Conflict Minerals Bill- From Enough Project E-mail

An E-mail from Enough Project a few days ago, right when I got back from our trip to the Congo.  Believe me this is something I think about a lot, especially now that I work with people in the DRC.  A country that is making many people so wealthy is devastating a country that's people don't benefit from it's own natural resources.  And I don't think anyone is planning on giving up their cell phones for the plight of other unfortunately, but at least this bill is trying to ask for a little more accountability on how the minerals are taken and who is affected.  -Hannah

 

New Conflict Minerals Bill in the House

This morning Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) introduced the bipartisan Conflict Minerals Trade Act of 2009, a critical milestone in the effort to break the link between armed conflict, sexual violence, and the minerals trade in Congo. The bill, co-sponsored by Representatives Frank Wolf (R-VA) and Barney Frank (D-MA), demands greater transparency and accountability from companies whose products contain gold, tin, tungsten, or tantalum from Congo. The bill calls for a system of auditing mineral ores and their derivatives, ultimately requiring companies importing products containing these minerals declare if their products are "conflict free." Other important provisions in the legislation call for the U.S. government to develop a comprehensive strategy to address conflict minerals and to improve conditions and livelihoods for communities in eastern Congo dependent upon mining. Watch a video of the press conference announcing the bill, featuring statements from Representative McDermott, pictured at right, Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), and Enough's Executive Director John Norris.

 

SPECIAL ALERT: NEW LEGISLATION TAKES ON CONGO'S CONFLICT MINERALS

 

Today, Representative Jim McDermott (D-WA) introduced legislation to ensure that when we purchase a cell phone or laptop here in the U.S., we are not financing perpetrators of crimes against humanity in Congo.  Co-sponsored by Representatives Frank Wolf (R-VA) and Barney Frank (D-MA),the Conflict Minerals Trade Act will help develop the means to ensure that the multimillion dollar trade in conflict minerals from eastern Congo stops financing the world's deadliest conflict since World War II.  Specifically, the bill will put in place a system of audits and regulations that would help stop companies from importing conflict minerals into the United States.

 

A coalition of international nonprofit organizations - including the Enough Project, Human Rights Watch, World Vision, Oxfam America, and Global Witness, among others – today released a joint statement of support for the Conflict Minerals Trade Act of 2009 in the U.S. House of Representatives.  The bill also received support from various stakeholders in the electronics industry, including the Information Technology Industry Council and HP. 

 

Legislation in the US alone will not end the conflict in eastern Congo, but this bill would provide a crucial step toward the creation of a practical and enforceable means to ensure that the trade in Congolese minerals contributes to peace rather than war. This bill would also serve as a useful precedent for other countries to develop legislation for holding to account companies in their jurisdiction who may be fuelling the conflict in eastern Congo.

 

What will this bill do?

This bill demands greater transparency and accountability from those companies whose products contain these mineral ores or their derivatives. The U.S. government would identify those commercial goods that could contain conflict minerals, approve a list of independent monitoring groups qualified to audit the worldwide processing facilities for these minerals, and eventually restrict the importation of minerals to those from audited facilities. Importers of these goods would have to certify on their customs declaration that their goods "contain conflict minerals" or are "conflict mineral free" based upon this audit system. The audits would determine the mines of origin for processed materials, verify the chain of custody and verify information provided by suppliers through investigations in the DRC and other countries.

 

Importantly, the bill would also direct the State Department to support multilateral and U.S. government efforts to break the link between the trade in minerals and armed conflict in eastern Congo.

 Click here to get more details about the bill. Watch the press conference.

HOW YOU CAN TAKE ACTION
Call or write your Representative and urge him/her to cosponsor the Conflict Minerals Trade Act. Visit our website to send an email now, or call by dialing the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and asking for your Representative's office.

 

 

--
Hannah Hanson
Mission Intern - SHADE
South Africa
hannahatshade.blogspot.com

Driving

One of those typical travelers things to talk about: driving and roads. Until I go to India and some other places I don’t really feel like I have room to talk. But since there are hints of people wanting me to drive in South Africa at some point I pay attention a bit more.

After a few mornings of driving in Lubumbashi (where we were really blessed by some of the best roads in town) I explained to some of the drivers the differences.

You see in the United States we drive on the right side of the road and the steering wheel is on the left. This makes sense because the driver can see both sides of the road.

Then you get to South Africa and it took me a few times to remember when trying to get into the passenger’s side, that I would soon be facing the steering wheel. (The drivers were always patient.) So while it takes a little getting used to both the side of the road and the steering wheel side change.

