What you need to know about Blood Minerals:

Blood minerals, or conflict minerals (also called conflict resources), are only found in large quantities in the Global South, primarily the African nation of the Congo (DRC) and are required in the production of smartphones, airplanes, automobile airbags, GPS devices, and almost every consumer electronic item – Here’s what you need to know.

Debate currently rages over Western laws, consumer demand contributing to the conflict, and more. It is a highly charged issue largely due to weak governments in many of these nations, corruption, unequal trade inbalances, and instability. (See http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2013/09/conflict_minerals_from_the_congo_is_your_cellphone_made_with_them.html) It appears that U.S. laws in response to the militias has hurt local populations and increased poverty rather than solving the problem….Article continues below image.

exploitation and trade of conflict minerals origi...