The conflict in eastern Congo, the deadliest in the world since World War II, is being fueled by a multi-million dollar trade in minerals that go into our electronic products from cell phones to digital cameras.  Over five million people have died as a result of the war, and the United Nations estimates that 200,000 women have been raped in eastern Congo over the past decade.  The armed groups that are perpetuating the violence generate over $100 million each year by trading in three main minerals, the 3 Ts:

·    Tin - used as a solder on circuit boards inside cell phones and laptops.  70% of the world's tin is used as solder, and 5-10% of tin ore comes from eastern Congo.

·    Tantalum - used to store electricity in iPods, digital cameras, and cell phones.  70% of the world's tantalum is used in electronic products, and 15% comes from Congo.

•    Tungsten - used to make your cell phone or Blackberry vibrate.  Tungsten is a growing source of income for armed groups in Congo.

In late 2008, UN investigations revealed that key tin smelting companies, who sell tin to the major electronics companies, are buying tin ore directly from rebel-held areas in eastern Congo.   The money that the rebels generated from those tin sales is now allowing them to buy even more weapons and continue to kill, rape and loot across eastern Congo.
What you can do:

Email, fax or call the biggest buyers of these minerals - major electronics companies - and demand better.  As always, please be polite and friendly, you are more likely to get a response. Here's what you can write:

As a consumer of your product, I am concerned that your company and the electronics industry as a whole may be buying minerals from the war-torn region of eastern Congo.  Over five million people have died in eastern Congo thus far, hundreds of thousands of women have been raped, and the violence is worsening today. ( to read more:)

http://www.raisehopeforcongo.org/conflictmineralsaction