Today, let’s explore a topic that is both challenging and deeply personal to me, and perhaps more relevant to you than you might think. I arrived in the UK 21 years ago as an asylum seeker from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where I was a student activist. While I dream of my children meeting my family back in the Congo, I want to share how the Congo is connected to your life.
Let’s start with a simple request: take out your mobile phone. Feel its weight and the ease with which you use it. Imagine life without it. Our phones connect us to loved ones and symbolize our interconnected world. However, this device also has a troubling backstory, linked to a mineral called tantalum, mined in the Congo.
Tantalum, also known as coltan, is crucial for its ability to conduct heat and store energy in devices like mobile phones, laptops, and even medical equipment. While it has fueled technological advancement, it has also contributed to severe human suffering. Since 1996, over 5 million people have died in the Congo, with many more subjected to violence and exploitation. The pursuit of tantalum has fueled ongoing conflict, with rape used as a weapon of war to instill fear and displace communities.
Despite the grim reality, don’t discard your phones just yet. Approximately 30,000 children are forced to fight in armed groups, and the Congo ranks poorly in global health and poverty indices. Yet, the UN estimates the country’s wealth at over $24 trillion. The collapse of the state-regulated mining industry has led to armed groups controlling coltan mines, often smuggling it across borders.
Ironically, the technology that demands so much from the Congo also sheds light on its plight. Mobile phones have enabled us to learn about the situation in the Congo. During recent elections, voters used text messages to report from polling stations, and the diaspora has worked to highlight undemocratic outcomes. Mobile phones have become tools for political freedom and revolutionized communication.
We face a paradox: mobile phones are both instruments of freedom and oppression. It’s time to question our technology: Where does it come from? Who makes it? And for what purpose? I’m speaking to you, the global community, to consider these questions.
In the Congo, while communication technology exists, a fair trade solution is not yet clear. However, progress is being made. The US has passed legislation targeting misconduct in the Congo, and the UK is considering similar measures. Companies like Nokia are revising their mineral sourcing policies, and campaigns are urging Apple to create conflict-free products. University campuses are advocating for conflict-free initiatives, but more pressure on phone companies is needed.
When I first arrived in the UK, I was homesick and communication with my family was difficult. Letters took months, and phone calls were unaffordable. Today, my sons can easily talk to my parents, bridging the gap between continents.
Why should such a vital product cause unnecessary suffering? Just as we demand fair trade food and clothing, it’s time to demand fair trade phones. This is an idea worth spreading. Thank you.
Investigate the role of tantalum in the electronics industry. Prepare a short presentation on how tantalum is mined, its applications, and the ethical issues surrounding its extraction. Focus on the impact of tantalum mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Present your findings to your peers, highlighting potential solutions for ethical sourcing.
Participate in a debate on the topic: “Is it ethical to use technology that contributes to human suffering?” Form teams to argue for and against the motion. Use evidence from the article and additional research to support your arguments. This activity will help you critically analyze the ethical implications of technology use.
Analyze a case study on fair trade initiatives in the electronics industry. Identify the challenges and successes of implementing fair trade practices. Discuss in groups how these initiatives can be applied to the mobile phone industry, and propose strategies for promoting conflict-free products on university campuses.
Write a short story from the perspective of a Congolese miner involved in tantalum extraction. Explore the daily challenges and ethical dilemmas faced by individuals in this situation. Share your story with classmates to foster empathy and understanding of the human cost of technology.
Work in groups to design a campaign advocating for fair trade mobile phones. Develop a strategy that includes social media outreach, partnerships with ethical brands, and educational events. Present your campaign plan to the class, focusing on how to effectively raise awareness and influence consumer behavior.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided transcript:
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I want to talk to you today about a difficult topic that is close to me and closer than you might realize to you. I came to the UK 21 years ago as an asylum seeker. I was 21 and was forced to leave the Democratic Republic of the Congo, my home, where I was a student activist. I would love for my children to meet my family in the Congo, but I want to explain what the Congo has to do with you.
First, I’d like you to do me a favor. Can you please reach into your pocket and take out your mobile phone? Feel that familiar weight and how naturally your finger slides towards the buttons. Can you imagine your world without it? It connects us to our loved ones, family, friends, and colleagues at home and overseas. It is a symbol of our interconnected world. However, what you hold in your hand leaves a troubling legacy, and it all boils down to a mineral called tantalum, mined in the Congo.
