ݺߣ

ݺߣShare a Scribd company logo

Writing Sample_Op-Ed_Meei Child

•
•
Meei Child
Meei Child

The document discusses the issue of conflict minerals in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that fund armed violence. Many electronic devices use tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold from the DRC, where militias control mines and profit from mineral sales to commit atrocities. The document calls on companies, governments, organizations and individuals to take steps like educating suppliers, auditing sources, raising awareness, and pushing for policies to curb the trade of conflict minerals that fuel the ongoing conflict and human rights abuses in the DRC.

1 of 4
Download to read offline
Mobile  Devices  and  Conflict  in  Congo   By  Joe  McIntosh,  Senior  Product  Engineer  at  Apple   March  11,  2014   If  you  are  reading  this  article  on  your  mobile  phone,  tablet,  or  laptop,  you  should   know   that   the   money   you   paid   for   your   device   might   be   funding   armed   conflict   in   the   Democratic  Republic  of  Congo.   While  many  people  know  about  blood  diamonds,  which  are  diamonds  mined  and   sold  to  fund  insurgencies  in  certain  countries  in  Africa,  few  know  about  conflict  minerals   from  the  Democratic  Republic  of  Congo  (DRC),  which  is  to  the  east  of  the  Republic  of  Congo.   Yet   the   problem   of   conflict   mineral   is   arguably   more   problematic   than   blood   diamonds   because  conflict  minerals—gold,  tin,  tungsten  and  tantalum—are  present  in  almost  every   electronic   device   people   around   the   world   depend   on.   We   are   not   simply   talking   about   devices  such  as  the  sleek  smart  phones,  tablets  and  laptops  that  are  ubiquitous  in  developed   countries,   but   also   the   kinds   of   basic-­‐function   mobile   phones   that   are   commonplace   in   developing  countries.   The  DRC  has  a  violent  and  troubled  past.  For  over  a  century,  it  has  been  a  gruesome   battleground   for   companies   and   countries   that   are   eager   to   exploit   its   vast   resources,  
whether  that  be  rubber  for  automobiles  in  the  1800s  or  blood  diamonds  of  the  past  few   decades.  The  fight  over  natural  resources  in  that  country  has  driven  some  of  the  most  brutal   and  deadly  armed  conflicts  the  world  has  ever  known,  and  continues  to  do  so.   Today,   profits   from   the   sale   of   much   coveted   conflict   minerals   are   used   to   arm   groups  that  often  use  violence—including  mass  rapes  and  the  forced  recruitment  of  child   soldiers—as   a   way   to   exert   control   over   the   local   populations.   By   intimidating   and   controlling  the  local  populations,  these  armed  groups  hope  to  secure  control  of  profitable   mines  and  trade  routes,  which  in  turn  secure  their  profits.   To  make  matters  worse,  profits  from  the  sale  of  conflict  minerals  end  up  in  the  hands   of   corrupt   businessmen   and   politicians,   who   themselves   violate   the   human   rights   of   the   population.  Businesses  that  own  conflict  mineral  mines  routinely  employ  forced  labor  and   subject  workers  to  unsafe  working  conditions,  and  the  Congolese  army  and  rebel  groups   often  impose  illicit  taxes  on  the  civilian  population.  In  the  meantime,  public  institutions  that   are  crippled  by  corruption  continually  fail  to  provide  the  people  with  the  public  goods  they   need.     The   situation   is   dire,   but   it   is   not   without   hope.   Companies,   governments,   civil   society  organizations  and  individuals  can  do  a  lot  to  change  the  situation  in  the  DRC.  
Companies,   like   Apple,   that   manufacture   electronic   devices   can   educate   their   hardware  suppliers  on  how  to  examine  components  that  contain  tin,  gold,  tantalum  and   tungsten,  and  verify  that  the  minerals  they  use  do  not  come  from  conflict  mines.  They  can   also   perform   regular   audits   to   make   sure   that   their   suppliers   conform   to   these   high   standards.  At  Apple,  we  enforce  a  strict  supplier  code  of  conduct.  When  our  audits  reveal   problems,  we  work  with  our  suppliers  to  correct  those  problems.  Clearly,  this  involves  extra   work  and  costs,  but  we  firmly  believe  that  it  is  the  right  thing  to  do.   Civil  society  organizations  and  individuals  can  raise  awareness  among  friends,  family,   colleagues,  and  the  general  public  on  the  harms  of  conflict  minerals.  As  the  people  become   more  educated  on  the  topic,  they  will  be  better  equipped  to  use  their  purchasing  power  to   hold  manufacturers  accountable  for  sourcing  minerals  responsibly.   Finally,  companies,  civil  society  organizations  and  individuals  can  dialogue  with  policy   makers  so  that  they  can  pass  laws  that  would  stop  the  trade  of  conflict  minerals.  The  U.S.   passed  the  Clean  Diamond  Trade  Act  to  curb  the  sale  of  blood  diamonds  when  the  harmful   effects  of  blood  diamonds  became  part  of  public  discourse.  Something  similar  could  be  done   for  conflict  minerals  from  the  DRC.   Now  is  the  time  to  solve  this  problem.  The  sale  of  electronic  devices  is  ballooning,  
and  this  trend  is  expected  to  continue.  More  conflict  minerals  will  be  needed  to  cope  with   the  increasing  demand,  and  this  could  in  turn  mean  more  funding  for  armed  groups  that   commit  violent  acts  against  people  in  the  DRC.  The  fact  that  the  UN  just  deployed  additional   troops  to  the  DRC  last  week  in  response  to  a  surge  in  violence  is  a  stark  reminder  that  we   need  to  act  fast.  As  an  individual  mobile  device  user,  you  too  can  do  your  part.  The  next  time   you   purchase   a   mobile   device,   check   with   the   manufacturer   to   see   if   they   source   their   materials  responsibly.  Let  them  know  you  care.  

