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Just a nit pick... they are sourcing from Rwandans... which is the first sign that they are dealing with bad guys. The materials they get from the Rwandans have

by bilbo0s 12y ago

Just a nit pick... they are sourcing from Rwandans... which is the first sign that they are dealing with bad guys. The materials they get from the Rwandans have come from the Congo... where the Rwandans ethnically cleanse areas so that they can mine the minerals. So technically... the materials they source from the Rwandans are conflict materials procured from genocidal Rwandans... not really materials procured through child labor. Of course... that just means it's much WORSE than child labor... I just thought people should have the facts straight more as a matter of principle.

EGreg 12y ago
Can you post some links for proof?
- bilbo0s 12y ago
  You can start by googling Laurent Nkunda. To get a feel for what the Rwandan backed militias who loot these mines are like. Fair warning... that reading is really not for the timid though. You can read background on the actual technical and logistical aspects of the mineral trade from Nest. The book is titled "Coltan". http://www.amazon.com/Coltan-Michael-Nest/dp/0745649327 http://www.amazon.com/Coltan-Michael-Nest/dp/0745649327 If you want the actual dry but raw data of the UN reports there are several which touch on the DRC mineral situation, and they are all at the UN's site. (They only go back to 2004... to go further you'd actually have to get it out of google cache. But obviously the UN has compiled reports going back much further for the purposes of future Crimes Against Humanity prosecutions.) In any case, you can find them here: http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1533/egroup.shtml http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1533/egroup.shtml Also, several lawsuits against American suppliers of conflict minerals related to the DRC morass. For example, here: http://oecdwatch.org/files/raid-foe_vs-_us-companies_press-release http://oecdwatch.org/files/raid-foe_vs-_us-companies_press-r... And finally, if you want to get involved you can read information at Friends of the Congo here: http://friendsofthecongo.org/resource-center/coltan.html http://friendsofthecongo.org/resource-center/coltan.html

by bilbo0s 12y ago

EGreg 12y ago

Can you post some links for proof?

bilbo0s 12y ago
You can start by googling Laurent Nkunda. To get a feel for what the Rwandan backed militias who loot these mines are like. Fair warning... that reading is really not for the timid though. You can read background on the actual technical and logistical aspects of the mineral trade from Nest. The book is titled "Coltan". http://www.amazon.com/Coltan-Michael-Nest/dp/0745649327 http://www.amazon.com/Coltan-Michael-Nest/dp/0745649327 If you want the actual dry but raw data of the UN reports there are several which touch on the DRC mineral situation, and they are all at the UN's site. (They only go back to 2004... to go further you'd actually have to get it out of google cache. But obviously the UN has compiled reports going back much further for the purposes of future Crimes Against Humanity prosecutions.) In any case, you can find them here: http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1533/egroup.shtml http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1533/egroup.shtml Also, several lawsuits against American suppliers of conflict minerals related to the DRC morass. For example, here: http://oecdwatch.org/files/raid-foe_vs-_us-companies_press-release http://oecdwatch.org/files/raid-foe_vs-_us-companies_press-r... And finally, if you want to get involved you can read information at Friends of the Congo here: http://friendsofthecongo.org/resource-center/coltan.html http://friendsofthecongo.org/resource-center/coltan.html