Is your cell phone fueling a war?

We need your help. A deadly war is raging in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and our insatiable demand for electronics products such as cell phones and laptops is helping drive that conflict. Eastern Congo is the most dangerous place in the world to be a woman or girl, and the sexual violence there is often fueled by militias warring over conflict minerals, the ores that produce tin, tungsten, and tantalum—the 3 Ts— that end up being used in our electronic devices.

You can make an impact. The Enough Projects RAISE Hope for Congo campaign has teamed up with YouTube to launch the COME CLEAN 4 CONGO video contest. Submit your video now!
Photos: Mark Creamer; Editing: Jeff Trussell; Direction: Robert Padavick

© Center for American Progress

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• congo
• raise hope for congo
• human rights
• youtube
• ryan gossling
• sonya walger
• wim wenders
• come clean 4 congo
• cell phone
• iphone
• blackberry
• nokia
• lg
• sonyericsson
• at&t
• verizon

[MightyTrebor]

The most "deadliest war in the world"

anyone remember Word War 2?

[elvisjulep]

When the sanctimonious ivory tower denizens behind this video stop using THEIR cellphones, camcorders, computers, private jets (with electronic components)...maybe I'll consider it.

The hypocrisy of the world's most conspicuous consumers pointing their bony fingers of indignation at every day citizens is astounding! When is America going to wake up and kick Hollywood to the rubbish heap?

[paulluvz269xxx]

Yes! Stop buying these minerals from the Congo and then the Congo can be peaceful like all the other African countries. It's an easy step to make!

[InsertUsername0]

You are all brilliant! Yes it is so ironic that they use computers and cell phones, the communication and activist platform of of our day, to try and prevent the deaths of thousands! In fact... destroy all cell phones and computers! That oughtta do it! Brilliant!

[seifer93]

Its pretty Ironic and contradicting how they say that we can use our cellphones to make the video...

[inlovewithadonai]

wow, seriously man? if you havn't noticed, i'll let you in on a little secret, bush isn't in office anymore and cellphones were around long before he was in office. and i agree with aplang4ever

[othello2846]

Oh, you're so smart! Its only been like 5 months and 3 weeks. Of course its not possible that he was rounding up or anything.

[TheXog]

democrat hater and a bad counter? not 6 months yet =/

[bsdudeownzu]

The congo? I havent heard about that in about 200 years. BUt anyway, these elements are indeed used in computers, and by telling us to use computers to share this information is contradicting their very purpose. I mean wtf guys

[c0l0jar0]

@johnnydlux - I had a similar thought.Why just cell phones? It sounds like two of these chemicals are actually used in all electronics including iPods. They should really mention that, iPods are the devil (and probably billions sold).

Also, the only chemical used primarily in cell phones for vibration is Tungsten. I don't know why they just tell us it is an issue with cell phone manufacturures. What other interests do they have that make them focus on those companies?

[territhemayor]

Here is the flaw:

Okay so there are these minerals and these minerals end up in cell phones, and this video is telling us to pressure companies to "clean up their supply."

Yet they show no proof that the majority of their minerals or even what percentage of minerals is from the Congo.

It's stupid, any money going into the country is beneficial to a certain extent, the evil warlord people still need to pay people to do their stuff, who then spend money, etc. A boycott would be far worse

[johnnydlux]

Aren't those minerals used in computers, like the ones every person that saw this video used?