**Breaking News: The Dark Side of Electric Cars – Human Cost Exposed**

In a shocking revelation, the glittering promise of electric vehicles, hailed as the future of clean energy, is under scrutiny for its grim ties to human rights abuses. As the world rushes towards electric mobility to combat climate change, a harrowing truth emerges: the cobalt used in electric car batteries often comes at an unimaginable cost.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), sitting atop 70% of the world’s cobalt reserves, is the heart of this dark reality. Here, amidst reported poverty and conflict, approximately 200,000 miners, including over 40,000 children as young as six, toil in dangerous conditions. These children, driven by extreme poverty, work in makeshift mines, digging for cobalt often without protective gear, for a mere dollar a day. Reports indicate that mining accidents claim the lives of around 2,000 irregular miners annually, leaving families shattered and communities in despair.

The staggering demand for cobalt has surged alongside the electric vehicle boom, expected to rise by 585% by 2035. As major car manufacturers like Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen push for greener technologies, the exploitation behind the scenes raises urgent ethical questions. Despite promises to improve conditions, many workers remain subject to abuse and discrimination, with corporations allegedly turning a blind eye to child labor.

As electric vehicle sales soar, the reality of cobalt mining starkly contrasts the clean energy narrative. The world must confront the hidden cost of electric cars: the lives of vulnerable children and impoverished families sacrificed for technological advancement. In the pursuit of green energy, are we inadvertently fueling a cycle of exploitation? The call for accountability and ethical sourcing has never been more urgent.