The Disturbing Connection Between Your Phone And Violence In The Congo
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ส.ค. 2024
- The minerals tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold are found in most consumer electronics, and can be mined in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which contains an estimated $24 trillion dollars in untapped mineral resources. Yet the DRC remains one of the poorest and most dangerous countries in the world, and mining these metals can help fund armed conflict in the region. Despite international attention and widespread regulations, it’s still hard to know exactly where our minerals are coming from, and under what conditions they were mined.
But the metals are integral to consumer electronics. In a smartphone, for example, tin is used to solder metal components together, while tantalum is used in capacitors, which store electrical energy. Tungsten is used in the components that make a phone vibrate, and gold is used in circuit board connectors.
In the past decade, African countries, intergovernmental organizations and companies have ramped up their efforts to clean up mineral supply chains. But consumers still can’t be sure if the minerals in their electronics are fully conflict-free, or if the mines where they originated are dangerous, environmentally destructive, or use child labor.
“The whole process is muddied,” says Oluwole Ojewale, the Regional Organized Crime Observatory coordinator for Central Africa at the Institute for Security Studies in Dakar, Senegal.
That’s largely because in the DRC and surrounding countries, hundreds of thousands of people work in the informal mining sector, toiling away using hand tools in what are known as artisanal and small-scale mines. This type of mining can be hazardous and difficult to regulate, but it’s also one of the few sources of income available to some of the world’s poorest men and women.
So while companies like Apple, Microsoft, Intel and Tesla put out extensive reports on conflict minerals every year, usually stating that there is no reason to believe the minerals they source help to support armed groups, corruption and instability at mine sites means there are no guarantees.
Apple, Intel and Tesla did not reply to requests for comment, while a Microsoft spokesperson stated, “Microsoft remains committed to responsible and ethical sourcing and takes this issue very seriously.”
“You have the international market that has these perfect standards,” explains Joanne Lebert, the executive director at IMPACT, a nongovernmental organization focused on improving natural resource governance in areas where security and human rights are at risk.
“They want perfect environmental conditions. They want all the development factors taken in, like gender equality and anti-corruption and this and that. They want the perfect package, but that’s not the situation on the ground,” Lebert said.
Watch the video to learn more about why it’s so difficult to rid the supply chain of conflict minerals.
Chapters:
1:59 - What are conflict minerals
4:13 - Efforts to trace minerals
7:45 - The future of conflict minerals
Produced by: Katie Brigham
Edited by: Dain Evans
Supervising Producer: Jeniece Pettitt
Graphics by: Jason Reginato, Christina Locopo
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The Disturbing Connection Between Your Phone And Violence In The Congo
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Imagine thinking that you need the latest phone, then wait five minutes until the feeling goes away.
Imagine you're going to save the world with renewable energy, then wait five minutes...
@@brett4264 Imagine climate change is a hoax, and feel relieved for five minutes as humanity goes away.
@@brett4264 Why wait? The sooner the better.
I got an s22 ultra. Not doing s23 ultra but the second they drop a galaxy fold that folds flat with a normal phone look and built in stylus I'm copping.
imaging thinking you need to have chocolate, but than wait 5 minutes and forget it's often harvested with unpaid child slavery.
Crazy how this doesn’t have even 100k views. The world is sad place. People can’t even watch a video about it.
But they can tell you a singer's shoe size
As long is there a need, there will always be greed. Various metals are able to be sourced elsewhere in the world, tho it makes it more expensive which the consumer does not like
“As long as there’s a need, there will always be a greed”
Fire quote and if you don’t mind, I’m gonna steal it.
"As long as there is greed, there will be people in need."
Need does not cause or justify greed.
The way you put, makes greed inevitable. It is not. It's when people, desire, want, and take more than is necessary at the expense of others.
It is the exploiting of people in need that causes problems. Creates haves and have nots.
@@anotherpointofview222 Very good point, mate ! I like that you care about this ! 👍🏽
Thanks for making this video, and including African in it. This information makes me question a lot of stuff
I have been using the same old flip phone for over 5 years and I fully intend to use it until it completely fails. All this status seeking behavior of buying the latest gizmo as soon as it goes on sale not only fuels conflict around the world, but is also killing the planet as well. THINK before you buy. Don't be a slave to Madison Ave. How could they possibly know what it takes to make you happy?
You can’t say that it is the consumers fault for just living their life in comfort. While it is true that buying these products supports these endeavors, it is ultimately the corporations that fund the problem. Phones offer more functions than just calling. And while some people don’t need to use a phone for anything else, it makes it convenient to have access to those functions. While I do agree that no-one really needs to buy a new phone every year, blaming the consumer for being a consumer is just not the right way to see it. Even your flip phone uses some of the metals in this video but I wouldn’t blame you for causing the problems in the Congo.
