Conflicted Over Conflict Metals?

If the organization has a quality control system, then yes, the materials should all be documented, and more importantly, specified!

If a corporation has a quality audit, and the management level quality policy states that such materials are unacceptable, then the correct operation of the system will ensure that those materials are not purchased, and that what is purchased is correctly evidenced.

As always, Management has the authority and the responsiblity for appropriate behaviour.

If a corporation wished to sell products which may involve controversial materials, they should pick a side, and stick with it. If their customers wish to purchase fair trade products (for lack of a better term) then they should have access to the evidence of the QMS, or the reporting of a third party organization who has audited that QMS.

If the issue goes astronomical, such as with blood diamonds, then this really isn't a low level debate anymore.. but really, market first..let the market decide, and major players in the market will use their market influence to bias the situation their way.

Chris

There little doubt that smart phone or computer may be fueling one of the most barbaric wars in history, in which unspeakable atrocities are being committed to control minerals used to make laptops, smart phones, and gaming devices. In Congo, as warlords finance their barbarities through selling mineral ore that contains tantalum, tungsten, tin, and gold.

If electronics companies stopped buying those conflict minerals, it could help stop the war by cutting off a major source of money that pays for the militias.

The supply chain is so complex it is very difficult to trace the origin. The truth is electronic companies don't really know whether they're buying items sourced from conflict zones. That's because they rely on their suppliers to tell them whether the minerals come from conflict zones. Hardly any suppliers will tell the truth.

http://www.raisehopeforcongo.org/ shows the concerned citizen a way to combat the scourge. Make a commitment of buy only conflict-free electronics. Send a clear message to 21 giant electronic companies "If you take conflict out of your electronic product I will buy it"

Bigger question - Do I worry about what is inside my cell phone or PC when I buy it? No - not at all.

Until the African continent starts producing some statesmen (or women) they will never get out of the mess and I accept zero responsibility for it.

Don't you feel that it is with in our powers to collectively force big multinational companies to do business ethically morally and earn profits?

Do I feel individuals or groups know 'better'? Generally they do not.

This is nothing more than a method to control the agenda to what individuals or groups feel is correct - force their desire on others.

The wars went on before anyone noticed and will go on until locals manage to control their own business. The corruption of Africa is it's worst enemy.

I'm with Russ, their war is their affair. if they want to kill each other, have at it. If it disrupts my access to needed material THEN it becomes my problem.

The sad fact of the matter is, that whether we buy it from them or not, they will continue to kill each other for any reason they can think of, or no reason at all. (look at the Hutu/Tutsi genocides in Rawanda as a prime example. In many cases the two groups had intermarried to such a degree there was no difference between the two.)

Africa could be a thriving rich continent full of people with enough money to buy Saudi Arabia with their pocket change, if it were not for the corruption and marxism endemic to the governments of the region.

Such over simplification of the situation, on both sides of this discussion, is tragic.

"Make a commitment of buy only conflict-free electronics. Send a clear message to 21 giant electronic companies "If you take conflict out of your electronic product I will buy it""

Do you know how many capacitors there are in the world right now??? The scope of this demand is self-defeatingly unreachable. Black/grey markets will always exist and corporations will always flock to unregulated "waters".

"The wars went on before anyone noticed and will go on until locals manage to control their own business."

So who is controlling the business there now? Them or us? Both?? Vagary can be sabotage.

"look at the Hutu/Tutsi genocides in Rawanda [sic] as a prime example"

The Hutus/Tutsi divide was created by British colonial land divsion policy which favored natives which adopted pro-colonial agriculture and punished those that maintained traditional herding. No place on Earth is an "island".

Just saying....... tragedy on this scale deserves care and attention.

OK - you pay attention to it then - it is your right to do so.

İ have other more important (to me) things to do like drinking a beer or reading a book or taking a nap.

My commitment is that I will not look at such details.

The world wide moratorium on ivory may have saved the African Elephant from extinction. Yes, there IS a black market, and YES, there is still a problem, but not as much of one. If the wild african elephant had been made extinct, that too would have solved a problem. Which problem solving method would you prefer? (Yes, it really is that simple a problem.)

A world wide moratorium on cell phones would save the mountain gorillas of the Congo and equally as many young drivers here in Canada who are texting at the wheel. Can you see the similarities? Do you think anybody in the "west" cares for more than a moment about it? What are the chances that cell phones will become banned in order to save the gorillas in the mist?

On the other hand, there will ALWAYS be a product, a resource, which will be squabbled over by local gangstas. Ivory, oil, tantalum, slaves, diamonds, and mahogany.

If the "west" gets involved, and refuses to purchase the goods, they will be accused of interference. If they step in and sort out the local warlords, that is called colonialism. (thats the magic word which means don't get involved dude...)

Simply put, the "west" should simply butt out and let them get on with their lives. If they wipe out the gorillas, or the mahogany rain forests, or whatever, then the problem will go away. Damned shame but whatcha gonna do? Keep your kids from buying cell phones? Yeah, that'll work.