Digging Up the Sun with Roger Peet

Artisanal miners prospect for toxic rare-earth metals on the edges of huge corporate pit mines, alongside alien-looking metallophyte plants found nowhere else in the world. Cloak and dagger CIA manoeuvring from the Cold War reverberates into the present. Workers separated by oceans, empires and supply chains struggle to find ways to support each other. In Episode 74 we’re joined by our friend, artist Roger Peet, to talk about his extraordinary work building solidarity with miners in the Democratic Republic of Congo, his family ties to the Congolese uranium production that ultimately made American empire possible, and the possibility of using art to shed light on histories usually left in the shadows.The title of this episode is borrowed from an exhibition of Roger’s, which was titled ‘Dig Up the Sun’.Show NotesRoger’s InstagramRoger’s storeRoger’s artist page on JustSeedsRoger’s Congo work, collectedFirst They Mined for the Atomic Bomb. Now They’re Mining for E.V.s. by Roger PeetOf Critical Minerals and Atomic Bombs: The Conquest of the Congo by Roger Peet‘The Secret Congolese Mine that Ended the Second World War - And Inspired Wakanda’ by Roger PeetLa Biennale de LubumbashiDig Up the SunLinksInstagramMerchfuckingcancelled.comclementinemorrigan.comjaylesoleil.comTheme songFucking Cancelled has no ads and is a supported by our listeners. To help us continue our work, consider subscribing. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.fuckingcancelled.com/subscribe