We think and hear a lot about fair trade, and the conditions under which our clothing is made, and our food is brought to us (well, some do), and yet another pertinent issue that tends to be less at the forefront is the issue of Congo’s conflict minerals.
You may have seen the film ‘Blood Diamond,’ and are now recalling the phrase ‘conflict diamonds.’ Conflict minerals are essentially the same. A quick internet search allows one to discover that conflict minerals used in our electronics are mined in a conflicting manner, hence the name, and are mine in a way that violates human rights.
Time magazine online published a story entitled, ‘’First Blood Diamonds, Now Blood Computers?,’’ in which author Elisabeth Dias informs the public about this issue. She is better versed and has better verse than I do, so you can read the article here: http://www.webcitation.org/5v1B1lxV6 . There are countless articles about the issue throughout the internet.
This is not breaking news, by any means. Organizations and groups have been working for years trying to raise awareness. Change is slow, but that doesn’t mean it’s non-existent. The organisation ‘Raise Hope for Congo’ published an extremely user-friendly overview of which companies are actually working towards using conflict-free minerals. There are none yet who provide entirely conflict-free products, but, according to ‘Raise Hope’s’ findings, companies such as ‘Dell,’ ‘HP,’ and ‘Motorola,’ are “on the right track.” You can visit their website and see all of this for yourself, here: http://www.raisehopeforcongo.org/content/conflict-minerals-company-rankings?tier=4#list
Now, I know in the face of all the shit (pardon my language) in the world today, it’s so much easier to tune it all out. Caring about things that may seem so far removed from our daily lives takes a lot of energy, and we’re tired, and have other problems. I’m not saying that overnight we can all stop buying computers and cell phones, and that’s not the point. Personally, I don’t think it’s too much to ask that we have transparency and a clear view into the things we buy, and we realize that we are part of the problem if we all collectively turn a blind eye to horrors committed in the name of saving money.
I believe that some of us in this world are lucky enough to come from places where we have voices, both with the right and privilege to speak out, and with our purchases. Just like with fair trade, if a consumer demands that a product meet certain ethical standards, and enough consumers share this demand, companies look into alternatives.
Basically, information empowers us. So read up on conflict minerals. The conditions under which these minerals come into the hands of companies are appalling. Follow the links to see if you can lend your voice to an important cause. It’s about empathy, and about doing what we can for those who are powerless.
Also, if you didn’t feel like reading, here is a youtube clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF-sJgcoY20
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