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McDermott Amendment Would Identify Conflict Zone Mines
June 25, 2009
Rep. Jim McDermott today introduced and the House passed his amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act of 2010 to address the mining of Coltan (columbite), a rare mineral used in virtually every cell phone, from conflict areas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC.
“We know that profits from these conflicts mines are fueling war and terrible human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC),” McDermott said, “and I believe if we can identify, and publicize, where these mines are, companies that need this mineral to produce cell phones will purchase the resource from other sources.”
McDermott said his legislation would require the Secretary of Defense to produce, publish and regularly update a map showing mineral-rich areas as well as locations of armed groups and designate areas as “conflict zone mines.”
“Every person who has a cell phone may well carry a piece of this terrible war in their pocket, and that means every person has an opportunity to make a difference by demanding that companies that produce these products do everything possible to purchase Coltan only from mines not in a conflict zone,” McDermott said.
McDermott noted that some cell phone manufacturers already say they are working to source material from areas that are not part of the conflict and that several organizations are working hard to educate the general public to the issue and what people can do to help.
“Armed with knowledge, every consumer can help disarm those who seek to use profits from conflict mines to rape, murder and threaten innocent human beings in the DRC.”
A copy of McDermott’s amendment is attached.
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