Year 11 Social Studies Students on the topic of Conflict Minerals

Ms Hobbs' year 11 Social Studies class have been learning about the issues in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.They have heard all about the complex colonial history of the area, the lack of government control, the violence of the paramilitary groups, the horrific conditions in many of the mining areas - and how the booming electronics industry has fuelled this. Below are some of the student's reflections.

“ In the Eastern part of DRC mines have been producing cassiterite (tin), wolframite (tungsten) and coltan for many years but more so now with the proliferation of electronic devices. However, it is only recently that the horrific conditions of the local Congolese miners have begun to be addressed. Their make shift huts provide very little or no shelter, the mines themselves are dark and dangerous. Children as young as 7 are exploited to work in these inhumane conditions and many women are raped. Money earned from mining these minerals “feed” the armed gangs. We should be more aware of what people less fortunate than ourselves are doing to earn a living. Buy conflict free phones."

“ I’ve learnt that someone may have died so I can have a new phone. I’ve learnt that most of the mobile phone companies have used conflict minerals and most of the mines in the Congo have terrible conditions.”

“Doing this I have learnt that most of the phones such as iPhones have minerals in from the Congo. The people sometimes stay down holes in the mines for days.”

“I have learnt that things that make our phones work are costing people’s lives and that people are trying to stop this but the phone companies are not really listening."

“I have learnt that conflict minerals are made from rocks that come from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The four most common conflict minerals are tin tungsten, tantalum and gold. They are minded in areas of armed conflict and are traded illicitly to finance the fighting."

“I’ve learned that many phone companies have used the DRC for resources and most of these companies try to hide this. I would like to see this exploitation and harsh labour end and for companies to make sure their resources are coming from fair and safe conditions."

“I have learned that conflict minerals are extracted from the Congo. Many women who live in the DRC get raped often. So many of us throw away something because we want the latest model when people have to dig the minerals for money for their families."

“Many children don’t go to school but work in the mines to get money for their family."

“What I have learned is that we should not just treat our phones as disposable devices because there are conflict minerals in them and many people have died working in the mines. Many companies such as Apple and Samsung have used conflict minerals while manufacturing their products because of their corporate greed."