I'm not naive

Last Thursday we made one of the worst choices you can make when it comes to finances. We chose to buy a new car. The last time we owned a car was 6 years ago. Then we had an Audi allroad A6.

Due to the fact that we live and work in the same neighbourhood, we chose to sell the car as we used it so rarely. We drove 2485 miles (4000 km) in the last 3 years we owned the Audi. Since then we have walked, taken the bus, subway, commuter train, taxi or rented a car.

Now we feel it was time to own a car again. One factor that was decisive is that the world's most perfect teenager turns 16 at the end of the month and then gets to start practice driving.

From previously only owning Audi cars, this time we chose a Tesla model Y. The choice of an electric car instead of a petrol or diesel car is only due to the fact that we live in the middle of Stockholm's inner city, where there are different environmental zones that affect which cars can be driven where. I do not consider the choice of an electric car to be a sign of concern for the environment, on the contrary.

An important part of the car's battery is cobalt. There is cobalt to be mined in Sweden. Instead of allowing the extraction of this cobalt in a democracy with lawes and rules, the Green Party has chosen, through its balance of power under the previous government, to ban the extraction of cobalt in Sweden. The consequence is that cobalt is extracted mainly in the Congo, where children are exploited under terrible conditions.

So aside from contributing to the exploitation of children in the Congo, further environmental destruction and incurring higher costs, I look forward to getting a car soon.