This documentary investigates the dark side of the mobile phone industry, exposing the environmental and human costs of our reliance on these devices. It delves into the unethical practices within the supply chain, including the dangerous and exploitative labor conditions faced by miners and factory workers, as well as the environmental degradation caused by rare earth mineral extraction and electronic waste. The film also explores the short lifespans of phones due to planned obsolescence and the lack of consumer awareness about recycling options.
Short Vocabulary List
| Word | Definition | Usage Example |
|---|---|---|
| Exploitative | Taking unfair advantage of someone, especially by paying them low wages | The mobile phone industry has been criticized for its exploitative labor practices, where workers are often underpaid and overworked. |
| Obsolescence | The state of no longer being used because something newer exists | Mobile phones have short lifespans due to planned obsolescence, with companies releasing new models frequently. |
| Degradation | The process of reducing the quality or value of something | Rare earth mineral extraction causes environmental degradation, damaging ecosystems and polluting water sources. |
| Artisanal | Made in a traditional or non-mechanized way, often by hand | Some minerals used in phones are sourced from small-scale, artisanal mines with dangerous working conditions |
Key points of the video:
- Unethical supply chain practices in the mobile phone industry.
- Dangerous and exploitative labor conditions for miners and factory workers.
- Environmental issues: rare earth mineral extraction and electronic waste.
- Planned obsolescence leads to short phone lifespans.
- Lack of consumer awareness about recycling options.
Quiz:
- What is the primary focus of the documentary?
a) The benefits of mobile phones
b) The dark side of the mobile phone industry
c) History of mobile phones
d) New mobile phone technology - What issue does the documentary attribute to planned obsolescence?
a) Short phone lifespans
b) High repair costs
c) Limited recycling options
d) Frequent software updates - What are the main environmental concerns raised in the documentary?
a) Rare earth mineral extraction and electronic waste
b) Overconsumption of plastic
c) Carbon emissions from manufacturing
d) All of the above - Which group of people are most affected by the issues raised in the documentary?
a) Consumers
b) Factory workers
c) Miners
d) Software developers - What is a key takeaway from the documentary?
a) Mobile phones have a negative environmental impact
b) Mobile phones are fairly produced and traded
c) Mobile phones are necessary for modern life
d) Mobile phone companies should be more transparent
- b) The dark side of the mobile phone industry
- a) Short phone lifespans
- a) Rare earth mineral extraction and electronic waste
- b) Factory workers
- a) Mobile phones have a negative environmental impact
Grammar Point: Passive Voice
Explanation:
The passive voice is a grammatical construction where the object of an active sentence becomes the subject of a sentence, and the verb is changed to a passive form. It is often used to emphasize the object or to obscure the agent of an action. In English, the passive voice is formed by combining a form of the verb “to be” with the past participle of the main verb. For example: “The window was broken by the ball” (passive) vs. “The ball broke the window” (active).
Exercise:
- The new phone model was released last month. Rewrite the sentence in the passive voice.
- The documentary exposes the dark side of the industry. Change the sentence to passive voice.
- The workers are often underpaid and overworked by the company. Reformulate this sentence in the passive voice.
- Rare earth minerals are extracted through a process that damages the environment. Rewrite this sentence, using the passive voice.
- Consumers are encouraged to recycle their old phones by some companies. Write this sentence in the passive voice.
Answer Key
- A new phone model was released last month.
- The dark side of the industry is exposed by the documentary.
- The workers are often underpaid and overworked.
- Rare earth minerals are extracted, and the environment is damaged as a result.
- Old phones are recycled, and consumers are encouraged by some companies.
