Brianna Schwabe
December 21, 2010
Conflict We Can Change
Conflict, death, despair. Life in the Congo is no stranger to these things. Conflict minerals are traded illegally. Lives are lost and people are murdered during the search for minerals and wealth.
The 2012 G8 Communiqué states “The illicit exploitation of and trade in natural resources from the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has directly contributed to the instability and violence that is causing undue suffering among the people of the DRC” (CBC News). This means that innocent people in the Congo are being hurt for conflict minerals. Companies who use minerals from the Congo are responsible for the ongoing trade of conflict minerals, and in turn the suffering of people in the Congo.
If people in my generation were aware of the trail of blood and tears behind conflict minerals from the Congo—these minerals that exist in cell phones and computers, they would collectively rise up and boycott major mobile companies. This is because the main reason the tragedy of conflict minerals perpetuates is a lack of awareness, and our society believes in human rights—we wouldn’t tolerate it.
The Congo is the "third largest country in Africa...and the 12th largest in the world" (Wikipedia). In 1885, King Leopold II of Belgium gained control of the Congo. He began the trade of rubber and ivory, which led him to acquire a lot of wealth (Wikipedia). The Congo has seen dishonest days ever since.
From 1965 to 1997, Mobutu Sese Seko was in control of the Congo. During his rule (from 1971 to 1997), the Congo was called Zaire (Wikipedia). "A relative explained how the government illicitly collected revenue: 'Mobutu would ask one of us to go to the bank and take out a million. We'd go to an intermediary and tell him to get five million. He would go to the bank with Mobutu's authority, and take out ten. Mobutu got one, and we got the other nine.' Mobutu institutionalized corruption to prevent political rivals from challenging his control, leading to an economic collapse in 1996. Mobutu allegedly stole up to US$4 billion while in office" (Wikipedia). Clearly, the Congo's government is not effective. Currently conflict minerals are sold illegally, and the money being made is not going through the government, which is ruining the country's economy.
Conflict minerals are “minerals mined in conditions of armed conflict and human rights abuses, notably in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo” (Wikipedia). The minerals that are found in technology such as cell phones are common sources of conflict. They are “cassiterite, wolframite, coltan, and gold” (Wikipedia). Wolframite is found in tungsten and used in light bulbs, coltan is found in tantalum used to make cell phones, and cassiterite is used to make tin (International: Clean Them Up; Congo’s Conflict Minerals).
Some companies have already taken action against the trade of conflict minerals. Coltan from Africa is not used at all by some manufacturers. The company that manufactures PlayStations, Sony, said they had “discontinued its use of tantalum acquired from the Congo” (Wikipedia). Instead, they claim to have gotten the tantalum they used in their PlayStations from many different countries. “Statistical analysis shows it to be nearly inconceivable that Sony made all its PlayStations without using Congolese coltan” (Wikipedia). Sony was lying about where they got their minerals from. This will need to change in the future.
A bill that President Obama recently signed into law requires companies to report where their minerals are coming from. Companies will need to prove that their minerals aren’t Congolese (Raise Hope for Congo-An Enough Campaign). So Sony would have to do things differently. They would have to actually find other honest sources, from countries other than the Congo. This bill would make them prove their minerals aren’t Congolese, instead of simply stating it.
December 21, 2010
Conflict We Can Change
Conflict, death, despair. Life in the Congo is no stranger to these things. Conflict minerals are traded illegally. Lives are lost and people are murdered during the search for minerals and wealth.
The 2012 G8 Communiqué states “The illicit exploitation of and trade in natural resources from the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has directly contributed to the instability and violence that is causing undue suffering among the people of the DRC” (CBC News). This means that innocent people in the Congo are being hurt for conflict minerals. Companies who use minerals from the Congo are responsible for the ongoing trade of conflict minerals, and in turn the suffering of people in the Congo.
If people in my generation were aware of the trail of blood and tears behind conflict minerals from the Congo—these minerals that exist in cell phones and computers, they would collectively rise up and boycott major mobile companies. This is because the main reason the tragedy of conflict minerals perpetuates is a lack of awareness, and our society believes in human rights—we wouldn’t tolerate it.
The Congo is the "third largest country in Africa...and the 12th largest in the world" (Wikipedia). In 1885, King Leopold II of Belgium gained control of the Congo. He began the trade of rubber and ivory, which led him to acquire a lot of wealth (Wikipedia). The Congo has seen dishonest days ever since.
