Conflict Minerals: Scotland Leading Way in Fight to Stop War, Slavery and Misery Powering our Technology

Nov 2, 2014 | Herald Scotland
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Every time you switch on your mobile, power up your laptop or even switch on a light, you could unwittingly be fuelling slavery, civil wars and human rights violations thousands of miles away.

Our humble domestic appliances, electronics and jewellery can be a final link in a brutal chain linking Western democracies to militias and terrorists in far-flung corners of the globe, from Burma to Colombia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The common ingredient is "conflict minerals" - and European legislators, led by Scotland, are seeking to eliminate them from our supply chain. Like blood diamonds, conflict minerals are sourced through opaque or illegal practices in unstable areas of the world.