1. Average American By Marcell Simon The minerals in our electronic devices have caused unspeakable violence in Congo

2. Excerpt from Crisis in the Congo: Uncovering the Truth 3. Where is Congo? (there are TWO) 4. Congo is pretty big, too According to the total areas of both, DRC is about 29% of the USA, which is significant 5. Summary The DRC supplies many important minerals to the rest of the world How these minerals are obtained is often secretive and abuses human rights Conflict minerals are essential in modern electronics Conflict minerals are minerals mined in conditions of armed conflict and human rights abuses, notably in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo 6. Natural Resources Congo is very rich in natural resources Its estimated to have $24 trillion worth of raw minerals and yet almost of the population live below poverty line Most resource extraction is done through small operations 7. Important Minerals Cassiterite (Tin) Cobalt Wolframite (Tungsten) 8. Gold 45% used for investment (as store of value) 10% for industrial purposes 45% used for jewelry Diamond Hardest substance known to man 80% used for sawing and cutting (industrial purposes) 20% used for jewelry Uses of Minerals Cobalt Magnets Often used in alloys In jet turbines Its salts are used as dyes 9. Tantalum Very common in electronics (capacitators) Used for surgical equipment Used as substitute for platinum Tungsten Highest melting point of any metal (6,191F) Often used as lead substitute Used in light bulbs Uses of Minerals Continued Tin Coating on tin cans Used in solder Used in phones (7 grams of tin per phone) 10. Whats the problem if theres so many natural resources? DRC has a very weak economical infrastructure which would be unable to support large-scale mining This leaves small, armed groups to control much of the mining Because of never ending war, it is one of poorest nations in the world This represents Congo not being able to take full advantage of its vast resources 11. The conflict in conflict mineral 12. Mining How Youre Hired: Gun-point Life threats Get a job to protect yourself/family Work Conditions: Difficult locations Horrible tools Tons of lifting May lead to death 13. Miners/soldiers are often children. This was taken in a gold mine in Bavi, which is controlled by a warlord called Cobra Matata. Photograph by Marcus Bleasdale for National Geographic 14. Shh! Your very own laptop, camera, gaming system, cell phone, diamond ring, you name it, may well have a part of Congos pain buried in it How does this affect us? 15. What is being done? and Consumer Protection Act It was passed in 2010 It requires companies to identify where the minerals used in their products come from However, it is not illegal for companies to continue doing so, it just means they must report it Section 1502 of the Dodd- Frank Wall Street reform 16. Sources "Conflict Minerals." The Price of Precious. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2014. "The Congo Mines That Supply "Conflict Minerals" For the World's Gadgets." Gizmodo. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2014. "Crisis In The Congo: Uncovering The Truth." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 18 May 2014. Delawala, Imtiyaz. "What Is Coltan?" ABC News. ABC News Network. Web. 20 May 2014. "Democratic Republic of Congo." Global Witness. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2014. "Is Your Cellphone Made With Conflict Minerals?" Slate Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2014. Mcneil, Donald G. "IDEAS & TRENDS: Measuring a Diamond's True Price." The New York Times. The New York Times, 16 Dec. 2006. Web. 18 May 2014. "Mining Industry of the Democratic Republic of the Congo." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 13 May 2014. Web. 18 May 2014. "Modern Uses of Gold." Buy Gold at GoldResourcenet, n.d. Web. 18 May 2014. "The Price of Precious - Photo Gallery." The Price of Precious - Photo Gallery. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2014. "What Are Conflict Minerals?" Source Intelligence. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2014. "What Are Diamonds Used For?" LoveToKnow. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2014. "YouTube Video Converter and Download." ClipConverter.cc. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2014. 17. The End I hope you all walk away with a bit more knowledge about the Congo, conflict minerals, and where your handy little device truly came from