How Discarded Electronics Are Being Recycled For Gold | September 17, 2024

Summary

CNN 10 reports on the devastating floods in Nigeria affecting over a million people, with Borno State suffering the most. The floods, potentially intensified by climate change, have caused numerous deaths and displacements. The script also discusses the Tokyo Olympics' use of recycled metals, the risky electronics recycling industry in Afghanistan, and a miraculous penguin survival story. The show encourages student engagement through social media shout-outs and vocabulary submissions.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Over a million people have been affected by severe floods in Northeastern Nigeria, with Borno State suffering the most due to a dam collapse.
• 🏞️ The city of Moui in Borno State is experiencing the worst flooding in 30 years, causing extensive damage to buildings, infrastructure, and the local zoo.
• 🌊 The floods have led to hundreds of deaths and have displaced hundreds of thousands of people, exacerbating existing humanitarian crises in the region.
• 🌡️ Scientists attribute the increased frequency and intensity of floods in Northern Nigeria to human-caused climate change.
• 🏘️ The affected region of Northeast Nigeria is significant as it has been a hub for humanitarian operations and is also the center of a long-standing armed rebellion by Boko Haram.
• 🍚 Food and water are in short supply in displacement camps, and the cost of goods has increased due to market flooding and crop destruction.
• 🏅 The Tokyo Olympics were the first to create medals using precious metals recycled from used electronics, highlighting a global trend in sustainable practices.
• 🔧 In Afghanistan, workers dismantle electronics by hand to extract precious metals, facing challenging and risky working conditions.
• 📉 The future of the electronics recycling trade in Afghanistan is uncertain as new electronics increasingly use cheaper metals, reducing the gold available for extraction.
• 🐧 A penguin named Penn, born in captivity, survived two weeks at sea after escaping from a zoo, showcasing remarkable resilience and survival skills.

Q & A

What is the current situation in Northeastern Nigeria due to floods?

Over a million people have been impacted by severe floods in Northeastern Nigeria, with chest-high water levels causing devastation to people, crops, and livestock. Borno State has been hit the hardest, with its capital city, Moui, experiencing the worst flooding in 30 years.

How has the collapse of a dam in Nigeria contributed to the flooding?

The collapse of a dam in Borno State has worsened the flooding situation, causing a heavy surge of water that has inundated half of Moui city, damaging buildings, infrastructure, and severely impacting the city's zoo.

What are the long-term consequences of the floods in Nigeria?

The floods have led to hundreds of deaths and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. The affected region of Northeast Nigeria is significant as it has been a hub for humanitarian operations, and the floods have exacerbated the situation for populations already living in camps due to a 15-year armed rebellion.

How is climate change expected to affect rainfall events in Africa?

Scientists suggest that human-caused climate change is heating the planet, which is expected to lead to an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall events across almost all of Africa.

What challenges are faced by the displaced people in Nigeria due to the floods?

Displaced people are facing overcrowding in IDP camps and on the streets, with food and water already in short supply. The cost of goods has increased since the Central Market flooded, and local crops were destroyed.

What happened at the Mouy zoo as a result of the floods?

The Mouy zoo also experienced flooding, which resulted in the death of more than 80% of the animals. Some animals, such as crocodiles, snakes, and an ostrich, were washed into communities.

Which Olympics were metals first made using precious metals recycled from used electronics?

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics were the first to make metals using precious metals recycled from used electronics. Almost 880,000 tons of discarded devices were used to extract precious metals for the Winner's medals.

What is the process of extracting precious metals from electronics like in Afghanistan?

In Afghanistan, workers dismantle and melt down electronics like mobile phones, digital cameras, and laptops to extract gold, platinum, and rare earth metals. The process is tedious and risky, often done manually with little technology or protective equipment.

What are the economic and health risks associated with recycling precious metals from electronics in Afghanistan?

The workers in Afghanistan make a typical salary of around $166 US a month, but the trade is risky due to the lack of machinery and protective equipment. Health risks include exposure to harmful substances like acid used in the extraction process.

Why might the future of recycling gold from electronics in Afghanistan be short-lived?

The future of this trade is uncertain because new electronic devices are increasingly produced with cheaper metals, diminishing the amount of gold to be extracted. Additionally, the market for Japanese electronic products, which often contain gold, is decreasing.

What was the miraculous event involving a penguin named Penn?

A six-year-old Cape penguin named Penn, born in captivity, got lost at sea for two weeks during her first swim. Despite the odds, she survived and was found swimming on a beach, a feat her keepers called miraculous.