On the 50th anniversary of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, perhaps we should all think about how each of us contribute to the horrific violence which is going on there when we use our cell phones or computers.
Check out this video:
http://www.youtube.com/enoughproject
And this Nick Kristof column:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/27/opinion/27kristof.html?scp=2&sq=Nicholas%20Kristof&st=cse
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I think I remember reading the Kristof article in last Sunday's paper. Considering that only a fraction of (I think the article said a tenth, but I'm not entirely certain) of these minerals come from DRC, it shouldn't be any great burden for responsible corporations to not buy minerals from them. Of course, their actually doing that depends entirely on consumers refusing to buy mystery minerals...
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting problem. Without question the conditions in the Congo are horrific and the crimes committed there by violent men are unconscionable. I am not sure however that attempting to starve them out by refusing to buy minerals mined in the Congo is a tenable or prudent decision. It probably isn't tenable because the origins of metals is much more difficult to identify then the origins of diamonds. Especially given the way the supply chain works. I am not sure if it is prudent because it would take resources away from the Congo making it even poorer. That seems like it would exacerbate not help the problem. Finally the problem here is not that evil men have guns with which to do violence; rather it is that evil men are doing violence. The Congo is in desparate need of stability and the rule of law. I think that worrying about the minerals is a bit of a red herring.
ReplyDeleteHere is what Steve Jobs had to say:
ReplyDeleteOn Jun 27, 2010, at 10:53 PM, Steve Jobs wrote:
Yes. We require all of our suppliers to certify in writing that they use conflict few materials. But honestly there is no way for them to be sure. Until someone invents a way to chemically trace minerals from the source mine, it’s a very difficult problem.
And here is the reply from The Enough Project:
“The smelters process raw mineral ore into metals. Some of the world’s largest tin smelters have been cited by U.N. investigators for purchasing raw materials from rebel-held and militarized mines in eastern Congo. A rigorous audit process for smelters would compel them to come clean about where they get their minerals. Electronics companies can make these audits parts of their contracts with suppliers. They’ve already started for tantalum, but we need a larger process that includes all four conflict minerals.”