Bloedmobieltjes45

Coltan is the next well-known conflict mineral and in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the War has been going on through different forms in the eastern part of the country for years (massive amount of killings and rape), militias earn an estimated $8 million a year from trading that mineral alone. The link between mineral wealth and vulnerability to both conflict and poverty is very visible in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with its incredible wealth of resources it still has enormous rates of poverty and violence. This reportage is made in several locations in Congo, departing from Bukavu and going to Walikale, Walungu and Lubumbashi to show a general perspective of the phenomenon.
On Thursday 15th July 2010, the US financial reform bill was passed by the US Senate, one of it amendments was concerning international trade in atypical minerals like tantalum from the Democratic Republic of Congo. This could have an effect on the international market of electronics. This amendment request companies to state where their components are coming from, and whether they are coming from DR Congo.

The Congo own 64 percent of the world's reserves of coltan. When coltan is treated it becomes a heat resistant powder that can hold a high electric charge. This elements are to be found in small electronic devices like mobile phones, laptop computer, pagers...Whether stopping the industry that is coming from Congo or making it more transparent, one thing is for sure as consumer demand for those kind of products is amplifying so is the violence and human suffering.