Creatas Images/Thinkstock
DCL
We've covered conflict minerals before, but since the war and human rights abuses affiliated with conflict mining continue particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, so will our coverage. Nick Kristof's latest column focuses on "blood phones" as the new blood diamonds, and regardless of your thoughts on his terminology, it is not a laughing matter.
Whether we acknowledge it or not, the technology in our lives is connected directly to the horrific violence in eastern Congo, one of the most mineral-rich (but dollar-poor) regions of the world. We believe in upholding basic civil protections, yet we depend on minerals coming from a country that couldn't have less protection or semblance of safety for its citizens
It may not be the electronic industry's fault directly-technology companies purchase the minerals, but do not mine them directly—technology companies purchase the minerals, but do not mine them directly—but the industry has the power to clean up its supply chain. To ensure that its purchases, and as a result our purchases as consumers, are not helping to fuel the world's deadliest war.
There are some efforts underway in Washington and by the industry to go conflict-free, but they are too little and moving too slowly. And we need more than Washington talk or empty industry promises.
The ENOUGH Project has just launched a new leg of its ongoing campaign for Congo, and is encouraging people to commit to buying conflict-free electronics-but unfortunately, such items are not readily available yet, so the best option is to buy reused/refurbished electronics when possible (and, of course, to hold onto your existing gadgets for as long as possible). But the campaign is also asking people to write the 21 biggest electronics companies to demand the same conflict-free commitment of them. Without the entire industry on board, the country will continue to suffer for our blood-stained luxury gadgets.
Check out the ENOUGH Project's "Hello, I'm a Mac" spoof:
Correction: I originally implied in the last paragraph that conflict-free electronics are currently readily available on the market. That's part of the problem - they're not, so for now, refurbished is the best option (for the environment as well as for the people of Congo). Sorry for the confusion.
