The Secret Conflict in Your Pocket

The Secret Conflict in Your Pocket In the new age of technological advancement, it has become almost bizzare not to have a device of some sort; May that be the iPhone in your pocket, the computer you use for work, or the tablet you use to watch your favorite shows. These things have become essential to our day to day lives, especially in the tech booming industry of Silicon Valley. Nevertheless, I bet you've never considered how these things end up in your hand. As it turns out, our seemingly harmless purchases are fueling atrocities across the globe. Conflict minerals: Tin, Tantalum, Tungsten and Gold, referred to as the 3TG (Achilles), are found in most devices and products of your daily life. These minerals have earned their name due to the conflict being inflicted where they are mined. Militia groups govern these areas with a iron-fist; treating workers harshly and sell these goods, that have a high demand, and earn significant profits. They use these profits to power their inhuman activities, such as rape, murder, and child labor (Achilles). ¨In 2010, the Interahamwe (a militia group that played a huge role in the Rwandan genocide of 1994) broke into Congolese mother Generose’s house. After cutting one of her legs off with a machete, the group murdered her eight year old son when he refused to eat it¨ (Kushberry), an account told by a writer of the Berkeley political review, an established new base run by Berkeley students, reporting analysis on important issue around the globe. With the lack of attention attributed to this issue, it will carry on in the unforeseeable future, leaving inhuman groups to reign terror over a whole nation with no consequences. Although there have been efforts to create a ¨conflict free¨ product, as seen with application of the Dodd-Frank act, signed by Barack Obama in 2010; Containing a provision requiring companies to verify their minerals are ¨conflict free¨ (GLC). We have seen no significant change in the eight years after its enforcement. In fact, it has set companies into defense, fighting to keep the origins of their minerals concealed. According to Jeffrey P. Justman and Nicole J. Leimer (both credible sources that belong to branches of the federal government) the National Association Manufacturers filed a lawsuit against the Securities and Exchange Commission for the violation of First Amendment rights by the requirements of the Dodd-Frank act (Jeffrey). When presented to the Court of Appeals, it was initially rejected. But, in April of 2014, the courts reversed its prior ruling, finding that the Dodd-Frank act violates companies First Amendment rights (Jeffery). With conflict minerals in most products of your daily routine and devices followed with companies lack of accountability, the origins of our minerals are becoming less and less clear. As long as there are minerals to mine, it seems the frightening militia groups will always have a buyer to attribute to their countless episodes of violence. Without change, the number of victims will only grow. Works cited: "What Are Conflict Minerals." What Are Conflict Minerals? N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2018. Justman, Jeffrey P., and Nicole J. Leimer. “ Dodd-Frank Act Violates First Amendment.”Dodd-Frank Act Violates First Amendment, www.faegrebd.com/dc-circuit-reaffirms-that-portions-of-dodd-frank-conflict-minerals. Berry, Kush, et al. “Conflict Minerals In Our Everyday Lives.” Berkeley Political Review, 6 Apr. 2016, ddddddbpr.berkeley.edu/2016/01/23/a-habit-we-cant-kick-conflict-minerals-in-our-everyday-lives/. "Conflict Minerals." Global Issues in Context Online Collection, Gale, 2016. Global Issues in Context,