From 1965 to 1997, Mobutu Sese Seko was in control of the Congo. During his rule (from 1971 to 1997), the Congo was called Zaire (Wikipedia). "A relative explained how the government illicitly collected revenue: 'Mobutu would ask one of us to go to the bank and take out a million. We'd go to an intermediary and tell him to get five million. He would go to the bank with Mobutu's authority, and take out ten. Mobutu got one, and we got the other nine.' Mobutu institutionalized corruption to prevent political rivals from challenging his control, leading to an economic collapse in 1996. Mobutu allegedly stole up to US$4 billion while in office" (Wikipedia). Clearly, the Congo's government is not effective. Currently conflict minerals are sold illegally, and the money being made is not going through the government, which is ruining the country's economy.
Conflict minerals are “minerals mined in conditions of armed conflict and human rights abuses, notably in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo” (Wikipedia). The minerals that are found in technology such as cell phones are common sources of conflict. They are “cassiterite, wolframite, coltan, and gold” (Wikipedia). Wolframite is found in tungsten and used in light bulbs, coltan is found in tantalum used to make cell phones, and cassiterite is used to make tin (International: Clean Them Up; Congo’s Conflict Minerals).
Some companies have already taken action against the trade of conflict minerals. Coltan from Africa is not used at all by some manufacturers. The company that manufactures PlayStations, Sony, said they had “discontinued its use of tantalum acquired from the Congo” (Wikipedia). Instead, they claim to have gotten the tantalum they used in their PlayStations from many different countries. “Statistical analysis shows it to be nearly inconceivable that Sony made all its PlayStations without using Congolese coltan” (Wikipedia). Sony was lying about where they got their minerals from. This will need to change in the future.
A bill that President Obama recently signed into law requires companies to report where their minerals are coming from. Companies will need to prove that their minerals aren’t Congolese (Raise Hope for Congo-An Enough Campaign). So Sony would have to do things differently. They would have to actually find other honest sources, from countries other than the Congo. This bill would make them prove their minerals aren’t Congolese, instead of simply stating it.
The above chart shows which companies have made some progress to stop using conflict minerals. Although they have made some good progress, clearly there is a long way to go, because as the chart shows, no company has made over 35% of progress. The chart shows that Sony has made 5% of progress. This number would be different if they had actually stopped their use of Congolese minerals like they claimed to have done.
Some of the big names, such as Nintendo, need to start making progress as well. If they attempt to stop their use of Congolese minerals, they could influence other companies to take the same course of action.
I believe that the problem in the Congo could be helped if only more people were aware of the situation. If we educate people about the Congo and what is going on there, action will be taken. Our society believes in human rights, and we couldn’t just sit back and let this tragedy continue. Citizens in the Congo are in constant danger because of the power hungry people in search of money that are in control of the trade of conflict minerals.
Almost everyone knows about the Holocaust, and for many people, this is the only example of genocide they are educated about. There are other tragedies that aren’t well known, including the current issue in the Congo. To me, it seems more important to know about current crises because we can do something the change them. So I think people need to be educated about what’s happening now, and not just events that happened in the past. Once this happens, action can be taken to prevent the trade of conflict minerals. Companies who use conflict minerals in their products will be boycotted, and they will have no choice but to find a legal place to buy their minerals from.
I think we can make a change because of what happened during the Apartheid in South Africa. The Apartheid took place from 1948-1973. “Apartheid” literally means “apart-ness” or “separate-ness,” and it describes “racial discrimination and white political domination adopted by the National Party” (Beck, 125). According to Beck in The History of South Africa, there are two different types of apartheid: “petty apartheid” is basically laws of segregation, while “grand apartheid” refers to “land and political rights.” During the apartheid, colored people were looked down upon. “Whites were regarded as the only ‘civilized’ race and therefore exercised absolute political power over the other racial groups” (Beck, 125).
The Apartheid was stopped because people became educated about it. When this happened, groups were formed that advocated against the Apartheid. These groups pressured the government, and caused them to make a change. If we could change things before, we can make it happen again. Over 5,000,000 people have died as a result of the First and Second Congo wars (Wikipedia). We need to act now. These people didn’t need to die, and we need to try and prevent any more deaths.
Some of the big names, such as Nintendo, need to start making progress as well. If they attempt to stop their use of Congolese minerals, they could influence other companies to take the same course of action.
