Smartphones: The world in your pocket - The Congolese Blood in your hand

Google, Apple, Intel and other tech companies revealed that minerals sold to fund combattants in the Democratic Republic of Congo and nearby countries may be used in the manufacture of their gadgets. Everyday its an emergency in east of Congo due to crisis war and sexual violence.
The disclosures come thanks to the reform-focused Dodd-Frank Act, which now requires thousands of companies to release an annual report detailing the use of so-called conflict minerals. Tungsten, tin, tantalum and gold-products common in electronics and known collectively as "3TG" are mined heavily in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other central African countries. Proceeds from some of the mines are used to fun an ongoing war that's become the deadliest armed conflict since World War 2, according to one study.
However, because such materials travel through a variety of smelters, manufacturersand distributors before they end up in a phone or laptop, vetting the entire manufacturing line is a difficult, expensive process. The SEC has estimated that compliance with the new rule cost companies $3 to $4 billion in the first year and will cost $206 to $609 million in subsequent years.
In regulatory filings, the tech giants continuously said they did not have sufficient data to fully determine whether conflict minerals were present in their products. Google wrote in its filing that "based on our due diligence, we have reason to believe that portion of the 3TG used in our products originated from the covered countries, but we have not identified any instances of sourcing that directly or indirectly supported conflict in the covered countries". The company disclosed that about 36 percent of its smelters in the Democratic republic of the Congo region have been certified as not trafficking in conflict minerals, but it could notmake a firm determination about other suppliers.
Apple, which began tracking the practices of individual smelters in 2010, said that 80 percent of the smelters it does business with in the region do not use conflict minerals. But like Google, Apple said it did not know enough to definitively say whether the other suppliers use them.
Intel, meanwhile, said that its microprocessors and chipsets are conflict-free, but it could not determine the conflict status of its other products. And Amazon said "majority" of the suppliers that contribute to its kindle pipeline are not using conflict minerals.
Every company which made a disclosure said they would pressure their questionable suppliers to be certified as compliant with conflict-free standards.
overall, the reports indicate that tech companies are at least advocating for the manufacture of conflict-free products, but they are finding it difficult to implement such initiatives on a practical level. No ones is keen on abandoning the region entirely-despite raised awareness of conflict minerals, the Democratic Republic of the Congo's share of tantalum production actually increased in 2013, according to the Wall street Journal. Some companies even argue that continuing to draw minerals from the region could allow them to be a force for good.
"Rather than simply funneling its demand through a limited number of verified smelters or those that are not sourcing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo," Apple wrote, "Apple believes the best way to impact human rights abuses on the ground in the Democratic Republic of Congo is to have critical mass of smelters verified as conflict-free, so that demand from other questionable sources is reduced."

[MicheleMartinGossett]

Tragic! And we we Americans can't wait for the newest iphone.

[Abhishek-bosp]

when will the so called developed world will stop abusing poor people for their own interests, see them as fellow human beings and work for their upliftment with an honest local government.
having an I fone in your pocket when at the same time a fellow human is dying of hunger and infectious diseases cannot be justified. it's a shame

[michaeldranov]

There are at least 2 important things about that: Conflict free minerals and very important not forget that the people of Congo will prosper from their minerals in order to fix their economy

[kevinroscoe]

what does apple and other big manufacturers think about

[alexxrysa]

After the genocide of CONGO from EUROPE for rubber now for another human kind always elatomatic...

[ndorobei]

They must stop fight each other and learn to live peacefully. Why do they always fight and kill each other?

[irwintatyana]

I do work hard to get a living do not accuse me with blood on hands You better Talk to Belgians, Germans, CHINES and Japanese or Saudis directly talking to them They do brings Guns to Congo .

[nlravi]

when usa make 11 Times more than its populations needs on food or when Netherlands can investering in plnatation technologies half africa will be enough for whole world that full feed ground! ya Mahdi

[aujax]

hey! congolese blood is in YOUR hand too!! elon needs to head over there and provide food relief first and foremost. then address the child labor and safety

[flintymaguire]

We're asking corporates to help these children. The cobalt in #smartphones may well have been mined by children. Corporates (Apple, Samsung, Sony, Nokia, Doro for example) should assume responsibility and help. We suggest giving consumers the choice of donating at the point of sale, or purchasing special goods with added value for the benefit of these children. While governments and corporates continue to do nothing, these kids work in hellish conditions for as little as 8p or 10c a day. #shame on these corporates for profiteering out of child labour.

[antwalk]

Dude translates calm and collective. guy talking is annoyed, confused, and angry.

[christopherbukko]

It's good to talk about it but what have you done as the western world. You just scoop take and make videos for the world to see

[goodshepherd]

This is mearly a case of follow the money .these goes on in meny🇮🇱 countries. Was this not the.📚🙏🏾 purpose of the United nations.and the Africans humanatary, assembly to fight for people that cant fight for themselves.no fought this is a crime against humanity if you cant protect these people.disband the Army.or ship the soulders.to a ✈🛩⛴different part of Africa.end hire the town people as guards end of story .⛴✈👿👿😷👺👺⚰⚰⚰