@@parrotmaster8787 Both corporations and the government are the problem. Actually, it's corporations that happen to be the root cause ...
@@DipayanPyne94 yes its not really the consumers' fault
My phone is ready for an upgrade. And I refuse to do it. You think you need a new phone? Replace that dirty screen protector and buy a new case instead. There's literally nothing wrong with it. That phone is still crisp. Why do we need new phones every 2 years except to add profit and sale margins to greedy CEO board meetings. Use your mind and free will, people. I literally was able to trade in the samsung watch 1 for the 6 and still saved half the price of the new watch. Why is that? Because it's nothing new. Look to save, not to spend.
The corrupt Congolese government is to be blamed for this situation. They are billionaires while their own people are digging cobalt with empty hands. The people should go after the corrupt officials and get what belongs to them..
Not the problem here. You are actually trying to divert people from the issue of looting our minerals by your multinational companies. There is corruption everywhere but your cellphones contain Congolese people. Face it. Otherwise, God justice is coming
Us Americans complain too much about little things.
smells another "powder Iraq chemical weapon" event
Thank you to Joe Rogan and Siddarth Kara without them CNBC would be silent…
I think the important part is that we recycle all of our electronics as well as possible. But the thing is if we stop buying conflict minerals what are the people there gonna do? Thats not criticism it an actual question. As far as i know that kind of mining is already illegal but without it they cant even eat.
It is on the companies to terraform the mining sites and make it habitable for life, so that the population can return to hunting?
Ya know, the campground rule? Leave the area the same or better than you found it?
They can die?
Why conflict minerals end up in our electronics ? Answer : Capitalism by products are exploitation ...so profits are made
Nope. Those people are too stupid to see the value of their minerals. They rather fight than get themselves out of poverty. Very uncivilized
No, batteries are being pushed by the government.
At least I'm happy with my phone 😊. Thank you for all your hard work.
The African miner eating a slice of bread for dinner: “Your welcome”.
@@jameshill5458 The Asian worker eating a ball of rice for dinner: "Your Welcome"
@@jameshill5458 ooo
@@domingofung Tim Cook eating a 5 course meal costing 12,457$ for lunch: “Your welcome”
@@jameshill5458 Tim Cook doesn't care, nor he cares about the foreign workers lol
Thanks Joe Rogan for allowing your guest Siddharth Kara to make this go viral. Respect 🫡
While the solutions and responsibility to assure safety and dignity in mining work lie with local governments, there has to be an acknowledgement from western nations and firms that they have largely borne the responsibility of funding and lobbying destabilizing actions in these countries in the past. If they can commit to put these practices to bed, then these countries can hope to get to a path of prosperity.
Not really. It's the responsibility of corporations too. Corporations own the governments in multiple countries. That's why, you don't see any government doing anything about it ...
@@DipayanPyne94 I agree. I guess I am saying that governments shouldn't be corrupted in the first place as they are supposed to serve people.
True. It's just that corporations are so powerful that governments just bend over. Here, in India, the current government is a puppet of corporations like Adani. Modi and Adani are like 2 sides of the same coin ...
A balanced and informative video, well done CNBC. Good to see the constructive comments from Joanne Lebert / Impact (formerly PAC). Some observations:
- Impact questioning companies outsourcing all their due diligence work. What is the alternative? Some companies supplement or replace this outsourcing with their own mine site visits, creating sometimes a large burden on sites receiving visitors up to several times a week. Similar issue as for audits, requiring cross-recognition to avoid audit fatigue. Outsourcing is an essential element in performing due diligence efficiently and with a minimum of duplication.
- CNBC quoting 67% of Ta coming from the DRC & Rwanda; it should be put into the context of considerable uncertainty over this figure due to insufficiently detailed production data worldwide by country. Nevertheless it is most likely the majority of global production from these two countries combined.
- Key point in the whole video: for conflict issues to be minimised or disappear, what is required is STABILITY. The question then becomes how this is achieved:
1) harmonised taxes in the region to remove smuggling incentives, in combination with good regional cooperation;
2) ensuring civil service (state) employees, including the armed forces, are paid adequately and on time in order to remove the incentive to supplement their income by other means;
3) transparency and accountability to eliminate graft at all levels of government administration, starting from the top leading as a positive example.
There are probably many more useful steps that could be taken, however the above three would set solid foundations to build other efforts on.
You just talk how companies should Stop buying these minerals, but then what will happen to these people? They will die of hunger! It's in the interest to support the conflict with as many groups as possible so that the DRC never becomes rich. Ask the Belgian government for a comment on how they feel when they see this and if they think something should be done. Corruption is problem number 1! Solve it and there will be "conflict" minerals no more, just minerals.