I believe that the problem in the Congo could be helped if only more people were aware of the situation. If we educate people about the Congo and what is going on there, action will be taken. Our society believes in human rights, and we couldn’t just sit back and let this tragedy continue. Citizens in the Congo are in constant danger because of the power hungry people in search of money that are in control of the trade of conflict minerals.
Almost everyone knows about the Holocaust, and for many people, this is the only example of genocide they are educated about. There are other tragedies that aren’t well known, including the current issue in the Congo. To me, it seems more important to know about current crises because we can do something the change them. So I think people need to be educated about what’s happening now, and not just events that happened in the past. Once this happens, action can be taken to prevent the trade of conflict minerals. Companies who use conflict minerals in their products will be boycotted, and they will have no choice but to find a legal place to buy their minerals from.
I think we can make a change because of what happened during the Apartheid in South Africa. The Apartheid took place from 1948-1973. “Apartheid” literally means “apart-ness” or “separate-ness,” and it describes “racial discrimination and white political domination adopted by the National Party” (Beck, 125). According to Beck in The History of South Africa, there are two different types of apartheid: “petty apartheid” is basically laws of segregation, while “grand apartheid” refers to “land and political rights.” During the apartheid, colored people were looked down upon. “Whites were regarded as the only ‘civilized’ race and therefore exercised absolute political power over the other racial groups” (Beck, 125).
The Apartheid was stopped because people became educated about it. When this happened, groups were formed that advocated against the Apartheid. These groups pressured the government, and caused them to make a change. If we could change things before, we can make it happen again. Over 5,000,000 people have died as a result of the First and Second Congo wars (Wikipedia). We need to act now. These people didn’t need to die, and we need to try and prevent any more deaths.
This political cartoon is relating the problem in the Congo to the Holocaust. The cartoon displays two mounds—one a mound of skulls labeled “Congo’s Holocaust,” and another with a mound of treasures labeled “Congo’s Wealth: Gold, Diamonds, Copper, Cobalt, Tim, Zinc, Coltan.” The man on top of the mountain displaying “Congo’s Wealth” is saying “Gotta break a few African eggs to make a Westerner’s omelet.” The cartoon is about the fact that millions of people have died because of the trade of conflict minerals in the Congo. Things like this political cartoon could help inform people about the issues in the Congo. A political cartoon is more relatable to daily life.
Major technology companies in the US use minerals from the Congo. If more people were aware of this, action would be taken to help stop some of the crisis in the Congo. “’While eastern Congo is a complex crisis—fueled by tensions over land, rights, identity, regional power struggles, and the fundamental weaknesses of Congo as a state—the trade in conflict minerals remains one of the key drivers of the conflict’” (Enough Project). Clearly something needs to be done.
I was curious about how many people are actually aware of conflict minerals, so I decided to do a short survey in my residence hall. I surveyed ten people, asking each person if he/she were aware conflict minerals could exist in their cell phone. Before these people could answer my question, they asked me one of their own—“What are conflict minerals?” I explained to them that conflict minerals are from the Congo, being traded illegally, and at the expense of many innocent people. Then I even had to tell them what the Congo is, and where it is located.
Nine of the ten people I surveyed were unaware that conflict minerals exist in technology. The one person who did know about conflict minerals in the Congo has a roommate who is in your class and writing this paper. This is a problem. Word needs to get out about the crisis in the Congo. People should be aware that their purchase of technology may be feeding the fire and causing deaths in the Congo. If more people knew about this, we could take action and stop the trade of conflict minerals.
Major technology companies in the US use minerals from the Congo. If more people were aware of this, action would be taken to help stop some of the crisis in the Congo. “’While eastern Congo is a complex crisis—fueled by tensions over land, rights, identity, regional power struggles, and the fundamental weaknesses of Congo as a state—the trade in conflict minerals remains one of the key drivers of the conflict’” (Enough Project). Clearly something needs to be done.
I was curious about how many people are actually aware of conflict minerals, so I decided to do a short survey in my residence hall. I surveyed ten people, asking each person if he/she were aware conflict minerals could exist in their cell phone. Before these people could answer my question, they asked me one of their own—“What are conflict minerals?” I explained to them that conflict minerals are from the Congo, being traded illegally, and at the expense of many innocent people. Then I even had to tell them what the Congo is, and where it is located.