More Related Content

Writing Sample_Op-Ed_Meei Child

  • 1. Mobile  Devices  and  Conflict  in  Congo   By  Joe  McIntosh,  Senior  Product  Engineer  at  Apple   March  11,  2014   If  you  are  reading  this  article  on  your  mobile  phone,  tablet,  or  laptop,  you  should   know   that   the   money   you   paid   for   your   device   might   be   funding   armed   conflict   in   the   Democratic  Republic  of  Congo.   While  many  people  know  about  blood  diamonds,  which  are  diamonds  mined  and   sold  to  fund  insurgencies  in  certain  countries  in  Africa,  few  know  about  conflict  minerals   from  the  Democratic  Republic  of  Congo  (DRC),  which  is  to  the  east  of  the  Republic  of  Congo.   Yet   the   problem   of   conflict   mineral   is   arguably   more   problematic   than   blood   diamonds   because  conflict  minerals—gold,  tin,  tungsten  and  tantalum—are  present  in  almost  every   electronic   device   people   around   the   world   depend   on.   We   are   not   simply   talking   about   devices  such  as  the  sleek  smart  phones,  tablets  and  laptops  that  are  ubiquitous  in  developed   countries,   but   also   the   kinds   of   basic-­‐function   mobile   phones   that   are   commonplace   in   developing  countries.   The  DRC  has  a  violent  and  troubled  past.  For  over  a  century,  it  has  been  a  gruesome   battleground   for   companies   and   countries   that   are   eager   to   exploit   its   vast   resources,  
  • 2. whether  that  be  rubber  for  automobiles  in  the  1800s  or  blood  diamonds  of  the  past  few   decades.  The  fight  over  natural  resources  in  that  country  has  driven  some  of  the  most  brutal   and  deadly  armed  conflicts  the  world  has  ever  known,  and  continues  to  do  so.   Today,   profits   from   the   sale   of   much   coveted   conflict   minerals   are   used   to   arm   groups  that  often  use  violence—including  mass  rapes  and  the  forced  recruitment  of  child   soldiers—as   a   way   to   exert   control   over   the   local   populations.   By   intimidating   and   controlling  the  local  populations,  these  armed  groups  hope  to  secure  control  of  profitable   mines  and  trade  routes,  which  in  turn  secure  their  profits.   To  make  matters  worse,  profits  from  the  sale  of  conflict  minerals  end  up  in  the  hands   of   corrupt   businessmen   and   politicians,   who   themselves   violate   the   human   rights   of   the   population.  Businesses  that  own  conflict  mineral  mines  routinely  employ  forced  labor  and   subject  workers  to  unsafe  working  conditions,  and  the  Congolese  army  and  rebel  groups   often  impose  illicit  taxes  on  the  civilian  population.  In  the  meantime,  public  institutions  that   are  crippled  by  corruption  continually  fail  to  provide  the  people  with  the  public  goods  they   need.     The   situation   is   dire,   but   it   is   not   without   hope.   Companies,   governments,   civil   society  organizations  and  individuals  can  do  a  lot  to  change  the  situation  in  the  DRC.  
  • 3. Companies,   like   Apple,   that   manufacture   electronic   devices   can   educate   their   hardware  suppliers  on  how  to  examine  components  that  contain  tin,  gold,  tantalum  and   tungsten,  and  verify  that  the  minerals  they  use  do  not  come  from  conflict  mines.  They  can   also   perform   regular   audits   to   make   sure   that   their   suppliers   conform   to   these   high   standards.  At  Apple,  we  enforce  a  strict  supplier  code  of  conduct.  When  our  audits  reveal   problems,  we  work  with  our  suppliers  to  correct  those  problems.  Clearly,  this  involves  extra   work  and  costs,  but  we  firmly  believe  that  it  is  the  right  thing  to  do.   Civil  society  organizations  and  individuals  can  raise  awareness  among  friends,  family,   colleagues,  and  the  general  public  on  the  harms  of  conflict  minerals.  As  the  people  become   more  educated  on  the  topic,  they  will  be  better  equipped  to  use  their  purchasing  power  to   hold  manufacturers  accountable  for  sourcing  minerals  responsibly.   Finally,  companies,  civil  society  organizations  and  individuals  can  dialogue  with  policy   makers  so  that  they  can  pass  laws  that  would  stop  the  trade  of  conflict  minerals.  The  U.S.   passed  the  Clean  Diamond  Trade  Act  to  curb  the  sale  of  blood  diamonds  when  the  harmful   effects  of  blood  diamonds  became  part  of  public  discourse.  Something  similar  could  be  done   for  conflict  minerals  from  the  DRC.   Now  is  the  time  to  solve  this  problem.  The  sale  of  electronic  devices  is  ballooning,  
  • 4. and  this  trend  is  expected  to  continue.  More  conflict  minerals  will  be  needed  to  cope  with   the  increasing  demand,  and  this  could  in  turn  mean  more  funding  for  armed  groups  that   commit  violent  acts  against  people  in  the  DRC.  The  fact  that  the  UN  just  deployed  additional   troops  to  the  DRC  last  week  in  response  to  a  surge  in  violence  is  a  stark  reminder  that  we   need  to  act  fast.  As  an  individual  mobile  device  user,  you  too  can  do  your  part.  The  next  time   you   purchase   a   mobile   device,   check   with   the   manufacturer   to   see   if   they   source   their   materials  responsibly.  Let  them  know  you  care.