The ongoing conflict in the eastern Congo is undeniably the deadliest since WWII. Over 5.4 million people have died as a result of the ongoing war; upwards of 200,000 women have been raped and sexually tortured, and the violence is worsening today. Every month, 45,000 more Congolese - half of them children - die from hunger, preventable disease and other consequences of violence and displacement.
This is a war over resources, over minerals that are used in almost every electronic device in the world. Products we all use on a daily basis - cell phones, laptops, digital cameras and iPods - are part of what is fueling this conflict. The armed groups that are perpetuating the violence generate over $100 million each year by trading in the following three minerals: tin, tungsten and tantalum. Each one of these minerals is required in the manufacturing of our electronic products.
Tin is used as a solder on circuit boards inside cell phones and laptops and 10 percent of tin ore comes from the eastern Congo. Tungsten is used to make cell phones and Blackberries vibrate, and it is a growing source of income for armed groups. Lastly, tantalum is used to store electricity in iPods, digital cameras and cell phones, and 15 percent comes from the Congo.
As consumers of these products, we can make it our responsibility to ensure that the manufacturers do not use conflict minerals. The beginning steps of this process are to write letters, e-mails and/or send faxes to the biggest buyers of these minerals - major electronics companies - and demand better.
For templates and more information, please visit www.raisehopeforcongo.org or helpthecongo.blogspot.com.
Thank you for your time,
- Erika Kramer
Majoring in Sociology/Communication Arts
UW-Madison student
