The UN estimates over 6 million people have died since 97’. 45,000 Congolese die every month, which is 1500 deaths a day! Although these crimes against humanity are happening over 9 thousand miles away, we are all sons and daughters of God, despite the differences in race, religion, or nationality. Over 80 percent of the Congo is Christian and their God centered families are being torn apart by the evil acts of violence that include rape, torture, mutilation, and murder. Although much of this has been made public in multiple reports by the U.N. and many other human rights organizations, it is hardly mentioned in the media. 

Congo has the 2nd largest rainforest in the world and enough agricultural capacity to feed the world. Close to 80 percent of the world’s supply of Coltan, comes from the Congo. Coltan is a mineral that is in every microchip used in the consumer electronics of this day and age. Congo also has 1/3 of the world’s cobalt and tin, and 10 percent of the world’s copper. Most of these minerals are extracted from hand dug mines.

So, whether we are aware of these facts or not, we are all connected to the Congo. 

In 2006 while Obama was still senator, he wrote THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO RELIEF, SECURITY, AND DEMOCRACY PROMOTION ACT and it was co-sponsored by Hillary Clinton and signed by then Pres. Bush.  This law obligates the United States to play a role in the stabilization of the region.  It is only fair that the Congolese people should also benefit from the vast resources that are on their land. Unfortunately the Congo is the most undernourished country on earth. 

PUBLIC LAW NO: 109-456

The Democratic Republic of Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act of 2006

*Sponsored by; then Sen. Obama and Hillary Clinton, signed into law by Bush on 12/22/06

*Expires Dec 2011

1.)Gives the Secretary of State the power to withhold funds from the Kabila government if insufficient progress is being made towards achieving the 15 U.S. policy goals.

2.)Gives the Secretary of State the power to withhold funds from countries acting to destabilize the Cong

3.)Direct the Comptroller General to provide Congress with a detailed progress towards achieving the 15 U.S. policy goals.

This report is to include a description of any impediments that prevent the accomplishment of the 15 policy goals, including any destabilizing activities undertaken in the DRC by government of neighboring countries.

4.)Authorizes the U.S. President to withhold U.S. funds to international agencies that support the DRC, if the Secretary of State determines the DRC is not making sufficient progress in achieving the 15 U.S. policy objectives.

****PLEASE FORWARD THIS PETITION TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW TO SIGN!!******

"Violent conflict has persisted in eastern Congo for more than a decade and a half, causing any war since World War II. Although Congo’s conflict stems from long-standing grievances, the trade in conflict minerals provides the primary fuel for the conflict. Worth hundreds of millions of dollars per year, the conflict minerals trade provides incentives for rebel groups, militias, and criminal networks within the Congolese army to control strategic mines and trading routes through patterns of violent extraction and deeply exploitative behavior.3 Minerals extracted from eastern Congo—the ores that produce tin, tantalum, tungsten, or the 3Ts, and gold—are essential to the electronics devices we use and depend one very day. Tin is used as solder on circuit boards in every electronic device we use; tantalum stores electricity and is essential to portable electronics and high-speed processing devices; tungsten enables cell phone vibration alerts; and gold is not only made into jewelry, but is also used in the wiring of electronic devices. These minerals are central to the technologies that have allowed our culture to thrive and that drive our businesses, our communications infrastructure, our social engagement, and our national security." -enoughproject.org