is going to spend the rest of her life behind bars for marguerite, for 3 daughters. if you could call me back, i really need help with i see the sign was part of psychosis is an awful illness. the postpartum is a nasty bench. mothers nightmare starts june 4th on d w. ah, there's a new gold rush in the andes mountains. mining companies are trying to tap into huge reserves of lithium, known as white gold. think vision that the incoming argentina wants to attract $5000000000.00 and investment. not only for lithium mining,

but also for electron mobility programs. i said, i'm really elected germany is moving ahead with this technology as well, and will need a lot of lithium to power. those electric cars have 1000 people years. but the pursuit of white gold can also have serious political consequences. if you are gonna lithium brought down bolivians, government control eligible again. but can the lithium be extracted without damaging the local environment? some experts are skeptical and question the need for large scale mining projects. when f a media does a family in europe really need to e car is in a 3 computer, a scope without us. how will the mining of lithium affect the local residence and what impact will it have on the region sensitive ecosystem?

we double with old republic, it's not about a share of the profits keys will do almost it's about our future and the future of our children with that, you know, i use in this is the large salon day with nissan, flat, near the crest of the andes in southwestern bolivia beneath it's crossed my the world single largest deposit of lithium con can no one us is the mayor of the nearby community of rio grande. why last supports lithium mining? because he believes that it will generate profits for everyone. mrs. thomas, case, all of the communities near the salt plaza and all of bolivia will benefit from the

extraction of lithium here. good, the liberal will be under should been if you ship about 2000 people live in rio grande. the local economy is doing well. thanks to income from the extraction of sodium, boar, 8 or borax. while us hopes that if lithium mining operations expand as planned, there will be even more money for the local residence. there are huge deposits under the crust of the soul plus a pilot plan for extracting the white gold has already been built. bolivians government wants to benefit from the increased demand for lithium. as more and more western countries develop electric vehicles. bolivian officials want to do more than simply export lithium. they also plan to develop processing plants and battery production facilities,

which will create lots of new jobs that they've had india. centuries ago, bolivian silver was simply sent to europe. now we want to use this natural resource to improve our lives and the visa in 2018 able morales. olivia's president at the time agreed to a joint venture with the german company, a c. i systems all the manya a, c i a s promise to help a bolivian state company extract the lithium. it would also build a processing plant and a factory for making lithium batteries. it seems to be a win win situation for both sides. a c, i a s predicted a bright future development 1000 director. we will create a 1000 jobs directly and 10000 indirect jobs. so that's before including those of the battery production for so, so in. but even the german auto industry will need huge supplies of lithium as it

makes the transition to battery powered vehicles. so will car makers in other western countries. and that's good news for bolivia, argentina, and she les, which have huge reserves of white gulped mayer wireless supports the agreement in principle, but only if it benefits the local residence. this is, it's almost getting us broken motor murphy was like, well, the people are entitled to a share of the profits embassy in because lithium extraction will have a huge impact on the people up rio grande day to kiss look, go many others. you run the electric winter wipers for fewer, but there is more at stake here than just financial compensation. local leaders also demand that they have a say in the development of these projects. wimpy kid was, as it seemed,

our logistics cooperative can help in the extraction of lithium when on her 1st day . and we have the equipment that will be needed for this project. transport including trucks for bent though they are getting others he has give them a key not but in 2019 president morales put the joint venture on hold. in the wake of public protests in rio grande doesn't civil trucks were purchased in anticipation of coming industrialization. loss almost as garcia. we used these trucks to take the basins where ra lithium will be stored or bertha. but right now they're just standing around my production book, decrement that there's hardly any opposition here to the joint venture. most local residents think the germans are the right partners for the project, including local politician tay adora ali. the opposition comes from other parts of bolivia where a lot of people think it's a bad idea. look at connect,

it should well, as a reminder, the germans can still save the project as well, but a lot of people were upset about the terms of the agreement. me one i'm reminded of it is that i think the germans should take part in them in the deltona, but in other places some citizens committees are a postal and they've got people riled up this berthalica and in 2019 there were widespread demonstrations against the proposed joint venture, wow. and in october, people took to the streets to protest alleged fraud in the recent general election . during this chaos, morales canceled the agreement with germany. now since then, lithium mining in bolivia has been suspended. even those who live near the salt

flats now have their doubts about the joint venture agreement. one of them is luis much aka a member of a citizens committee. as well as it looked at the germans wanting to extract our lithium with a 70 year contract. and now i'm not sure they wanted to be a good partner. what didn't have the financial resources or the technology ample with a hello. here in bolivia, lithium mining has become a serious political issue. it's still not clear whether a foreign company will be brought in to get the extraction project moving again. in any case, lithium mining consumes huge amounts of water. may require us is worried that the local wells may dry up this a buzzkill desolate the we need to find alternative ways to provide water for

lithium production. so if they just tap into our reservoir, herment will ruin our children's future will permit them for brutal mercy. the mayor says that environmental concerns like this are important as bolivia decides which foreign company will take part in the project. that will uni salt flats, holds the world's largest reserve of lithium, which will be used in the batteries of the new generation of electric vehicles. large deposits of lithium are also found in the neighboring countries of g lake and argentina. this is the so called lithium triangle, which is home to nearly 60 percent of the world's supply of white gold. much of the world's lithium is found in brine reservoirs that lie just below the surface of the desert areas of the andes region.