The government should own the mines and employ its people and pay them fairly and create infrastructure and services to lift the nation out of poverty.
Capitalism necessitates exploitation like this. It's too profitable not to.
indeed
You think communist dont exploit their workers
While the mobile technology in my pocket, in business corporations, in government offices and in church synod offices continue to improve, NOBODY will speak out against international Conflict Minerals exploitation!
I mean, how else are the warlords supposed to survive?
The issue is who make warlords?
Who arm them? Civilization is just hypocrisy. and inconsistency. Enjoy your iPhone but there is Congolese blood in it
COBALT RED should be an Eye Opener for ALL. The West AND China can't give any excuses now.
Self-righteous Westerners who think that Wi-Fi is a 'basic human right' need to watch this video.
If only Chyna followed Western "values" like stealing and exploiting African countries. This topic is important but the virtue signaling is insane.
Most of the cobalt mines in the DRC are owned by Chinese corporations but dont let facts get in the way of your virtue signaling Stephan
The government should own the mines employ and pay there citizens fairly and use the wealth to build infrastructure and create services to lift the nation out of poverty.
:-( this situation is incredible sad.. the cost of each kids and young people is terrible....
dont ask dont tell
They need to treat there people way better that’s unacceptable. They should just stop having kids why would they wanna bring new generations into that. People shouldn’t buy these things till the people are being treated as good as the people’s buying them. And even the people buying them have there own things they are still perfecting in there lives.
The problem is corruption and embezzlement established in the DRC leadership. When you will end corruption, you will automatically end the Congo war and poverty. Very simple. Greed among the Congo leadership is the root of problem. Put them in jail one by one please.
and most phone brand say they ditch the charger to save environment, sound like a joke made by satan
Tax the large profits of the technology manufacturers and build schools and houses for the artisinal workers?
the answer is in the fake news and things which some consider bad content in electronics. good and bad is in everything be it hardware or software
The great mother land. No Congo no phone. Create by the greedy. By the companies that come and take. This been here for many year’sssss Everyone want big phone, electric cars, etc…. While suffering of the brothers and sisters. The mother Africa. .
An even more horrible aspect of this is that people are careless and throw most of it away because there is almost ZERO recycling education or policy in the US.
♻️🌍🌲🌎🌳♻️🫵
Most Chinese consumers don't care about whether the minerals come from conflict regions or not. Hence, there is no much incentive for Chinese companies to scrintize the sources.
most Caucasian don't care if their chocolate come from child labour exploitation or not, hence there is not much incentive for global companies to scrutinize the sources.
Most consumers too
But it is democratic. Just like North Korea.
0:18 ahh yess the M StixTeen... Or is that an M Forrest???
Rwanda has no resources
companies dont need to be trying to find bad actors thats the goverments job companies need to be trying to help the people on the ground who are doing this work and suffering. Companies need to invest in those people to give them dignity and a decent life.
By decent life, does that mean leaving them alone and restore their environment to pre-colonial times? Or Westernize the population?
And lose to the competition that doesn't?
@@shapshooter7769 do whatever is in the best interest of the population in some cases it may mean westernizing the population in other cases it may mean restoring the environment there are no one size fits all solution the choices should be left to free people to decide not thugs and gangsterism.
@@1wun1 that's not necessarily true
@@NoorAlam-jw2zj "necessarily" is the key word, they're in this for whatever lowers their operation cost.
Sounds like the weed argument. Legitimize it so that you can regulate it. I'm down honestly, I'm cool with that.
Democratic republic of the Congo
Think about it!
It's the transition from fossil fuels to exotic special metals, not sunlight, wind, or water. Mining is the future, whether we like it or not.
😢
NO
SICK CORPORATE STATE GREED
Why are there conflict minerals? Because countries like the US make it impossible for us to extract these exact same minerals at home due to environmental lawsuits.
Are you saying that US workers are going to work for $2 a day with zero benefits. 😂🤣
What about Cobalt? It is the must have conflict mineral in Elon EV. Or it is too sensitive to talk about cobalt? Also know as one of the most toxic mineral know to man and we can't stop consume it lately.
What's DRC?
Democratic Republic of Congo
Rather there than here where all my stuff is
??
Well.... Yess!!! Thats bad... But why there is no war involved usa or other... Because everyone likes cheap labour
Not giving up my tech for human rights.
Terrible
If they were white you would smh
When England was there, at least there was stability ond no violence
yeah i dont think about it or really care
Terrible
While the mobile technology in my pocket, in business corporations, in government offices and in church synod offices continue to improve, NOBODY will speak out against international Conflict Minerals exploitation!
While the mobile technology in my pocket, in business corporations, in government offices and in church synod offices continue to improve, NOBODY will speak out against international Conflict Minerals exploitation!