Future:Media:Change

blogging the intersection of media, technology and the global good

UPDATED With Video Exclusives: ‘Congo’s Gold’ on 60 Minutes

29 November 2009 View Comments

UPDATE 60 Minutes released three web exclusives along with Congo’s Gold in full. Interestingly, sponsored by Viagra. All four videos follow. Check out Enough to Take Action.

Congo’s Gold

Greed and Chaos

Interview with John Prendergast who helped create the Enough Project, an international initiative to end genocide and crimes against humanity.

A Blind Eye

Jeweler Brian Leber makes it a priority to know to that his precious metals come from only recycled materials.

Uranium for Sale

Adam Hochschild book “King Leopold’s Ghost” details the colonization and plundering of the Congo by Belgian’s King Leopold II which began in the 1880’s.

We’ve gotten word that, after an eventful trip to eastern Congo in June and many months in production, an all-new segment called CONGO GOLD will air on CBS’ 60 Minutes tonight, Sunday, November 29. Enough’s John Prendergast traveled to war-torn region with the 60 Minutes film crew to investigate and capture on camera the connection between the mining of gold and other precious minerals in eastern Congo and the violence that has contributed to the deaths of over 4.5 million people in the past decade.
(via Enough Project)

Watch CBS News Videos Online

I’ve been trying to keep on top of the Congo conflict mineral issue, and it is great to see this piece coming out so the information can hit a wider audience. If you don’t know the background, read How your mobile phone and laptop are fueling the deadliest conflict in the world.

The timing is interesting since the UN is currently battling over the issue of renewing the peacekeeper’s mandate and NGOs like Oxfam are pushing for a new strategy. The debate gained some media traction this week as the UN Expert’s report was leaked. The report added evidence to the claim that the current strategy to disarm the rebel group FDLR has proved a dismal and deadly failure. Let’s hope the increased news chatter and powerful light shone by 60 Minutes will add strength to the world’s resolve to end this horrible conflict. To that end, Enough is inviting supporters to hold viewing parties and to encourage their friends, families, and neighbors to get involved. I like the idea of countering the thousands of conflict fueling gadgets that were bought on Black FridayBlack Friday reviews with meaningful action on Sunday. So spread the word on Facebook and Twitter, or go all out and host a party.

Here’s what you can do:

Host a house viewing party of the episode.

Join the millions of Americans all across the country that will be tuning in to watch this landmark 60 Minutes episode. Invite your friends over for a house screening of the episode and start a discussion. Check your local listings for the proper channel and time.

Viewing parties offer a way for you to engage your friends, neighbors, co-workers and others in discussions about critical issues and ways that they can be addressed.

Promote the event. Invite your friends, neighbors, co-workers, and don’t underestimate the power of social networking sites like Evite, Facebook and MySpace to help get the word out about your viewing party. And of course, word of mouth is still as strong a tool as ever!

Prepare for the party. Whether you host the party at home or at another venue, check in advance to make sure you have the proper sound and viewing equipment. This way, you can spend time with your guests rather than struggle with the equipment when they arrive. Viewing parties can be fun and social events– so if possible, provide refreshments and ensure that you have adequate seating to accommodate all your guests.

(via TOOLKIT: HOST A 60 MINUTES VIEWING PARTY | Raise Hope for Congo.)

patrick masoya

Dear viewers,
It is great to view the video about my own country the DRC but the actions is what we are in need for. My suggestions to you is to raise more voices and suggestions to the world leaders and UN to pressure any companies buying any minerals in this country illegally to stop using as the lives of innocents are being perished by people who love money and hate human being. I compare this movie to the "Blood Diamond" My question to you is , How are you going to help save the lives of these innocents peoples?
I believes if the UN can create a program called " Mines for foods " , they will be able to manage any revenues from mining and uses it to build schools , hospitals, road and create more jobs. these will alleviate coruption and help people change their mentality as the reason why they are behind is because that is the only source of income to them. When you have nothing to eat or feed your families, you are pushed to do thing like that. being from this country, I know my brothers and sisters are being used as slaves by giants companies from developped nations that buys mines in the DRC illegally. the best approach to the situation is to find the root cause of this situation and take an action to fight against it.
The first root cause is to go back years behind when teh country used to be a belgium colonies. during this years , Congolese was being treated as slaves by a tiny country of the planet as the DRC is 80 times bigger than Belgium but was seen as a private property of the King leopold II when he acquired the country during the berlin conference in 1885 when teh whole african countinent was deivided as an apple pie. belgium robe the country but never build infrastructure for the country , they only build road and rails to transport all the mines to the sea port and sent them to belgium. they build belgium with the Congolese money and makes them hate each others.
Second issue is the big companies that goes to the war zone and buy coltan, gold and diamond for their own insteres knowing that it is illegal and their money is being used to kill innocent people.
These are the two conponents that I think should be investigated. at first , the UN need to ask the belgium government to build more schools, hospitals and roads as compensatory factor to the Congolese lives that was taken during their colonies. The UN should prosecute any companies that conducts business in the war zone. Lastly the UN should create an " Mines for food " program like they did for iraquis. these are the action needs to be implenmented to save the lives congolese as their natural ressources are not being distributed property to the people but benefit a small fractions of people that call themself either Congolese or activist. I cry when I see my brother and sister starve for a food, when I see orphans , and widow due to this. I believe in the creation of watch dogs programs or a Tsar to this region that manage and monitor the use of all natural ressourses as this country has all kind of natural ressources that teh world can benefit from. If this issue is not being seen as a global threat or concern it is becoming safe heaven for crminincals and terrorist.
let fight against these and make our voice be heard to the world.
patrick masoya
pmasoya@gmail.com
rikraff

As a ten year employee in the jewelry industry, I must say that this issue may be overlooked (at least in my circle of colleagues). With all of the fuss made about “blood diamonds,” which may or may not have died down considerably, as consumers and professionals we really need to examine all of the jewelry-related issues that affect other parts of the world and humanity in general. There is a lot of buzz about green or recycled gold. Hopefully this will raise concern about the source of gold being purchased. It will also be interesting to see how the people that mine platinum and palladium position their metals against this story and issues.
patrick masoya

I agreed with you and hope there will be more honest people like you as if we all can turn our eyes over there and implement change that benefit Congolese . The war will end as there will be no more people fueling the conflict. these people will have no money to buy weapon that kills peoples.
thanks
patrick masoya
pmasoya@gmail.com