Suppliers reminded gadgets support war in Congo
30 Jun 2010
Source: gizmodo.com.au
A recent UK editorial feature in The Times titled “Death By Gadget,” by Nicholas D. Kristof gives a glimpse into how the electronics industry plays a part in perpetuating a bloody war in Congo. Tracing gadgets to their mineral sources reveals the ugliest link of the supply chain. Warlords in the Congo finance their predations in part through the sale of mineral ore containing tantalum, tungsten, tin and gold. For example, tantalum from Congo is used to make electrical capacitors that go into phones, computers and gaming devices.
Companies like Intel, Apple, and Motorola have pledged to audit their supply chains more carefully and to remove the so-called “conflict mineral” sources, but Enough Project representatives insist that most of the impetus to clean things up is being placed on the companies’ suppliers and warn that tech companies can’t be content to take suppliers at their word.
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