Blogs & Opinions

Axing “Conflict Minerals” Rule Also Threatens DRC’s Endangered Grauer Gorillas

Mar 2, 2017 | Wilson Center

For weeks, the primatologists had followed a group of Grauer’s gorillas over rugged terrain – hacking through dense rainforest; following knife-edged ravines; and crossing a…

Afghanistan-Pakistan Treaty on the Kabul River Basin?

Mar 2, 2017 | Shafqat Kakakhel

Pakistani officials and experts have, time and again, suggested the negotiation of an Afghanistan-Pakistan treaty to regulate the sharing of the Kabul River Basin (KRB).…

In Support of Dodd-Frank Conflict Minerals Regulation

Feb 28, 2017 | Sasha Lezhnev

IRIN’s recent article, Who pays the hidden price for Congo’s conflict-free minerals, offers a compelling story that highlights some real challenges facing many Congolese people today.

Unfortunately,…

Are We Headed Toward “Recurring Storms” of Global Food Insecurity?

Feb 27, 2017 | Erica Martin

It’s often assumed that in the modern era, food security is an achievable goal. But between 2007 and 2008, a confluence of conditions shook the…

Enough Project Comment to the SEC in Support of Conflict Minerals Rule Implementation

Feb 27, 2017 | Enough Project

On January 31, Acting Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Michael Piwowar welcomed interested parties to submit comments in response to a statement calling…

Are We Headed Toward “Recurring Storms” of Global Food Insecurity?

Feb 27, 2017 | Erica Martin

It’s often assumed that in the modern era, food security is an achievable goal. But between 2007 and 2008, a confluence of conditions shook the…

Helping Afghan Farmers Build Better Lives

Feb 26, 2017 | Mohammad Hassan Ibrahimi

Mohammad Ibrahimi is a messenger between local farmers and the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL). That’s his role as provincial coordinator of the National Horticulture and…

Government Neglects Land Disputes at its Peril

Feb 26, 2017 | Eleven

Land disputes remain one of the many problems still to be cracked in Myanmar. Many farmers end up in court and jail after their land…

Seven Letters from Congolese Groups in Support of the U.S. Conflict Minerals Law

Feb 24, 2017 | Sasha Lezhnev and Rachel Finn

In early 2017, in response to a possible suspension of the Conflict Minerals Rule for Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank law, numerous companies, investors, activists,…

Keep Minerals Conflict-Free

Feb 24, 2017 | Steve Feldstein and Sasha Lezhnev

It was not long ago that central Africa was mired in its "first world war" that led to 5.4 million deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo.…

Mainstreaming the Environment in Peace and Security

Feb 24, 2017 | Doug Weir

Everyone recognises the importance of environmental mainstreaming. It’s a problem that is particularly acute for conflict and the environment, where the environment is rarely prioritised…

A Congolese View on Why We Need the U.S. Conflict Minerals Law

Feb 23, 2017 | Janvier Murairi Bakihanaye

As a native of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), I have seen first-hand what things are like on the ground – gang-rape, modern child slavery and other…

A Major Revamp, if Not Repeal, in the Works for the SEC's Conflict Minerals Rule

Feb 22, 2017 | Laura Tieger-Salisbury

Electronics companies such as Intel, Apple and HP won't be affected by the latest attempt to kill—the "conflicts minerals" rule. Dynda Thomas, partner and leader of…

Will the US Fight for Oil in the South China Sea?

