coltan
Coltan is the name for the mixture of columbia [(Fe, Mn)Nb2O6] eta tantalita [(Fe, Mn)Ta2O6]. In nature these minerals are mixed in different proportions. Australia is the main producer, although the largest reserve (80%) is in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The second Congo war has resulted in 4 million deaths in this African region so far and although people name ethnic, cultural and other kind of reasons, the main reason that lies in the core of the subject is this mineral. Being a mineral that resists heat, Coltan is essential to make the condensers that are used in electronic technology. More than 50% of this mineral is used in the production of cellular phones. This mineral is vital for cell phones to work.
The different military forces in the war use workers and slaves in the mines. Thousands of people work everyday in these mines. Another important issue that the exploitation of Coltan arouses is the destruction of the ecosystem; the systematic destruction of the forest and the gorillas that lives there. More than 30 European and US companies take part in this business. Among these companies, there are some from the most civilized and ecologist countries such as Holland, Belgium and Germany. This is a "pro-NGO" article. Yep! We got the idea from the red tear that Leonardo DiCaprio wore on his jacket in the Oscars to condemn the diamond business. The moment he stepped on the carpet, he attended the largest jewel concentration in the world. Paradoxical, isn’t it? Well, we are about to finish this article since we are getting a call.
The second Congo war has resulted in 4 million deaths in this African region so far and although people name ethnic, cultural and other kind of reasons, the main reason that lies in the core of the subject is this mineral. Being a mineral that resists heat, Coltan is essential to make the condensers that are used in electronic technology. More than 50% of this mineral is used in the production of cellular phones. This mineral is vital for cell phones to work.
The different military forces in the war use workers and slaves in the mines. Thousands of people work everyday in these mines. Another important issue that the exploitation of Coltan arouses is the destruction of the ecosystem; the systematic destruction of the forest and the gorillas that lives there. More than 30 European and US companies take part in this business. Among these companies, there are some from the most civilized and ecologist countries such as Holland, Belgium and Germany. This is a "pro-NGO" article. Yep! We got the idea from the red tear that Leonardo DiCaprio wore on his jacket in the Oscars to condemn the diamond business. The moment he stepped on the carpet, he attended the largest jewel concentration in the world. Paradoxical, isn’t it? Well, we are about to finish this article since we are getting a call.
