Blog post Minerals

Many American and western companies use minerals mined in Africa. Many of these minerals go into consumer goods that are used every single day by an average citizen. However, these citizens do not know where and how the minerals are produced. They are mainly made in mines that are controlled by warlords. These warlords then use these minerals to sell and to trade for weapons to control their regions. They enslave many citizens and conquered people. They use children to work in their mines and to be soldiers in their armies. The warlords do not care one bit about the people of the region and concisely abuses them.

If there was a law that outlawed the trade of these minerals could this be put to an end? The SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) is now making a law that enforces companies to show where they got their minerals. Companies are not stopping to buy these minerals because they will not be allowed to use them. Apple, Motorola, and Advanced devices are some of the companies that use these minerals. The law is expected to come into effect this year. The SEC is still drafting a regulation for this issue. This will cause many companies to lose money but for the best.

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/a-rule-aimed-at-warlords-upends-african-mines-08042011.html