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by adventured 103 days ago
Water, lithium, high-purity sand, various other high-value metals. There isn't going to be a shortage of blood being spilled for resources.
1 comments

Solar, wind, and batteries are already potentially trillion dollar markets. Is there an active, bloody conflict occurring due to any of those?
> Is there an active, bloody conflict occurring due to any of those

The Congolese Civil War and the ongoing M23/Rwanda-led War [0], as well as the Myanmar Civil War [1]. Even the Russian Invasion of Ukraine has a critical minerals component [2] as does the ongoing Central African Republic Civil War [3][4] and the Oromo insurgency within the Ethiopian Civil War [5].

This does not mean that we shouldn't invest in building renewable and battery capacity (we in fact need to further enhance capacity), but we need to recognize that hard power trumps soft power in a multipolar world.

Renewable power doesn't imply pacifism. It is powered by critical minerals that all regional powers are rushing to control either with ballots [6], bribes [7], or bullets.

Renewable power will be covered in blood, but less blood than will be caused by anthropogenic climate change. If we need to make deals with devils, so be it. Such is life.

[0] - https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/us-struggling-de-risk-c...

[1] - https://www.reuters.com/world/china/india-explores-rare-eart...

[2] - https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/commentary/blog/lithium-the...

[3] - https://dayan.org/content/central-african-republic-between-f...

[4] - https://energycapitalpower.com/exclusive-central-african-rep...

[5] - https://www.thereporterethiopia.com/36610/

[6] - https://www.ibanet.org/Rule-of-law-Milei-election-win-raises...

[7] - https://www.ft.com/content/401a9e84-3034-4375-bf39-56b92500c...