Conflict Minerals

U.S. and Rwanda Caught With Diplomatic Pants Down in Congo

Georgianne Nienaber | Posted 05.05.2012

Diplomacy is one thing; enabling is another. It seems Rwanda and the United States have been caught with their diplomatic pants down. Congolese and i...

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UN Implicates Obama Donor in Congo Gold Smuggling Scheme

Georgianne Nienaber | Posted 05.13.2012

Read More: Campaign Donations, Super Pac, Bosco Ntanganda, Smuggling, Conflict Minerals, Gold, UN Security Council, Atrocity, Barack Obama, Kase, Lawal, Actpn, A Woman Among Warlords, Human Rights Watch, Video, World News

The United Nations' accusations against Kase Lawal and CAMAC deserve a complete investigation. Congressional hearings might be a good place to begin.

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The Most 'Insanely Great' -- But Missing -- iPad Feature Ever

Emmanuelle Chriqui | Posted 05.06.2012

Read More: Video, Conflict Minerals, Apple Ipad, Apple, Congo Rape, Apple Ipad 3, Enough Project, Congo Violence, Center for American Progress, Impact News

If the last decade has taught us anything, it's that where Apple goes, the world market will follow. We would like to see that path be one that leads towards building responsible products that enhance the lives of all people of the world -- not just consumers.

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I'm Stuck in a Bad Relationship, Part 1

Matt Petersen | Posted 03.31.2012

Read More: V-Day, Democratic Republic of Congo, Environment, Eve Ensler, Matt Petersen, City of Joy, Congo, Global Green USA, Solar Power, Global Green, Conflict Minerals, Violence Against Women, Electronics, Women, Green News

What can we do to help the reduce the conflict and end this unfathomable violence against women and girls -- and increasingly boys -- in the Eastern Congo? As consumers, we can make a difference by demanding cell phones and electronic goods that are conflict mineral-free.

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Hope and Change: The Arab Spring Dominated the Headlines, But 2011 Saw Other Landmark Human Rights Victories

Julie B. Gutman | Posted 02.08.2012

Read More: Human Rights, Julie Gutman, World News, Khmer Rouge Trial, International Criminal Court, Conflict Minerals, Lords Resistance Army, Gbagbo, Joseph Kony, World News

As the international community prepares to mark the 61st annual Human Rights Day on December 10, here is a short list of some of the best human rights developments of 2011 outside the Middle East.

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A Hunger for Justice

Elizabeth Blackney | Posted 10.24.2011

Read More: Blood Diamonds, Rape, Conflict Minerals, Democratic Republic of Congo, Women's Health, Eastern Congo, Enough Project, Congo, Congo Violence, World News, Impact News

As a lifelong committed Republican, a hunger strike ranked number one on the list of "things I will never do." But life brings with it surprises and revelations.

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Conflict Minerals in the Congo: Let's Be Frank About Dodd-Frank

Mvemba Dizolele | Posted 10.22.2011

Read More: Conflict Minerals, Kivus, Congo, Dodd-Frank, Joseph Kabila, Conflict Diamonds, Blood Diamonds, World News

Oversimplification of issues often produces inadequate, counterproductive policies. Dodd-Frank and its proponents penalize the people of eastern Congo, but do little to curtail the militias and their backers.

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What Conflict Minerals Legislation Is Actually Accomplishing in Congo

Sasha Lezhnev | Posted 10.09.2011

Ending the world's deadliest conflict is no easy task, but a growing consensus of Congolese civil society, electronics and metals companies, investors, and governments are now taking action to do so.

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Congo's Forgotten Sexual Genocide

Joseph K. Grieboski | Posted 10.05.2011

Read More: Conflict Minerals, Sexual Genocide, Congo, Congo Sexual Violence, Congo Sexual Genocide, Women in Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Special Envoy to Congo, Rape in Congo, Congo Violence, World News

The people of Congo's prolonged and constant exposure to the heinous act has normalized the crime. Rape is now used as a simple assertion of authority and control.

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Conflict Minerals: Hands-Off Is Not a Solution

Stephen P. Groff | Posted 09.10.2011

Read More: Congolese Conflict-Minerals, Conflict Minerals, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, World News

Trade and investment in natural mineral resources hold great potential for boosting growth and prosperity in the developing world. Too often though, misguided or illicit exploitation of these resources has contributed, directly or indirectly, to armed conflict.

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A Deadly Mother's Day Secret

Javier Bardem | Posted 07.06.2011

Read More: Iphone, Blackberry, Conflict Minerals, Congo Rape, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, Congo Violence, World News

Underlying all of our dizzying 21st century communication tools is one of the saddest secrets in the world involving mothers and daughters. Innocently, inadvertently, we are using communication products that are powered by conflict minerals.

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Certifying Congo's Deadly Conflict Minerals

John Prendergast | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Angola, Consumer Electronics, Liberia, Conflict Minerals, Congo, Jewelry, Sierra Leone, World News

With conflict minerals the U.S. is in a unique position because our economic influence to combat the illicit minerals trade provides the missing leverage for leaning on the Congolese state to deliver meaningful security sector reform.

