EduClaytion

Reception and Rape

[This post is part of the SUMMER JUSTICE SERIES. You can start with Part 1 here.]

Part 6: Conflict-Free Cell Phones

So I saw my first iPad the other day.  Pretty neat.  I’ve never been a gadget guy.  Most of the time I pick up cool new technology after it’s been out a while.  Granted that makes it less cool but way more affordable.  I have yet to hold an iPhone or even see a Droid.  My last two cell phones have been love-worn hand-me-downs that I’ve switched over to my number.  Maybe that’s why I missed so many documented accounts of violence connected to mining minerals necessary for making those little talking rectangles that we just can’t live without.

We’ve arrived at the last major issue of social justice in a series to figure out if and how we can make the world a better place by changing our daily habits.  Now to our list of Fair Trade coffee, slave-free chocolate, sweatshop-free clothing and more we add conflict-free cell phones.

***

Guerilla warfare, murder, and gang rape are terrifying realities in Congo.  The center of Africa is no stranger to civil strife.  Nearby Rwanda is still feeling the effects of the 1994 genocide as refugees from that brutal conflict struggle to find peace in a war-torn land.

Squads of fighters battle for control of lucrative mines that produce raw materials found in electronics like cell phones, cameras, video games, and more.  These profits fund ongoing acts of violence including mass rape which is used to terrorize anyone who would oppose this brutal system.  As we constantly see in Africa, the local people gain no benefit from the lucrative resources beneath their feet. 

The most valuable minerals are called the big four: gold, tungsten, tin, and tantalum.  Our electronics are filled with these valuable commodities which are sent to nearby African nations and smuggled off to Asia for convoluted processing.  According to the organization Enough over 5 million have already died as a result of bloody competition for control of these earthy treasures. 

This topic is especially timely right now since the banking reform bill was just signed into law by President Obama last week.   Apparently, somewhere in the 2,300+ behemoth of legislation (don’t get me started) there’s a new requirement for companies to prove their materials don’t come from conflicted areas like Congo.*  Some folks are jubilant, yet other pundits are quick to point out that:

1. 1. Proving where minerals came from is very difficult (see video below).
2. 2. Regulation of this type will turn companies away from Congo altogether thereby destroying the lives of a million plus people reliant on the work from mines.

We’ve seen these types of statements on almost every other similar issue.  Evil practices must be stopped whatever it takes.  Some Africans may face extremely tough conditions to achieve a solution, but their lives are already hard.  Might as well work towards ending the power of militant murderers and corrupt political thugs.

***

The situation in Eastern Congo is horrific.  Remember the way you felt that time you got lost at night or the time you felt seconds away from something terrible happening?  Imagine living with those fears on a daily basis in a world where going for a day’s supply of water could get you attacked or raped.

I think we should be careful to not pass judgment on companies or individuals just because they are involved in industries that may receive materials from bloody hands.  The best they can do is attempt to verify the purity of their products, a tough feat with so many corrupt officials around the world. 

That said, we should not ignore the situation.  Maybe you’re like me and buying fancy electronics isn’t really an option anyway.  We’ve all become reliant on machines that use these raw materials.  There’s no way around it, yet that doesn’t make us bad.  Maybe we can’t put an end to these terrible things happening on the other side of the world, but we can learn a bit about the tough realities facing millions of people.  That knowledge should at least change our perspective.  We should all be grateful for all that we have here in the West.  You might not believe me, but we do have a great deal more than most people on the planet, even if you won’t be able to afford an iPad until 2018.

*Here’s a well-written article about the current state of Congo and how the new U.S. legislation will impact this situation.

Read the SERIES FINALE: The Golden Rule’s Gettin’ Freaky   ________________________________________________________________________
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July 30, 2010 - Posted by educlaytion | Politics