these include chillies, other comma desert. this area is considered the world's driest with an average annual rainfall of just 15 millimeters. the salt flats are all that's left of sailing lakes that developed millions of years ago. surface water is scarce here, and it is vital for the survival of wildlife like these flamingoes. with that she lay in company, s q. m has been mining lithium for 25 years at a facility on the uh, tacoma, solid flat, s q m is the world's number 2, producer of lithium workers, pump brine to the surface from a depth of 40 meters. the bry been placed in basins where the liquid evaporates over several months, leaving behind lithium slag. this process uses

a lot of water pipelines run across the desert floor to supply the mining facility . with the water comes from the wells that tap into the ground water. but a local resident christy until ronko is opposed to mining operations here because they're depleting the reservoirs on it. the one the latter, they see says that this mining operation has been set up on land for that belongs to the indigenous peoples. don't get la jolla, she gunther, you'll damage ok, and the company is using up our underground water supply a whole 15. second though are low enough to ronko says that some rivers in this region are running low, others have dried up altogether. he blames this situation on climate change and on water intensive mining operations

to welcome lives in the village of took a now located on the edge of the salt flat, about 700 people live here. christiane works as a surveyor and also farms. a small plot of land like his father and grandfather did . christian's father says that large scale, lithium mining is mostly responsible for the drop in the local water supply, which i can't as if with a girl. that were a lot of people have moved away because there's not enough water with w o o, what have you and i will if you don't have water, you can't grow crop lisa. so a lot of people of whether we really of this situation has been confirmed by christina dora daughter, a biologist who has studied the environmental impact of mining operations presentment. there are so many mahunis, a $1000000000.00 bill old that will satellite images taken over the last 20 years,

indicate that the soil has lost moisture ankle is so that the ground temperature is rising and there's been a decrease in the amount of vegetation. these changes are the direct result of the expansion of lithium mining, annex young the somewhat, i believe, you know, with this is a serious threat to the areas fragile ecosystem. it affects the micro organisms in the lagoons and the flamingos that consume them. i guess we're in the low sanity, this is an example of what we call a local climate change it if it wasn't as more water and brian is pumped out of the ground, the water level in the lagoons drops yet minnows. this raises the water temperature, which leads to evaporation. yes. las vegas up on the bottom line is that is accelerates the loss of water from the salt liquidity. our buffalo, we weren't allowed to film at the eskew in mind because of coven restrictions. but

company vice president, pablo altamira, says that the company has reduced water consumption in recent years and will continue to do so. an assistant in one or 2 seat dimmer we monitor water extraction at more than $250.00 locations. me in the, in the we also monitor the water level of the la garza and we make all of the state of public. yes. if one was it was a falling out. bud. christiane to rochel has doubts about the company's operations . if it were me, if all of the other of the others in the ending so far, and when i ask you am, has not bothered to take the concerns of the local residents and seriously the office. and we are upset about that. that won't be a good, they take the lithium out of the ground and then sell it and europe as a clean product we natalia and openness hit them. but as far as i'm concerned in italy, that's a lie. that's your name there. when m. e or is a mate,

theda the boom in lithium production will likely create even more water shortages. and that's a serious cause for concern. laughter. hello we, i know callahan, people who live near the salt lake, have filed several lawsuit against the mining companies, claiming that they used more water than was allowed to take them. and she leaves the only country in the world where the water supply is owned by private companies . if things continue like this, the salt lake will dry up in 10 to 20 years, bassi, our, the, on, even in the select macalucio, s q m says it does use environmentally friendly technology. also the name of ticket i see i have with blue. see the legal is here. i am, our company needs to expound, to produce more lithium mother. but that production has to be sustainable with the concept of electron mobility is based on sustainability,

boulevard noble in. so we are committed to using production methods that are sustainable. vanessa when he said that i request on what the us, you, ah, a few kilometers away across the border. in argentina, an increase in lithium mining could also create water shortages. ah, for years the local indigenous people have made their living by mining song. ah ah, most of those who make their living from tourism and mining salt, believe that lithium production poses a real threat. dia felt like if i don't want them to start, not an elite you, it'll scare away all of the tourist. gotcha. no. the net 30. 1 of the leaders

of the local anti lithium protests is clemente flores, like many people in chile, he's concerned that the water supply may be running low for the most of that, the big one for me. and the key is how much water the companies will use, but it is a weight. they say one thing on their website market, but that's usually less than the amount that they actually use. well, what you bought out with this lithium plant is owned by an australian japanese company. nearly 40 similar projects are in the planning stages . argentina's government says it will expand lithium production in the coming years . there will probably not be any controls, just like in chile the lucas ease of the, among others in the us. we filed complaints and upheld demonstrations, tried to slow the expansion bus any one was cumberland, dunham and the government has already issued permits for several projects. double,