Tantalum, known as coltan, is an anti-corrosive heat conductor that stores energy in our mobile phones, PlayStations, and laptops. It is used in aerospace and medical equipment. Its power lies in the fact that we only need tiny amounts. It would be great if the story ended there, but unfortunately, what you hold in your hand has not only enabled incredible technological development and industrial expansion but has also contributed to unimaginable human suffering. Since 1996, over 5 million people have died in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and countless women, men, and children have been subjected to violence and exploitation. Rape is used as a weapon of war, instilling fear and depopulating entire areas. The quest for this mineral has fueled ongoing conflict in the Congo.
However, don’t throw away your phones just yet. Approximately 30,000 children are enlisted and forced to fight in armed groups. The Congo consistently scores poorly in global health and poverty rankings, yet remarkably, the UN Environmental Program has estimated the wealth of the country to be over $24 trillion. The state-regulated mining industry has collapsed, and control over mines has splintered. Coltan is often controlled by armed groups, and one well-known illicit trade route is across the border to Rwanda, where Congolese tantalum is disguised as Rwandan.
Despite this, the incredible irony is that the technology that has placed such unsustainable demand on the Congo is the same technology that has brought the situation to our attention. We know so much about the situation in the Congo and in the mines because of the communication that mobile phones allow. During the recent elections in the Congo, voters were able to send text messages from local polling stations to the headquarters in the capital, Kinshasa. In the wake of the results, the diaspora has joined with various organizations to draw attention to the undemocratic outcomes. The mobile phone has given people around the world an important tool for gaining political freedom and has revolutionized the way we communicate.
We are faced with a paradox: the mobile phone is both an instrument of freedom and an instrument of oppression. It is time to ask questions about technology: Where does it come from? Who makes it? And for what purpose? I am speaking directly to you, the TED community, and to all those watching on screens across the world.
In the Congo, all the technology is in place for us to communicate, but there is currently no clear, fair trade solution. However, there has been significant progress. The US has recently passed legislation to target robbery and misconduct in the Congo, and recent UK legislation could be used similarly. In February, Nokia unveiled its new policy on sourcing minerals in the Congo, and there is a petition to Apple to create a conflict-free iPhone. Campaigns are spreading across university campuses to make their colleges conflict-free, but we are not there yet. We need to continue applying pressure on phone companies to change their sourcing processes.
When I first came to the UK 21 years ago, I was homesick. I missed my family and friends. Communication was extremely difficult; sending and receiving letters took months, and often they never arrived. Even if I could have afforded the phone bills, like most people in the Congo, my parents did not own a phone line. Today, my two sons, David and Daniel, can talk to my parents and get to know them.
Why should we allow such a wonderful and necessary product to be the cause of unnecessary suffering for human beings? We demand fair trade food and fair trade clothes; it is time to demand fair trade phones. This is an idea worth spreading. Thank you.
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This version maintains the core message while removing any inappropriate or sensitive language.
Fair Trade – A social movement aimed at helping producers in developing countries achieve better trading conditions and promote sustainable farming. – Fair trade initiatives have significantly improved the economic stability of coffee farmers in Latin America.
Technology – The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry. – The rapid advancement of technology has transformed the way we communicate and access information globally.
Congo – A country in Central Africa, officially known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, rich in natural resources but often associated with political instability and conflict. – The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a major source of minerals like cobalt and tantalum, which are essential for modern electronics.
Tantalum – A rare, hard, blue-gray metal that is highly corrosion-resistant and is used in electronic components such as capacitors and high-power resistors. – The demand for tantalum has increased due to its critical role in the manufacturing of smartphones and other electronic devices.
Mobile – Relating to cellular communication technology that allows for wireless communication and computing on the go. – The proliferation of mobile technology has enabled unprecedented access to information and services in remote areas.
Communication – The process of exchanging information or news through various means, including verbal, written, and digital channels. – Effective communication is crucial for international diplomacy and the resolution of global conflicts.
Conflict – A serious disagreement or argument, typically a protracted one, which can occur at various levels from personal to international. – The conflict in the region has disrupted local economies and displaced thousands of people.
Exploitation – The action or fact of treating someone unfairly in order to benefit from their work, often seen in the context of labor and resource extraction. – The exploitation of natural resources in developing countries often leads to environmental degradation and social unrest.
Human – Relating to or characteristic of people or human beings, often in the context of social and cultural aspects. – Human rights organizations work tirelessly to protect individuals from abuses and ensure dignity and equality for all.
Activism – The policy or action of using vigorous campaigning to bring about political or social change. – Environmental activism has played a pivotal role in raising awareness about climate change and influencing policy decisions worldwide.
