A future run on clean energy is impossible without lots of copper, a key component in solar panels and electric cars. That has some looking to a small island in the South Pacific called Bougainville, part of Papua New Guinea. It holds one of the largest copper deposits on earth. This island’s people once waged war to keep mining corporations off their sacred land. But now they’re open to selling it — if that’ll help them achieve a long-held dream. Patrick Winn brings us the second of a three-part series on Bougainville, potentially the world’s next country.
The article you just read is free because dedicated readers and listeners like you chose to support our nonprofit newsroom. Our team works tirelessly to ensure you hear the latest in international, human-centered reporting every weekday. But our work would not be possible without you. We need your help.
Make a gift today to help us raise $67,000 by the end of the year and keep The World going strong. Every gift will get us one step closer to our goal!