DR Congo, (un)Just Tech and Human Rights: The Fictions of Environmental Sustainability
Only Freedom is Sustainable
Join us for a dynamic panel discussion on the ethical implications of sustainable technology in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of the Voices on the Environment series.
Location: HSFC Herman Room & Zoom ID:977 4897 1724, RSVP here.
Moderated by Kwame Otu, cultural anthropologist and Associate Professor in the African Studies program at the School of Foreign Service, panelists will discuss Congolese and Black voices’ calls to action and the radical imagination of the future of sustainable tech and human rights. This event addresses a scarcity of ways to learn about and act on issues around sustainable but unethical technologies, particularly as it pertains to the DRC. The event serves to explore the human and environmental costs of “green” technology.
Panelists from Yole!Africa, Friends of the Congo, Gender Justice Initiative, The State Energy & Environmental Impact Center at NYU School of Law will discuss how the extraction of minerals like cobalt and copper—essential for green technologies—often involves abusive labor practices, environmental destruction, and the displacement of indigenous communities. As a result, the DRC, rich in resources vital for modern technologies, has suffered the displacement of millions, violence against ethnic groups, and exploitation by multinational corporations. Moreover, the involvement of various actors, including the Congolese government, multinational corporations, and neighboring countries like Rwanda and Uganda exacerbates the situation.
Our esteemed panelists will share their expertise and knowledge on key aspects of the Congolese struggle, including the DRC’s violent colonial past and post-colonial present, the gendered impacts of violence and exploitation, and community-centered visions of the future that prioritize human rights and agency.
Join us to learn about the urgent need for ethical, responsible, and sustainable practices in the tech industry, advocating for measures to minimize environmental and social impacts, empowering local communities, and holding multinational corporations accountable for their actions—all for the future of the DRC and its people.
Watch the recording