Then I was told in DRC they drive on the right side of the road, and I really don’t want to get all mixed up again. I am just getting used to going to the grocery store and trying to stay to the right.

Well when we get there, the ‘right’ side of the street really means, the part with no holes. I was informed they are too big to be called potholes. It can also mean the smallest part of these huge speed bumps or where there are no people. Again we had an easy time of it, finding manageable paved roads and getting lucky on the route we took, but we also managed to get our heads bumped a few times. And with everyone looking for the ‘right’ side of the road, I was always watching the road and anything moving near it while I was a passenger.

Now the other part of this is where the steering wheel is placed. In truth I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the steering wheels are in the back seat. Or at least we joked about this with some of our friends that drive in the Congo. But some cars have the steering wheel on the left and some on the right. Now when the steering wheel is on the right and you are driving on the right trying to pass all sorts of things, I started realizing how advantageous it is to be able to see both sides of the road more clearly.

Anyway the car rides were beautiful adventures, as were climbing into the far back seats of cars in dresses and with lots of materials from the conference.

We also had the experience of driving through town right after the soccer team (that the governor owns) won a match. And the President was in town too. The streets were flooded and it was amazing to be part of so much life and energy. Beer goes on sale for half price after a win, and I remember talking to someone who thought it was very unfortunate when much of the population could use basic food to go on sale to feed their families.

But my favorite incident on the road was driving with Pastor Thierry to the conference one morning. Any encounter with Pastor Thierry is interesting because the large spectrum of different views always come up and are always debated. We were talking about all the animals around and on this dirt road and chicken started crossing the street very close to the car. Pastor Thierry opened his car door and yelled, “Why don’t you listen?” to the chicken. The only good this did was almost having the chicken jump in the car to peck out its answer. But we were in stitches by the time we reached the conference center, I guess enough is sometimes just enough.

The Soul seeks a place to Be

the soul seeks a place to be…  this is a title of  poem I got from my friend Jon.  To be honest I really don't remember the rest of the poem and the grab was not as powerful, but the title the poet chose…

 

the soul seeks a place to be, I think it's a phrase that will come up often over the next year and a half and probably my whole life.  Because we should find ways to let our soul be… to nurture and care for ourselves in that way… to truly listen to what our soul seeks.

 

This is what I have been contemplating while sitting on our back porch in Cape Town sewing a rip in a skirt that I plan to take to Congo.  The foggy day turned sunny and the wind is light enough to tickle the skin and sing, not to the point of blowing everything over.  It's the kind of day we have all the windows open to air out the house, before going to Congo for 9 days.  It's like at home, those spring to summer days after the house has been cooped up for the winter. 

 

And Louis and Ella always fills and surrounds me, so it doesn't hurt that what we are listening to.  (Thanks Jane!)

 

But instead of doing work on the computer for the conference, I decided that I should sit in the sunshine, and let my soul twirl in the wind.  (I still have to add all the French translation to my presenation) And something about sewing fit right in.  And in a way it is preparation.  Its not frantic packing today, just peaceful preparing.  Sewing only happens one stitch at a time and then you pull the string all the way through and I think of all the hemming and sewing my mother has done for me.  And then I thought more of all the sewing my grandmother Mary Lou had done.  Its interesting to remember connections to people threw tasks, but it is a sense almost as strong as smell if you take the time to notice the roses. 

 

And Jen's laundry was hanging to dry, so she was tending to her own things, and I was mending mine, but we had a lovely discussion.  (don't you love the words tending and mending- we used them at training and my friend Heather helped me se there beauty.)

 

I must remember to blog later on gender roles and what I am learning on my personal feelings to these, especially where chores are concerned and in relation to some of the discussions with our African male counterparts.

 

I also think blogging about preparation will be a common theme.

 

But for now my soul is resting in those stitches.  I am eager to go to the DRC and ready.  We will work hard and get very little down time, which is why we don't have to be in the office today- but I am excited for the energy and assembly of people.  This trip feels much more like why I am here, then the last few weeks in Cape Town.  I want to go and meet people and learn, whereas I have felt bored and bogged down with figuring out communication and cleaning and setting up house.  But today is different.

 

But right now I just want to pause in this moment with the daily life activities, because my soul has found a place to be.

--
Hannah Hanson
Mission Intern - SHADE
South Africa
hannahatshade.blogspot.com