2011.12.19

Cleaning Up Conflict Minerals

/Page 48, TIME December 12, 2011/

Introduction

The smartphone boom in recent years may have threatened peace in an African country. The Democratic Republic Congo is one of the world-largest production of tantalum, which is a necessary element for manufacturing a capacitor. The tantalum market in the country is controlled by local militia, and buying the mineral there means fueling the national conflict. Such a primary products problem depends only on the consumer for its solution. 

Briefing

• What cause the primary products problem?

    In most case, the suspicious item is traded between a northern country and a southern county, in other wards, a rich buyer and a poor seller. The disproportionate power balance forces the unfair trade conditions on the poor individual labors. In addition to that, the tantalum case in Congo includes the   military group’s intervention which make the situation worse.

• Why don’t the US companies just withdraw from the bloody market?

    Every company which need tantalum for its business knows what is going on in Congo but hesitates over changing the supplier, because the mineral from Congo is the cheapest one. Even if set up a certain regulation for the trade of the minerals with the bloody background, there may be loopholes included.  

• So the fundamental thing in this problem is the US company’s opposition?

    Not at all. If America leaves Congo’s mineral market, other counties just take its place. In the article, China is taken up as a possible alternative to the US, which is what the human rights advocacy is worrying about, because China cares less about human rights. 

Opinion

Then the poor suppliers are able to change the situation by themselves? No. 

Well then, the regulations or corporate morals can do? No. After all, the only solution for this problem is consumers’ effort. They have to know how products are manufactured, and demand information about the products if it does not tell enough. Such a effort is not an obligation for now, but it is the necessary duty for consumers to be responsible for their choice of products.