Conflict Minerals in Congo

We had a fellow stop into the One Million Bones office last week with some questions and some thoughts on the conflicts in Sudan, Burma and Congo.  Like so many of us, he has a life he’s managing, and many issues vying for his attention.  At one point in our conversation he said, and I paraphrase, I’m not part of the problem over there so I’m not going to worry about it.  I have other things to worry about and what can I do any way?

So Isa asked, “Do you have a cell phone?  Or a laptop?”  And he said yes.

Everyone who has electronics equipment may very well be part of the problem because electronics manufacturers need the minerals that are found in Congo, especially. 

From the Raise Hope for Congo website:

“The conflict in eastern Congo is being fueled by a multi-million dollar trade in minerals that go into our electronic products. Over five million people have died as a result, and hundreds of thousands of women have been raped over the past decade. The armed groups perpetuating the violence generate hundreds of millions of dollars each year by trading in four main minerals, the 3Ts* and gold”

* Tin, Tantalum and Tungsten

This link will take you to Raise Hope for Congo’s page where you can see how your electronics manufacturer stacks up.  And if it doesn’t, you can find one that does a better job of securing conflict-free minerals for production.

Cell phones, laptops and all the other gadgets we use are a fact of life.  Wherever possible, if we make the choice to purchase electronics that are certified conflict free, we can make our own difference. 

The last thing for today is to take a moment, if you will, and sign onto Raise Hope for Congo’s request to Secretary of State Clinton for an international certification process for conflict free minerals from Congo.

This link will get you there

Consider for a moment how successful the world was in helping the people of Sierra Leone during the height of the blood diamond trade.  The people of Congo deserve no less. Take a minute to sign, and then let us know in the comments section.  Thanks!