank account.

There are more questions than answers, till the next time – to raising questions.