Conflict Minerals and Digital Art

Yea. I decided to take a little time to notice something that's going on "across the pond" in hopes that I can do something (if only a little something) about it. If anything, I can take the time to at least acknowledge that my amenities are not without cost and that sharing this information is important.

That said, I'm referring to what you see up there in the title of my journal: Conflict Minerals. The topic is a little self explanatory, and there is generally more than one type of course, but what I am referring to in the particular are the components that are in computers: gold, tin, and tantalum. This hits a little more home for me than diamonds, which the term "conflict mineral" was originally coined for (according to wikipedia). While something like diamonds, I can easily retract my "vote" from (by not buying any), electronics are practically my life blood as a digital artist and gamer. These minerals are often used in the chips of your phones, computers/tablets, and other hardware that has chips/motherboards. The cost, however, is more than you or Congo Africans bargained for. I'm not going to show you any grotesque images because I think most of us know what war looks like. But...

Here's where the Congo is on a map:

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia…


And here's what the there people look like:

crs-blog.org/wp-content/upload…

but as you've seen before in either film or news these areas are often in conflict over natural resources because it is profitable to a select few.  I hope that the fact that these areas and distant have not hardened your hearts to these people, but instead turn you towards empathy by virtue and actually having the ability to not get involved directly. Instead, let's support organizations in their efforts to decrease or stop sourcing their materials from groups that harbor war for minerals. This generation is the generation in Africa that seeks to foster great leaders through education. Other ways to help include just googling which/where companies source their materials or signing online petitions to let companies know we care and that it'll help their brand to be responsible.

Lastly, 

I think it is important to remember that people are assets in themselves. I watched a TedTalk recently that served to remind us that the cliche of a helpless irresponsible Africa is a thing of the past. This generation is the generation of collegiate African leaders and academics. Keep an eye out! It would be unfavorable to see the children and teens of the Congo left behind while the rest progress: 

www.ted.com/talks/andrew_mwend…

Thanks for reading.

-Syth