Entrepreneurship, Fair Trade and Social Justice
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05	February 2014

RE: blood coltan

It shocked me a lot after knowing that most of our electronic devices, including computers, cell phones, are made of countless lives in Congo. Referring to the documentary, numbers of local people, especially children are working day and night under harsh condition to dig out coltan to make lives. Generally, they can earn only ten dollars after working several days, which is insignificant in comparison to the western companies. Also, since the precious mineral should have brought wealth to the region, the war prevents it from being rich and the militaries spend large amount money buying weapons.
What impressed me most is the part that some women described their experience of sexual assaults. It�s annoying to know that the man regarded them as sexual slaves. A young woman build up a small organization to protect and help them, yet I believe there are far more unfortunate young girls who are still suffering from it.
Personally, I have never been aware of my cell phone is actually a �bloody� device, and it�s amazing to find that it�s our huge demand for the new technology that indirectly drives this dirty business. Meanwhile, although the fast technological progress fuel the high demand for coltan and increase it�s price, the people working in Congo benefit nothing from it, as rape, violence, war still happening everyday, and they are unprotected because of the weak government.
The film did good job to remind us of the truth, the problem exposed is not just relate to Congo government or the traders, we should know that such precious minerals lack strong protection, and the technological development should not rely on privative route of exchange, and the corporations are supposed to take responsibilities for a transparent trade, so that both the policies makers and customers can be inspired to keep a moral economy growth.

RE: Fair Trade: A human Journey �