Blood in our cellphones

Digital gadgets such as smartphones, tablets, game consoles, among others have become essential to our daily routine. We carry theme wherever we go. These hi-tech items we cherish so dearly, contain components made of cobalt and columbite-tantalite, commonly known as coltan, which are largely mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo where there is the deadliest conflict since the Second World War. Over six million people have been killed.

Approximately 80% of the global resources of some minerals essential for the manufacturing of our cellphones, laptops, tablets, game consoles, digital cameras,... are mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The immense wealth represented by these resources are the subject of war for more than 15 years over the control of the exploitation and trade of minerals (coltan, cassiterite ...).

Several armed groups are not only fighting against each others, they are plundering and killing the miners, their families, raping women, even babies are not spared. They are committing the worst atrocities ever seen.

For our children to play with Xbox or PlayStation, children of Congo are working in mines without any security and in a unbreathable air for 7/24; they die there when they collapse or when the mine collapses. Other children are enlisted as soldiers, some orphaned and others are killed in front of their mothers.

Coltan captured by looters is sold in local markets before being shipped abroad and used in the electronics industry.  With no boycott and little traceability implemented, the international community prefers to turn a blind eye. The money from the sale is used by looters to buy weapons instead of benefiting the people.

More than 6 million Congolese have been killed in wars and guerrillas, making it the deadliest conflict since the 2nd World War. In a perfect collective hypocrisy, hi-tech companies including Apple, Samsung, Nokia, LG and many others ..., yet aware of the atrocities, always preferring a cheap mercantilism instead of honest ethics.

6 million killed, this is 26 times the carnage of the 2004 Tsunami, 330 times the Japanese Tsunami in 2011, more than 4 yellow scholar buses full of corpses a day for about 45 years ... but the fundamental difference and what History will remember is that these men, women and children were killed by other men to the benefit of our enterprises and our "progress" amidst the complete indifference of the rest of the world.

We have been fed with documentaries, investigations, fictions about past barbarisms but one that makes our everyday life and for which we all share consciously or not, is always ignored, dismissed from the major flow of information - too much guilt? fear of consumers reaction? or too little ... or just fun? We should ask our dear "leaders" and media.

Pain will pass through time but no justice can ever repair this incredible crime of humanity against humanity. It's time to end it!

PS. I don't know if it's wise to post the images of the atrocities, but for those of you who want to see them, just give me a shout.