Nine of the ten people I surveyed were unaware that conflict minerals exist in technology. The one person who did know about conflict minerals in the Congo has a roommate who is in your class and writing this paper. This is a problem. Word needs to get out about the crisis in the Congo. People should be aware that their purchase of technology may be feeding the fire and causing deaths in the Congo. If more people knew about this, we could take action and stop the trade of conflict minerals.
The graph above shows the economy in the Congo. Economy in the Congo is not as high as it should be because the minerals are being dispersed illegally and the money made is not given to the treasury. These minerals are being used in technology such as laptops, cell phones, gaming systems, etc.
The First and Second Congo Wars are a main cause of the low economy. They “have dramatically reduced national output and government revenue, have increased external debt…” (Wikipedia). Not only is the economy in the Congo destroyed, people are dying, and hardly anyone in the United States knows about it.
I know that we can help make a difference in the Congo. If people become aware of the crisis in the Congo, we could take action and make a change. We would boycott the companies who haven’t tried to find other sources for their minerals, such as Nintendo. When these companies realize that they are being boycotted because of their use of Congolese minerals, they will make a change.
The Congo needs help, and I believe we can provide it. As of now, the Congo is suffering because there is a lack of awareness. By simply educating ourselves about the trade of conflict minerals, we would be taking a step in the right direction.
The First and Second Congo Wars are a main cause of the low economy. They “have dramatically reduced national output and government revenue, have increased external debt…” (Wikipedia). Not only is the economy in the Congo destroyed, people are dying, and hardly anyone in the United States knows about it.
I know that we can help make a difference in the Congo. If people become aware of the crisis in the Congo, we could take action and make a change. We would boycott the companies who haven’t tried to find other sources for their minerals, such as Nintendo. When these companies realize that they are being boycotted because of their use of Congolese minerals, they will make a change.
The Congo needs help, and I believe we can provide it. As of now, the Congo is suffering because there is a lack of awareness. By simply educating ourselves about the trade of conflict minerals, we would be taking a step in the right direction.
Bibliography
Beck, Roger B. The History of South Africa. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2000. 125-26. Print.
"Understanding Conflict Minerals Provisions." Enough: The Project to End Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity. Center for American Progress, 2010. Web. 6 Dec. 2010. <http://www.enoughproject.org/special-topics/understanding-conflict-minerals-provisions>.
Wall, Kerry. "2010 G8 Communiqué Released." CBC News. N.p., 26 June 2010. Web. 2 Dec. 2010. <http://www.cbc.ca/politics/insidepolitics/2010/06/2010-g8-communique-released.html>.
"Zaire." Wikipedia. n.d. N. pag. Web. 11 Dec. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaire>.
"Getting to Conflict-Free: Assessing Corporate Action on Conflict Minerals." Enough Project. Center for American Progress, 13 Dec. 2010. Web. 15 Dec. 2010. <http://www.enoughproject.org/publications/getting-conflict-free>.
"Congo Holocaust." Black Cartoons. N.p., 1 Dec. 2008. Web. 17 Dec. 2010. <http://www.bendib.com/black/12-7-Congo-Holocaust.jpg>.
Wikipedia. 2010. N. pag. Web. 5 Dec. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conflict_minerals>.
Wikipedia. 2010. Web. 5 Dec. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo>.
"Coltan." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. N.p., 23 Nov. 2010. Web. 29 Nov. 2010.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coltan>.
Clarke, Kevin. "Wouldn't You Just Kill For That Cell Phone." Wilson Web. N.p., 2003. Wilson Web. Web. 28 Nov. 2010. <http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com/hww/results/results_single_fulltext.jhtml;hwwilsonid
=1BK2RNVP2HVT1QA3DIMSFGGADUNGIIV0>.
Katembo, Baruti I. "Electronics, Ecosystems, and War in Congo." HW Wilson. N.p., 2003. Wilson Web. Web. 25 Nov. 2010. <http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com/hww/results/getResults.jhtml?_DARGS=/hww/results/results_common.jhtml.34>.
"Conflict Minerals; Dodd-Frank Makes Consumers Aware of Gadgets' True Cost." ProQuest. Financial Times, 27 Aug. 2010. ProQuest. Web. 23 Nov. 2010. <http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=2&did=2122699571&SrchMode=2&sid=1&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT
=309&VName=PQD&TS=1289940455&clientId=3852>.