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Arriving in the Congo to Celebrate the #CityofJoy

Matt Petersen | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Conflict Minerals, Congo, Africa, World News

While in the Congo, I am certain I will be humbled by the grace and fortitude of those individual Congolese women - and men - who have worked with Eve to build the City of Joy.

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A Hero In Need: The 'Oskar Schindler Of Congo' Fights For His Life

Bryan Mealer | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Oskar Schindler, Kidney Transplant, Democratic Republic of Congo, Marrion P'Udongo, Pastor Marrion Fund, Congo, Conflict Minerals, Pastor Marrion, Pastor Marrion Congo, Impact News

In your lifetime, there are few moments when you're given the opportunity to directly save another person's life. Congo needs its hero now more than ever. So I ask you now, who's with me?

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Costs of Convenience

Ashley Judd | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Consumer Electronics, Conflict Minerals, Apple, Congo Rape, Congo Violence, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, World News

I dream of the day when electronics companies fully commit to tracing, auditing, and certifying the minerals they use in their products, and rape minerals are successfully excluded from the marketplace.

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Conflict Minerals: Not Just an NGO Issue

Marshall Chase | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Drc, Sandy Merber, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Karen Hayes, Conflict Minerals, BSR Conference 2010, Pact, Securities and Exchange Commission, Impact News

It was a standing-room-only crowd of over 150 people from a broad range of companies beyond ICT, including U.S. and international auto manufacturers, heavy industry, and others.

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Take Action! Help end Slavery in Congo

Free The Slaves | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Human Rights, Conflict Minerals, Action, Drc, Congo, Human Trafficking, Slavery, Impact News

Demand more change that will allow the Congolese to escape from slavery and the other rampant human rights abuses and to begin building their country.

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A Wake-Up Call From The Depths Of The Congo

Brian D. McLaren | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Conflict Minerals, Congo Rape, Democratic Republic of Congo, Conflict Minerals Congo, Congo Conflict, Congo Christianity, Conflict in Congo, War in Congo, Africa Activism, Genocide in Congo, Religion News

Sadly, except for a few outspoken individuals, Christians in the U.S. haven't said much about the Congo, even though most of those suffering and dying there are fellow Christians.

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UN Council Told to Act Against Rapists in Congo

Evelyn Leopold | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Democratic Republic of the Congo, UN Security Council, Conflict Minerals, United Nations Peacekeepers, Margo Wallstrom, Congo Rape, Congolese-President-Joseph-Kabila, World News

The UN Security Council was told that the best way to stop rapes was to arrest commanders who permitted it. UN envoy Margot Wallström's speech was among the most graphic and frank by a senior official since the mass rapes.

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Calling for Conflict Minerals Certification With Ashley Judd

John Prendergast | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Cell Phones, Africa, War, Electronics, Congress, Computers, Conflict Minerals, Sexual Violence, Barack Obama, Congo, World News

In August, I traveled with actress Ashley Judd to the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, known as one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a woman or girl.

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Several Types of Slavery Linked to Congo's Mining Industry

Free The Slaves | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Conflict Minerals, Drc, Forced Marriage, Child Soldiers, Slavery, Congo, Forced Labor, Sexual Slavery, Human Rights, Modern Day Slavery, Human Trafficking, Impact News

It's vital that people in slavery are engaged in developing their own solutions. They tell us that boycotting slave-tainted and conflict-tainted products will only make their lives worse.

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PHOTOS: Black Opals, Painite, Lithium and 6 More Of The Most Valuable Minerals In The World

Huffington Post | Barbara Fenig | Posted 05.25.2011

From rubies to painite, coltan to diamonds, nature produces incredible minerals. Whether they are made into dazzling baubles or used in rechargeable b...

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Take Action on IVAWA Now to End Violence Against Women

Ramona Ripston | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Aclu, Women Thrive Worldwide, Women's Rights, Women, Ivawa, Ramona Ripston, Conflict Minerals, Barack Obama, Enough Project, President Obama, Violence, Women's Health, Obama, American Civil Liberties Union, Congo, Domestic Violence, World News

The ACLU of Southern California is joining hundreds of women's NGOs around the world in calling for the enactment of this bill, known as International Violence Against Women Act.

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Why We Should Care About the Congo

Rep. Howard L. Berman | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Rwanda, Wolframite, Congress, Conflict Minerals, Coltan, Africa, Congo Minerals, Cassiterite, World News

Despite the difficult challenges we face here at home, Americans are a generous and compassionate people. Our values compel us to fight injustice wherever it occurs, and to reduce the suffering of innocents.

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Congo's Illicit Trade in Conflict Minerals

Robert Hormats | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Congolese Conflict-Minerals, Conflict Minerals, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Robert Hormats, Department of State, State Department, World News

The State Department continues to focus a great deal of attention on the plight of residents in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a region that has been subject to a long-running war and severe injustice.

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