Feb 22, 2017 | Wesley Rahn

US Secretary of State Tillerson's former role as ExxonMobil CEO has fueled speculation that US assertiveness in the South China Sea is connected with oil…

The Mosul Operation: An Interim Open-Source Assessment of Conflict-Related Environmental Damage

Feb 21, 2017 | Wim Zwijnenburg

As the Mosul Operations slowly progress, a myriad of open-source information is emerging from both Ninawa province and other areas where intense fighting took place…

A Long and Winding Road Ends for Resource Extraction Disclosure

Feb 20, 2017 | Kimberley Anderson

On February 14, 2017, President Trump approved a joint resolution of Congress that disapproves the SEC’s rule requiring specific disclosures by resource extraction issuers, effectively…

Water Wars: Rediscovering the Status Quo in the South China Sea

Feb 17, 2017 | Jared Dummitt and Eliot Kim

China continued to react critically to the Trump administration’s emerging position on the South China Sea.  Responding to a joint statement by President Trump and…

The De Facto Embargo is Over: Record-High Conflict-Free Minerals Exports from Eastern Congo

Feb 16, 2017 | Annie Callaway and Sasha Lezhnev

The conflict-free minerals trade has been slowly but steadily increasing in recent years, and 2016 resulted in record-high exports from the eastern Democratic Republic of…

Land at the Heart of Myanmar’s Transition: Part 2

Feb 15, 2017 | Anna Wellenstein

In part 1, we discussed some of the major land-related challenges facing Myanmar’s transition and development. In fact, resolving outstanding land issues will help the…

Tackling Deforestation in Liberia: A Quest For Greener Future

Feb 14, 2017 | Stephen B. Lavalah and Ambulai Johnson

Liberia’s forest is under serious threat.  There are massive legal and illegal logging activities everywhere in the forest. Chainsawing is at its highest level.  Protected…

2017 Conflict Minerals Company Rankings

Feb 14, 2017 | Enough Project

Companies, governments, and activists have contributed to important progress to end the conflict minerals trade, but there is an urgent need to continue working on…

Turning Afghan Opium Ills to Good

Feb 13, 2017 | Hamish McDonald

Is it time to revisit plans to license some of the deadly crop?

More than 15 years after the Western coalition ousted Afghanistan's Taliban regime, the…

Sierra Leone News: Land Acquisition, Mining and Foreign Investment Threatens Food Security

Feb 10, 2017 | Awoko

Since the beginning of the 21st century, Africa has found itself in the midst of a new wave of colonization. As if the fact that…

Reaching Accord on Land Grabs, and Household Perceptions of Climate-Conflict Vulnerability

Feb 9, 2017 | Zizhan (Azua) Luo

Large-scale land acquisitions, otherwise known as “land grabbing,” are often believed to lead to resistance from affected local communities. According to an article by Ruth…

Four Takeaways from 'Recurring Storms: Food Insecurity, Political Instability and Conflict'

Feb 9, 2017 | Jennifer Ehidiamen

From threats of famine in Somalia caused by drought, to hunger in Syria caused by war, the development community is increasingly faced with the enormous challenge of addressing global…

Yes, Suspend — Then Repeal — Dodd-Frank’s Conflict Minerals Rules

Feb 9, 2017 | Walter Olson

Here’s good news: President Trump may sign an executive order suspending the failed conflict minerals provisions of the Dodd-Frank law. Days before, Securities and Exchange Commission…

Torn Social Fabric: Water, Violence, and Migration in Central America

Feb 8, 2017 | Sara Merken

In the first half of last year, 26,000 unaccompanied children were apprehended by U.S. law enforcement trying to cross the southern border. Most came from Central American…

An Executive Order Suspending the US Conflict Minerals Law Would Be a "Gift to Warlords and Corrupt Businesses", Says Global Witness

Feb 8, 2017 | Andy Stepanian

In response to reports that the President Trump is planning to issue an executive order targeting the US conflict minerals provision (also known as Section…

Conflict Minerals Are about to Get a Reprieve

Feb 8, 2017 | Kevin Drum

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of the most war-torn places on earth. Much of the money to keep the war going comes…

Land at the Heart of Myanmar’s Transition

Feb 7, 2017 | Anna Wellenstein

Struggles over land in Myanmar have been a defining characteristic of the country’s six decades of armed conflict.In the past, government acquired lands for extracting…