Future:Media:Change

Child miner Patrice, 15, started working at the mine when he was eight years old. Source: Grassroots Reconciliation Group / Sasha Lezhnev

The Enough Project has a new report out that breaks down the 6 steps that lead conflict minerals from eastern Congo to our electronic devices like cell phones, laptops, mp3 players, and video game consoles. The “3Ts” tin, tantalum, and tungsten are the primary illicit exports along with gold that militias use to fund their ongoing war. These groups raise an estimated 144m USD/yearly through these exports. Groups like Enough are pushing governments to put safeguards in place that ensure mineral profits are not funding conflict — similar to the Kimberly Process for the diamond trade. You can read all 6 steps in the report, but the final step is where the minerals find their way to our products, like the one I’m using to type this blog post.

“I hear these minerals are used in mobile phones, but I don’t know how. Why don’t the big companies make sure they are not buying from the FDLR? They have that power and money, surely.” –Robert, youth civil society activist, Bukavu

Finally, the refiners sell Congo’s minerals onto the electronics companies. The electronics industry is the single largest consumer of the minerals from eastern Congo. The now-processed metals usually go through a few sub-stages here—first to circuit board and computer chip manufacturers, then to cell phone and other electronics manufacturers, and finally to the mainstream electronics companies such as Intel, Apple, Nokia, Hewlett Packard, Nintendo, etc. These companies then make the products that we all know and buy—cell phones, portable music players, video games, and laptop computers. Because companies do not currently have a system to trace, audit, and certify where their materials come from, all cell phones and laptops may contain conflict minerals from Congo.

The electronics industry is not the only one that uses the 3Ts and gold, but it is the largest. Other industries with a significant stake include tin can manufacturers, industrial tool and light bulb companies for tungsten, and aerospace and defense contractors, as well as the banking and jewelry industries in the case of gold.

The conflict in Congo has cost over 5 million lives and led to horrendous sexual violence against women and children. Many children are forced into serving in the militias, as porters or prostitutes as this report from Al Jazeera English explains.

Government and UN efforts to push out the rebel groups has only intensified the conflict. The military solution only makes life in DRC more deadly, which is why political changes like those supported by Enough are vital. So, use your phone and laptop for good. Here’s what you can do:

Your cell phone doesn’t have to fuel the deadliest war in the world. Use it to change the equation for Congo. It’s your call to make.

1. Call, email, or meet with your Senators and urge them to both cosponsor and help strengthen the Congo Conflict Minerals Act of 2009 (S.891). Talking points can be found at www.raisehopeforcongo.org or you can dial the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121.
2. Help us increase demand for conflict-free electronics. Visit www.raisehopeforcongo.org to email the biggest buyers of Congo’s conflict minerals—major electronics companies—and let them know that you want to buy conflict-free products. The message is clear: “If you take conflict out of your cell phone, I will buy it.”
3. Stay in touch! Text the word “Congo” to 228488 (spells ACTIV8) to get updates and actions from RAISE Hope for Congo.