Conflict Cellphones
Nov 18th, 2009 by rima.abdelkader
The Enough Project and its partners are welcoming a new House bill to help stop the use of conflict minerals from the Democratic Republic of Congo in cell phones and other electronic devices tomorrow, Nov. 19 at 9am in the U.S. Capitol where Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) will introduce the bill. Dean Garfield, CEO of the Information Technology Industry Council will also be there, and representatives from Motorola and the maker of the blackberry, Research in Motion.
On 219West on Ch. 75 on CUNY TV, Rima Abdelkader looks into the issue of conflict minerals from the DR Congo. Air dates and times to come.
I for one, wholeheartedly support disclosing the origins of materials being used, allowing the consumer to make an educated decision on what products to buy. Despite that being an extremely poor way to feel that we’re doing something to “support” or “protest” a specific cause.
Although many of raw materials come from war torn areas of the world. Attributing war and atrocities to people’s use of these goods is not a very accurate picture.
Truth is, as the Motorolla spokesperson said, this is going to be a herculean challenge. These raw materials go through so many refinement processes mixed, and enhanced to the point that the origin can be almost untraceable. Unlike DNA, gold is gold. In it’s pure form, it’s impossible to tell apart. Same goes for most other elements being exported possibly through other countries that do the refinement. Before finally reaching commercial grade, these raw materials would have passed through so many hands making them impossible to trace. Especially since the materials are not actually controlled substances.
The other perspective, depriving these countries of their main income, would likely be passed directly to the poor, and the underprivileged, while the warlords continue to live through controlling what’s remaining of the wealth. If they can’t buy guns, which are relatively cheap, the genocide continues using knives, axes and meat cleavers. The rape doesn’t require more than few willing thugs feeding off the weak.
Perhaps there are other ways to interfere in such conflicts, and more effective measures to disrupt their supply chain.