"International: Clean Them Up; Congo's Conflict Minerals." ProQuest. The Economist Newspaper, Aug. 2010. ProQuest. Web. 27 Nov. 2010. <http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=0&did=2117005801&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT
=309&VName=PQD&TS=1291086841&clientId=3852>.
Mieszkowski, Katherine. "Stanford Considers Guideline for 'Conflict Minerals'." New York Times. N.p., 13 June 2010. EBSCO Host. Web. 26 Nov. 2010. <http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=12&sid=6a050664-312c-499b-a7c5-3defef4a68bd%40sessionmgr10&bdata=JmxvZ2luLmFzcCZzaXRlPWVob3N0LWxpdmU%3d#db=a9h&AN=51369765>.
"Obama Signs Wall Street Bill Affirming Ongoing US Government Support to Ending Violence in Eastern DRC." Raise Hope for Congo - An Enough Campaign. Enough Project, 21 July 2010. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://www.raisehopeforcongo.org/news/obama-signs-wall-street-bill-affirming-ongoing-us-government-support-ending-violence-eastern-dr>.
Beck, Roger B. The History of South Africa. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2000. 125-26. Print.
"Understanding Conflict Minerals Provisions." Enough: The Project to End Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity. Center for American Progress, 2010. Web. 6 Dec. 2010. <http://www.enoughproject.org/special-topics/understanding-conflict-minerals-provisions>.
Wall, Kerry. "2010 G8 Communiqué Released." CBC News. N.p., 26 June 2010. Web. 2 Dec. 2010. <http://www.cbc.ca/politics/insidepolitics/2010/06/2010-g8-communique-released.html>.
"Zaire." Wikipedia. n.d. N. pag. Web. 11 Dec. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaire>.
"Getting to Conflict-Free: Assessing Corporate Action on Conflict Minerals." Enough Project. Center for American Progress, 13 Dec. 2010. Web. 15 Dec. 2010. <http://www.enoughproject.org/publications/getting-conflict-free>.
"Congo Holocaust." Black Cartoons. N.p., 1 Dec. 2008. Web. 17 Dec. 2010. <http://www.bendib.com/black/12-7-Congo-Holocaust.jpg>.
Wikipedia. 2010. N. pag. Web. 5 Dec. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conflict_minerals>.
Wikipedia. 2010. Web. 5 Dec. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo>.
"Coltan." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. N.p., 23 Nov. 2010. Web. 29 Nov. 2010.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coltan>.
Clarke, Kevin. "Wouldn't You Just Kill For That Cell Phone." Wilson Web. N.p., 2003. Wilson Web. Web. 28 Nov. 2010. <http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com/hww/results/results_single_fulltext.jhtml;hwwilsonid
=1BK2RNVP2HVT1QA3DIMSFGGADUNGIIV0>.
Katembo, Baruti I. "Electronics, Ecosystems, and War in Congo." HW Wilson. N.p., 2003. Wilson Web. Web. 25 Nov. 2010. <http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com/hww/results/getResults.jhtml?_DARGS=/hww/results/results_common.jhtml.34>.
"Conflict Minerals; Dodd-Frank Makes Consumers Aware of Gadgets' True Cost." ProQuest. Financial Times, 27 Aug. 2010. ProQuest. Web. 23 Nov. 2010. <http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=2&did=2122699571&SrchMode=2&sid=1&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT
=309&VName=PQD&TS=1289940455&clientId=3852>.
"International: Clean Them Up; Congo's Conflict Minerals." ProQuest. The Economist Newspaper, Aug. 2010. ProQuest. Web. 27 Nov. 2010. <http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=0&did=2117005801&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT
=309&VName=PQD&TS=1291086841&clientId=3852>.
Mieszkowski, Katherine. "Stanford Considers Guideline for 'Conflict Minerals'." New York Times. N.p., 13 June 2010. EBSCO Host. Web. 26 Nov. 2010. <http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=12&sid=6a050664-312c-499b-a7c5-3defef4a68bd%40sessionmgr10&bdata=JmxvZ2luLmFzcCZzaXRlPWVob3N0LWxpdmU%3d#db=a9h&AN=51369765>.
"Obama Signs Wall Street Bill Affirming Ongoing US Government Support to Ending Violence in Eastern DRC." Raise Hope for Congo - An Enough Campaign. Enough Project, 21 July 2010. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://www.raisehopeforcongo.org/news/obama-signs-wall-street-bill-affirming-ongoing-us-government-support-ending-violence-eastern-dr>.
