Would you kill for a shiny, sparkly, top of the line, and brand-spanking-new cell phone, computer, or mp3 player?
Chances are, you actually have.
That’s right, the “three T’s” of tin, tungsten, and tantulum are all essential for the production of many of our beloved consumer electronics…and are all three conflict minerals.
So what…right?
Who even knows what a conflict mineral is anyway? Well let’s find out, shall we?
“[The term] “conflict mineral” refers to minerals mined in conditions of armed conflict and human rights abuses, notably in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, by the Congolese National Army and various armed rebel
groups, including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda. The profits from the sale of these minerals finance continued fighting in the Second Congo War, and control of lucrative mines becomes a focus of the fighting as well... A recent study by IPIS indicates that armed groups are present at more than 50 percent of mining sites. At many sites, armed groups illegally tax, extort, and coerce civilians to work. Miners, including children, work up to 48-hour days amidst mudslides and tunnel collapses that kill many. The groups are often affiliated with rebel groups, or with the Congolese National Army, but both use rape and violence to control the local population.”
Even though the Second Congo War, or Africa’s Civil War, officially ended in 2003, the atrocities continue as uncontrolled militia groups continue their rape, extortion, and ethnic cleansing of the Congolese. As of the year 2008, 5.4 million people
“Recently we showed you images of one of the largest conflict mineral mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Photographer Mark Craemer showed us what it is like to work in such a place, and gave insight into the awful workings of conflict mineral mines, the product of which
goes into our electronics. Some major manufacturers, however, would rather not see these scenes. A new report by Global Witness calls out companies by name who are part of the trade through their knowing or unknowing purchases of the minerals.”As we know from so many things, such as organic foods, as consumers we cast our votes with the dollars we spend…and the big businesses listen. If the consumer demands conflict-mineral-free electronics by refusing to buy gadgets built with conflict minerals, the electronics companies will meet that demand.
"Banning minerals exported from violence-ravaged eastern Congo would threaten the
livelihoods of a million miners and could worsen the world's deadliest conflict…Most miners choose to mine for lack of livelihood alternatives, so stopping or disrupting the trade in minerals will hit the most vulnerable the hardest, and in all likelihood exacerbate conflict dynamics and retard development."
Unfortunately, that is somewhat true. David Sullivan of the Enough Project’s Raise Hope for Congo told the Sustainablog that
“What could be the most promising alternative to mining is agriculture, but the threat of violence often forces Congolese farmers to abandon their fields to flee for safety. Efforts to end the trade in conflict minerals absolutely must be accompanied by international support for livelihoods and economic opportunities in eastern Congo. Rebuilding roads is a key opportunity, so that other sectors can benefit from trade. Infrastructure projects with guaranteed labor at decent wages can help lure miners out of conflict mines and create opportunities for demobilized combatants.”
So what can we do to help?
Well for starters, we can demand conflict-mineral-free electronics. One way of doing this, as stated above, is to vote with your dollar. Unfortunately there really doesn’t seem to be any electronics manufacturers cranking
destruction to justify that, because millions of people needlessly losing their lives isn’t enough on its own.
Jeffrey Davis is a personal fitness trainer in Nashville, as well as the co-founder and senior editor of The Fun Times Guide to Living Green where he writes about how simple, FUN, and easy it is to live green... because "eco-snobbery sucks." You can follow Jeffrey on Twitter for great fitness, green living, and other interesting tips or thoughts.
Leave us comments and links if you know of good companies to purchase conflict freen electronics from.
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