Mining metals for batteries destroying paradise
Listen to the story (Irish accent)
Drone pictures show damage in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. These pictures are from an environmental group called Global Witness. They show that nickel mining destroyed forests, and polluted water.
Raja Ampat is a group of small islands. It's often called the "Amazon of the Seas" because it has many different kinds of plants and animals.
Nickel is a metal used to make batteries for electric cars and stainless steel. Global Witness says that mining for nickel has increased a lot there.
The Indonesian government recently stopped mining permits for four out of five companies in the area. The government said that Raja Ampat’s natural beauty is a "world heritage" and must be protected.
However, the photos from Global Witness show that some environmental damage has already happened. Global Witness told the BBC that the land used for mining on these islands grew by 500 hectares between 2020 and 2024. This is like 700 football fields.
Some environmental groups, like Greenpeace, are worried that the mining companies might fight the government's decision in court.
Dr. Mark Erdmann, who works to protect coral reefs, was very happy about the government's decision. He said that angry complaints from Indonesian people made the government listen.
This situation shows a big problem: the demand for metals that we need for new technology, like electric car batteries, can harm the environment. Indonesia now produces more than half of the world's nickel.
Mining has caused damage in other places too. A study in 2024 showed that deforestation due to mining can cause more floods and landslides.
It's a difficult choice for countries to balance making money and protecting nature.
Vocabulary38 words
- Drone
- an aircraft/vehicle that does not have a pilot/driver but is controlled by someone far away/remotely
- Show
- to prove something or make the truth or existence of something known; confirm; demonstrate; to display; to represent
- Damage
- physical harm that is done to something; destruction; injury;
- Environmental group
- An organization/group that works to protect the environment and nature
- Nickel
- a shiny, silver-white metal found in the ground
- Mining
- to dig up valuable minerals and metals from the ground; to go into the ground and get metals and stones
- Destroy
- to “end” something by damaging it or attacking it; wreck; demolish; break
- Forest
- A large area of land covered with trees
- Pollute
- to make dirty, to poison
- Called
- Named; To give something a name
- Metal
- a usually hard, shiny material such as iron, steel, gold, or silver
- Battery
- a device that stores power and makes electricity; ??
- Government
- the group of people who have the authority to make and enforce laws and manage a country or region; the people/group that manage and operate a country
- Recently
- Not long ago
- Permit
- an official document that gives someone authorization/permission to do something
- World Heritage
- A special place in the world that everyone agrees is important to protect
- Protect
- To keep something safe; to defend something
- Grow
- To become bigger or increase in size; become; to get larger;
- Hectare
- A unit of measure for areas of land, a square with 100-meter sides
- Worried
- Feeling nervous or concerned; having a feeling that something bad happened or will happen
- Mining company
- A business that digs for minerals or metals in the Earth
- Fight
- to use a lot of effort to defeat/stop something, achieve something, or to stop something happening; to go against; to try to stop something
- Decision
- a choice that you make about something after thinking about several possibilities/options; choice; ruling;
- Court
- an agency or part of government with judges who decide what is right or wrong ?⚖
- Coral reef
- A colorful underwater home for many sea animals, made of small, creatures and plants that look like stone
- Angry
- Feeling mad or upset; ??
- Complaint
- a statement that something is wrong or not satisfactory; to stay that something is not good
- Situation
- What is happening at a certain place/time; circumstance; state of affairs; the way it is; event; occurrence
- Demand
- a need for goods or services that customers want to buy or use; a need or want; a need for something to be sold or supplied
- Harm
- injury, damage, or problems you create;
- Produce
- to create or make something
- Study
- the activity of examining/studying something in detail to discover new information; research; investigation
- Deforestation
- When large areas of trees in a forest are cut down
- Due to
- because of; owing to
- Cause
- make something (usually bad) happen; create
- Flood
- too much water in a normally dry area; to cover an area with a lot of water
- Landslide
- the falling of a large amount of land or ground, especially down the side of a hill when wet
- Balance
- when different things are equal or work well together
Quiz
Answer key
1. Stainless steel 2. Global Witness 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Drone _____ show damage in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. These pictures are from an environmental _____ called Global Witness. They show _____ nickel mining destroyed forests, and polluted _____ .
Raja Ampat is a group of _____ islands. It's often called the "Amazon of the Seas" _____ it has many different kinds of plants and _____ .
Nickel is a metal used to _____ batteries for electric cars and stainless steel. Global Witness says that _____ for nickel has increased a lot there.
_____ Indonesian government recently stopped mining permits for four out of five _____ in the area. The government said that Raja Ampat’s _____ beauty is a "world heritage" and must be protected.
_____ , the photos from Global Witness show that some environmental _____ has already happened. Global Witness told the BBC that the _____ used for mining on these islands grew by 500 hectares between _____ and 2024. This is like _____ football fields.
Some environmental groups, _____ Greenpeace, are worried that the mining companies might _____ the government's decision in court.
Dr. Mark Erdmann, _____ works to protect coral reefs, was very happy about the government's _____ . He said that angry complaints from Indonesian _____ made the government listen.
This situation shows a _____ problem: the demand for metals that we need for new technology, like _____ car batteries, can harm the environment. Indonesia now _____ more than half of the world's nickel.
Mining has caused _____ in other places too. A study in 2024 showed that deforestation due to _____ can cause more floods and landslides.
_____ a difficult choice for countries to balance making money and _____ nature.
Discussion questions
- What do you think is more important: getting metals for new technology like electric cars, or protecting the environment? Why?
- Do you think the Indonesian government made the right decision about the mining permits? Why or why not?
- If you were a leader in a country, how would you try to balance economic growth (making money) with protecting nature?
- What are some things people can do to help protect natural places like Raja Ampat?
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