Ask your representative to co-sponsor the Conflict Minerals Trade Act.
A small window of opportunity just opened this week that could finally break the cycle of weapons freely flowing in to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and conflict minerals irresponsibly being mined out.
Right now, the House of Representatives is weighing legislation that would make it easier to identify imports into the United States that contain minerals such as coltan, cassiterite, wolframite – commonly found in cell phones, laptops and other electronic devices – used to fund the activities of armed groups operating in the DRC.
If Congress required companies to disclose the origins of the minerals used in their products, then we, as consumers, could be assured that the electronics and products we purchase do not directly finance conflict or fuel human rights abuses.
We’ve been told that if Representatives don’t hear from constituents on this issue in a big way by the end of this week, then they are likely to put this issue on the back burner until next year when the new Congress is seated.
Don't let this rare opportunity slip right through their fingertips. Send an email to your Representatives right now and urge them to co-sponsor the Conflict Minerals Trade Act.
Of course this legislation (and other legislation in the United States) alone will not end the conflict in eastern Congo. But, if enacted, this bill would be a crucial step toward creating an enforceable means to ensure that the trade in Congolese minerals contributes not to war, but to peace. U.S. legislation could also serve as a model for legislation in other countries.