The New Blood Diamond

There was once a time where people buying a diamond necklace for their significant other, without knowing, supported and aided the bloodshed and enslavery of innocent lives in Africa. thanks to the fast work of committees and senators the kimberly process was created to trace diamonds and band conflict stones known as "blood Diamonds." For a illustration I highly recomend you rent or buy the movie Blood Diamond with Leonardo Dicaprio and Dijmoun Hounsou. Oil at once was considered blasphemy if you drove a truck or SUV because you consumed more gas and supported terrorism. That was a questionable rumor and accusation that was indeed proven ridiculous but nonetheless it had some truth to withstand multiple debates. Now, there is new product of the material world that is supplying war driven criminals that slaughter and rape women at will. This conflict lives In Congo. In congo many people are not aware that the most dangerous war has going on for the last 15 years claiming over 5 million lives according to CNN. What is Fueling the war? What is giving these militia the money to buy these weapons and expand their armies? Are you ready for the encore now? CELL PHONES! yes cell phones believe or not are aiding the militia. HOW?! well cell phones contain minerals such as tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold. Tungsten is not in phones unless you have a custom made but the other three, gold used to be in a special edition nokia that I owned, it was very heavy and gold plated, are used to make cell phones. The militia are recorded to profit over $180 million a year from these minerals. Activists are working with governmental officials who have already contacted multiple companies like Intel, HP, Dell, and Motorola to discuss a way to trace minerals using a similar process to the Kimberly ( used to trace Blood Diamonds). Now this is great, a huge step. The Obama administration is even involved right now. So what can we do? well it is very simple because we all know how the government process is and what it needs is a strong push supported by many people. One, we can contact phone companies and demand conflict free phones which might not be successful right now but it is a start. they might hang up on you but at least they know the consumers are serious about the issue. the second which is very important is to write to your senator and urge him to to sign Congo Conflict Minerals Act (S. 891) and Conflict Minerals Trade Act (H.R. 4128). Please help out and prevent us from going to war with another country by resolving the issue diplomatically and save millions of lives!

Special thanks to Sasha Lezhnev and John Prendergast and their article on CNN "Rape and murder, funded by cell phones" for the information and caring for other's lives.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/OPINION/12/03/congo.war.minerals/index.html