but no one is giving us any specific stall, garage, i thought going international agreement state that we have to be consulted in advance in re circles with the big one for years. the indigenous people of who, who e province have been trying to stop the government from issuing lithium production licenses to foreign corporations. but the authorities are planning projects with companies from japan, china and canada. supporters say environmental damage will be kept to a minimum wage as immoral as in england down it will yield. numerous scientific studies have shown that lithium mining does not threaten the water supplies of small farmers with the salt lake has its own water system in the when we pump brian there. it does not affect the fresh water reservoirs of the farming communities lighting quickly about us. one idea argentina's government hopes that lithium production will help boost the country's ailing economy.

battery production facilities are already on the drawing board and argentina plans to build more electric vehicles for the domestic market. they see them, but it, we're convinced that expanding lithium production will help us to successfully deal with the challenges of the future i in china and europe. 20 percent of all vehicles are electric. meanwhile, argentina is way behind on an exit. the v m. w is already a player in argentina's lithium market. the company predicts that 50 percent of all the cars it builds in 2030 will be electric. so they'll need a lot of lithium and have invested millions in argentina. b m w says it will make sure that the lithium is mind responsibly, but didn't. so sondra and kind of susan's middle load understanding. the process

that we use does not introduce any solvents or chemicals into the environment. we're doing that indian, most of the brian that we extract is returned to its sourcing. that's enough to the office fossil for this reduces water consumption substantially compared to other muslims item items up since he pre oh, production is planned to start in 2022. but local residents, and many scientists doubt whether lithium can be mined in such an environmentally friendly way. we use unity. they've been sannicolas aladdin. a lot of engineers believe that a salt lake is like a swimming pool for however you simply pump out the brine filter out the lithium and then pump the liquid back to the source. but this ecosystem has a fragile biological and chemical balance, and mining can ruin it, case it better. there are less so far. flores and his neighbors have been fighting a losing battle. a number of big companies will soon start mining lithium here. but

the protests will continue. flores has 7 children and 7 grand children. over the next 50 years, they may decide to leave the country. many to lions already have. flores often discusses this problem with his mother. and brothers that there is a corner of the earth is like a mother to us. and even though that we have to respect her and protector. and although she gives us life and she also protects arts storage ah, for generations of the forest family live under one roof, they raise mamas and we've textiles. from the wool flores complains that traditional life and the region is disappearing. many of the local young people have gone off to work for the mining companies and those jobs

pay. well. we return to bolivia. the government says it plans to produce 40 percent of the global demand for lithium by 2030. and that's a pretty ambitious goal. but to do that, they'll need foreign partners. the final decision will be up to the ministers in the bolivian capital, la pas economist hioni romero helped to negotiate the original deal with german company ac. i systems summer this olivia lost all about ali manya, but of course bolivia must regain investors trusted their course after the government cancelled the ac. i contract, i believe the anointed, but some companies have benefited from that situation. was compet and now they don't want the germans to get back to the game and up within the still he says it

olivia, the competitors include chinese and u. s. corporations mm. tesla founder, ellen musk is also said to be interested in tapping into bolivia, lithium reserves, driving the government has not yet made a final decision. oh, after months of political chaos, bolivians elected a new president in october 2020 the lease. our son is a former economics minister and was the preferred candidate of x president abel morales. both, i believe it was, our government will represent the interests of all bolivians, and we will restore unity in our country. are so proved, especially popular among indigenous voters. now he will have to decide whether to

negotiate a new lithium deal with a c i a s or find another international partner knows lean on the corner. we must do everything we can to use the latest technology and move forward quickly with lithium production. is process of the end of the previous contract with germany. hima would not have brought us the rapid industrial progress that we seek. all of it experts say a new deal will have to clearly define the roles of the participants and specify the distribution of royalties and profits. in related, fundamental changes in the lithium production model are on the horizon. for example, producers could be ordered to do more to protect the environment. a broad based group of julian citizens is now drafting

a new constitution. in the wake of massive protests that began in 2019 biologist christine a door to door was among those elected to draft the new constitution for la, minnesota principality. i demand that the salt lake be preserved over the long term . if we continue to pursue short term economic goals, i'll destroy them yet though i am, the lithium boom may bring prosperity to the andes region. but at what price to me and get it, we are going well if we were to destroy our assault legs because of lithium production, as i do not. and we'd certainly live to regret at you, but i would still many feel left out moments if i don't need lithium, i want to go on living like what do you know? i thought what effect will the push towards electron mobility have on south america

pricing comalla minute done de la in germany, electro mobility represents the development of the clean vehicle technology and an end to the use of fossil fuel sanity f, forcing seen in bio. but this transition cannot be made at the expense of fragile ecosystem it equals like our salt lake, funding for gunther gonzales. aladdin and elena figure. so ah ah, ah, ah. with

a climate event. what could the future

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