When EV Makers Play the "Hide and Cr6-k" Game:

Remember 'Erin Brockovich'? Well, how about a real-life sequel, one where she takes on the EV industry? A skeleton just tumbled out of the EV industry's closet and, surprise, it's wearing a chromium six (Cr6) necklace. Remember that pesky carcinogen Brockovich famously fought against in the film? Turns out, the EV industry has been cozying up with it in Indonesia.

Indonesia's Eerily Quiet Water Crisis:

Leaked documents indicate that Harita, one of Indonesia's leading nickel mining companies, hid some unpleasant truths about water pollution. The villain of the tale? An excessive level of hexavalent chromium (Cr6) in the local drinking water, a potentially fatal chemical. This dangerous contaminant can lead to liver damage, reproductive issues, and even stomach cancer over long-term exposure. Not really the secret ingredient you’d associate with your green, environmentally friendly ride - or your tap water. The documents tell a tale of contamination near a billion-dollar mining venture on Indonesia's remote Obi Island. Official results from samples taken for a 2022 investigation marked levels above Indonesia's legal limit, with subsequent tests indicating a concerning increase. Despite the results, the mining company claimed the water was suitable for drinking, which seems, well, totally in line with corporate accountability, right? 

The Unseen Cost of Clean Cars:

Harita Group's primary product - nickel - is critical for the manufacturing of wind turbines, solar panels, and of course, electric vehicle batteries. Indonesia is the world’s biggest producer of nickel, trying to meet surging global demand – but at what cost? With regulatory oversight lagging behind, is it turning a blind eye to this mounting water crisis just so that your Tesla can breeze by noiselessly? The incident raises an extremely relevant question about the true price of our “green transition” and reinforces the necessity of a just transition, where environmental and human rights are not treated as secondary concerns. Here's the takeaway, folks. Electric vehicles might be the eco-friendly superheroes we want, but we need to pay closer attention to the origin story. Let's hope our real-world Brockovich's are on the case so that the pursuit of a clean, sustainable environment doesn't turn into an unspoken water crisis. The last thing we want is to trade one disaster for another.

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