Is it possible to mine lithium safely? Is it possible to get lithium without endangering the environment? There are two schools of thought. The first claims it isn’t, and the second, often paid by lithium mining companies, claims it is. Is it possible to safely mine lithium in Serbia? Almost certainly not, and there are at least two reasons for that. Serbia, as a society, is not capable of organising an extensive, reasoned discussion on that topic. The second, more dramatic reason is that Serbia as a country is not capable of ensuring safe mining of lithium.
The success of Aleksandar Vučić’s politics is reflected in both reasons. And that is the success of the politics that he has been leading since the very beginning of his political activity and which has experienced only mild cosmetic changes in the last decade. A politically apathetic and illiterate society is the main prerequisite for the unhindered introduction of the absolute power of one man and one party. Suspicion towards political parties as such, as actors of political life, is fueled by constant reminders that “they” – whether they be “the former regime”, “the Democrats”, “the foreign agents” – only want to get ahold of power for their own benefit. But the president of almost all citizens of Serbia does not stop there. He even accuses members of his own party of abusing their power. And then, seemingly, removes them from its ranks, but, in fact, only distributes them to less visible places. He also uses his party membership to promote himself as the only person worthy of the people’s trust. “Nobody would vote for you if it weren’t for me,” he tells them bluntly. Politics is such a dirty business that the people should not even be involved in it. He is ready to make that sacrifice, because his love for Serbia is greater than the need to protect himself from this filth.
Speaking of the people, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact moment when, in the political speeches and endless addresses of the president of almost all the citizens of Serbia, we all became the people. The people do not participate in political life. Citizens do. We are not that anymore. We are now the people, and he is our leader.
The separation of the citizens of Serbia from politics has been successfully implemented. The main messages of the recent protests can be summarized as – these are not political protests, these are civil protests. However, where there is a civil protest, there is also politics; it’s just that in our country it’s embarrassing to say that. Because politics is dirty work. The protest against Rio Tinto in Loznica, symbolically held on June 28, the holiest and most painful Serbian day, as it was said, once again transformed the citizens into the people. The speakers spoke against the EU, Germany and non-governmental organizations. The ranks are closing. This is exactly what Vučić was doing at the All-Serbian Convocation.
The deep divide between us and them which exists in Serbia leaves no room for meaningful discussion. If someone is “one of us”, everything they do must be flawless. Anything one of us may do, no matter how questionable, becomes impeccably pure and will be defended to the last atom of strength. If someone is “one of them”, everything they do is wrong. This was achieved by systematically destroying education and critical thinking and promoting conspiracy theorists.
The discussion about lithium mining, in a society of citizens, would have had to be conducted on several levels. At the expert level, where independent experts in mining, environmental protection, and economics would participate. Experts who would also take into account the fact that more and more work is being done to find alternatives to lithium-ion batteries, precisely because of the negative impact on the environment. The future of lithium is almost certainly limited, and the question is how profitable it is to invest in it if it leaves a wasteland in its wake. But I can’t know that, I’m not an expert, and I haven’t had the opportunity to listen to the experts. I could hear only one man, who himself is not an expert in that field.
Let’s imagine that, as a society, we were able to organize a discussion on lithium mining, to listen to the arguments, to have experts, and to bring in relevant people who are ready to explain it to us and translate the conclusions into the language of the average citizen; and with all that, we decide that mining of lithium in Serbia is a good decision. As a country, we are not capable of implementing it properly. This is what the president of almost all citizens of Serbia told us: “Until the Germans [interested in the production of lithium batteries for the automotive industry] give us their guarantee that the rivers and mountains will be clean and that disposal will be in accordance with the highest European standards, we will neither try nor start.” Maybe I’m being silly, but somehow I live in the conviction that the state of rivers and mountains in a country is the responsibility of the Government of that country. The government makes regulations and laws related to the factories operating in that country, and makes sure that those regulations and laws are followed. I guess that sentence should read like this – “Until the Germans give us their guarantee that they will operate in accordance with the strict regulations and laws regarding environmental protection and waste disposal, which are in force in the country of Serbia (or will soon be passed), and which are themselves in accordance with the highest European standards, we will neither try nor start. And if we start that project and they don’t follow our strict regulations and laws, they will be fined heavily and forced to bear the cost of remediation.”
As a country that, according to the report of the international non-governmental organization Transparency International, ranks 104th (out of 180 countries) in terms of corruption, Serbia is definitely not able to deal with a company like Rio Tinto. A multinational company, accused of causing civil wars, corruption, racism, sexual abuse, will have no problem bribing experts in Serbia and members of the Government to support its project.
Is it safe to mine lithium? Is it possible to get lithium without endangering the environment? The State of Serbia and the society of Serbia are still not at the level of development to even ask these questions.
Translated by Marijana Simić
Peščanik.net, 17.07.2024.
