How Fuel Cell phones aid in the Congo War
Congo, or more precisely, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is said to be the Saudi Arabia of precious minerals. Gold, silver, diamonds, copper, uranium and other minerals are found here in large quantities. It is this richness in minerals high price, coupled with corruption and racism, which has led to imagine the suffering of his people.
Congo - a 21st century tragedy
Today, the Congo is being hit by a calamitous civil war - a conflict that is said to be the deadliest in the world after the Second War II. The conflict that began in 1996, has already claimed the lives of 5.4 million, and no end in sight. What's fueling this endless war of rape and genocide?
The answer is simple: the hunger of the Congo's minerals.
The southeastern Congo, where most of the mineral deposits meet, is controlled by dozens of warlords and rebel factions. It is a lawless land where violence is the norm and the rape and killings are effectively used cow for people to abject submission.
The warlords controlling different quarries and mines in this area - who earn millions of dollars in revenue from the "metals of conflict" smuggled into neighboring countries like Uganda and Tanzania, and from there to the markets of Dubai and Europe. During the While the flow and trade of these precious metals continue, the war will continue in the endless cycles of violence and misery for the people of Congo.
Coltan in your cell phone
Columbite-tantalite or coltan is one of the minerals mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo by slave labor under the control of those armed factions. It is the mineral used in the production of tantalum, a metal highly resistant to corrosion is widely used in capacitors electronics products like mobile phones, DVD players, video game systems and computers. The cell phone is using at this time (or the PC you're reading this article) could well contain tantalum mine coltan in the Congo.
The millions of dollars in revenue mining and smuggling of coltan, gold and other minerals are used by these armed groups to buy weapons, food, medicine and ammunition. Armed and well fed, militia war remains and will continue to terrorize their slave laborers in mines primitive. Thus, as long as there is demand for coltan, and by the time the Congolese coltan trade is not prohibited or banned by governments and the electronics industry, there is always money for the different factions to continue the war.
How can we help break the deadly cycle
On a larger scale at the policy level, the Governments and stakeholders in the industry in the U.S. and others must work strictly trace the sources of the metals used in the production of African-mails and avoid "metals conflict" get in the current production.
There is talk among the trade groups and jewelry major retailers to implement a system of locating sources of gold in its production - a measure similar to the prohibition of so-called "blood diamonds" on the market. Hopefully it will also adopt similar measures among electronics manufacturers in the supply of tantalum used in their products.
On the individual level, we can extend the life cycle of our cell phones and other electronics and recycle cell phones that can no longer use. Recycling just half of the 100 million or more cell phones discarded every year, helping to limit demand for the production of fresh materials, such as tantalum, reducing the demand for coltan.
"Recycling old cell phones is a way for people to do something very simple that could reduce the need for additional coltan, "says Karen Killman, associate curator of mammals at the San Diego Zoo, an institution that actively encourages visitors to recycle cell phones.
In our modern world, closely interrelated, there is rarely anything to do does not affect anything else in other parts of world. Who would have thought the simple act of buying and owning a new cell phone every 18 months (average to replace our old cell phones) actually help feed a deadly conflict in the heart of Africa.
About the Author
Michael Arms contributes articles about Congo gold and cell phone recycling at the Pacebutler Recycling and Environmental blog. You can sell, donate, or recycle cell phones through Pacebutler Corporation, an Oklahoma-based cell phone recycling and trading company.
Any idea on a computer or video game revolutionary war?
I know that the History Channel has come out with civil war a divided nation. But I really want to get my hands on a game about the American war of indepandance. Do not tell me about Age of Empires War Chiefs, been there, done that. Instead tell me about an online game, video game or computer game on this topic. Thanks
Well ... I'm not sure what kind of game. I do not yet exist. But I'm sure it will be one day. PS: Write a letter to a company of this type of game play.
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