What Is The Problem?
For many years, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has suffered greatly because of the demand for valued minerals. Ravaged by war and sexual violence, the population is plagued by constant hardship, grappling to find any sense of normalcy. Young boys are enlisted into the conflict, brandishing guns often before they reach puberty. Young girls and women are victims of violent rape, resulting in both physical and emotional scars. Destruction has become a common mindset in this region, and is continuing to persist, because the modern world cannot do without their cell phones, computers, cameras, and gaming consoles.
First world technology, and the production of such goods, is stimulating the conflict in the Congo, and promoting violence among the people. Tantalum, Tungsten, and Tin, otherwise known as the “Three T’s,” are the minerals most commonly used in technological manufacturing. They are all recognized as conflict minerals, because the mining of the ore directly results in violence, war, and social upheaval. The trading of these goods by rebel groups funds the weapons armada that constantly inflicts savagery upon innocent civilians. The violent history of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is unfortunately defined by the exploitation of the innocent as well as the superiority complex of the rebels, who mercilessly take advantage of the nation’s unstable infrastructure.
The capital of the Congo, Kinshasa, is a weak institution, failing to act as the guiding center to the struggling nation.The government is a corrupt administration, controlled by loosely organized rebel groups. These militiamen reap the rewards of conflict mines, essentially stealing the ore from the men who work tirelessly underground. The abundance of natural resources in the Congo has been both a blessing and a curse, drawing economic prosperity, but also initiating severe conflict. With the dawn of the Rwandan civil war, the Congo became a ensnared in the political unrest, and was invaded several times. With rebels running rampant, many mines containing precious minerals were overrun, and continue to be controlled to this day.
The supply chain of conflict minerals is often difficult to trace, allowing corruption to continue uninterrupted. When the mineral ore is first mined, the rebel groups take hold of the product, and sell it to a middleman. He then transfers the raw minerals to the refinery, where they are processed. At this point in the chain, it is virtually impossible to identify the origin mine of the mineral, and therefore cannot guarantee a conflict-free labeling. The refined minerals are later sold to large corporations, who convert them into usable technology and sell to consumers.
Militiamen are using rape as a key weapon of war, preying on the innocent to advance their agenda. By imposing sexual violence threats, they are able to both intimidate and control communities. Once the rebels oversee the population, they can then impose upon the mines, ensuring a considerable annual profit. This vicious cycle of demoralization and destruction has often been undermined by the First World, because we cannot acknowledge that we play a key role in this struggle.
What Can We Do?
It is almost too easy to feel disconnected from the conflict in the Congo, because it is occurring half way across the world. However, a small grassroots campaign has begun in Vermont, and is gaining momentum as more become aware of its impact. The Vermont Ibutwa Initiative, founded by Cleophace Mukeba in 2011, is an organization that draws attention to the often-undermined struggle of the people currently living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Initiative is effectively addressing issues because they are focusing on a group that is often left forgotten, and providing direct aid to help in recovery. Women of the Congo are victims of unnecessary violence, with their bodies mercilessly being used as weapons of war. The organization aims to restore their self-worth, and repair the lasting damage that rape can inflict. Champlain College Division of Education and Human Studies has partnered with the Vermont Ibutwa Initiative to carry out various service-learning projects, all with the intent of shedding light on conflict minerals. Awareness is essential to beginning a conversation, and necessary to creating change both on campus and within the community.
Upcoming Events
The Champlain College Environmental Policy program welcomes you to come join us in Perry Presentation Room, Room 240, on Thursday, November 17th from 6-8 pm to have a conversation about Conflict Minerals. This is a deliberation, not debate, on the difficult topics and issues surrounding conflict minerals.
The Champlain College Environmental Policy program also invites you to attend their Conflict Mineral Film Screening & Discussion on Monday, November 21st from 8:30 to 10 pm. We will be presenting a brief, educational film on the conflict in the Congo, as well as encouraging conversation on the difficult topic.
Interested in signing the petition to make Champlain College conflict-free? Look for Environmental Policy 200 students tabling in IDX within the next two weeks.