SUDAN NOW

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

RAISE Hope for Congo*

TAKE ACTION

The conflict in eastern Congo is being fueled by a multi-million dollar trade in minerals that go into our electronic products. Over five million people have died as a result, and hundreds of thousands of women have been raped over the past decade. The armed groups perpetuating the violence generate an estimated $183 million each year by trading in four main minerals, the 3 Ts and gold. Read full details on the crisis.

Urge your Representative to support legislation for conflict-free cell phones, laptops and other electronics.

Urge your Representative to cosponsor the Congo Conflict Minerals Trade Act of 2009 (HR 4128). The bill will indentify any conflict minerals from Congo imported into the United States. It is the strongest effort to stop the scourge of conflict minerals in Congo.

Contact these influential members of the Foreign Affairs Committee now:

Mike Pence (R-IN)
Email Rep. Pence urging for support
Call (202-225-3021) Rep. Pence’s office directly
Send Rep. Pence a message on Facebook
Tweet Rep. Pence @RepMikePence about conflict mineral legislation (HR 4128)

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)
Email Rep. Ros-Lehtinen urging for support
Call (202-225-3931) Rep. Ros-Lehtinen’s office directly
Send Rep. Ros-Lehtinen a message on Facebook
Tweet Rep. Ros-Lehtinen @IRL to support conflict mineral legislation (HR 4128)

Ed Royce (R-CA)
Email Rep. Royce urging for support
Call (202-225-4111) Rep. Royce’s office directly
Send Rep. Royce a message on Facebook

Chris Smith (R-NJ)
Email Rep. Smith urging for support
Call (202-225-3765) Rep. Smith’s office directly
Send Rep. Smith a message on Facebook

Contact Your Own Representative
CALL, CONTACT, or EMAIL your Representatives's office urging him or her to support conflict mineral legislation (HR 4128)

Commit to purchase conflict-free cell phones, laptops and other electronics.

Help us increase demand for conflict-free electronics. Email the electronics industry leaders and urge them to make their products conflict free. The message is clear: “If you take conflict out of your cell phone, I will buy it.”

Urge your school, or other institution to go conflict-free.

Urge your campus or school to go conflict-free. Get your school to pass a resolution that publicly calls on electronics companies to make conflict-free computers and printers for your campus.

Help us grow the conflict-free movement!

Urge your friends to join you in coming clean for Congo.

Publicly call for support of conflict minerals legislation

Write an opinion editorial (op-ed) or letter to the editor of your local paper. Publicly urge your Senators to support conflict mineral legislation. Click here for tips on writing your editorial, or check out our Media Toolkit.

Raise money to support the conflict-free cause.

Millions of people living in Congo are affected by the scourge of conflict minerals. Host a fundraiser and donate the proceeds to strengthen the conflict-free movement. Your contribution will support our Congolese partners on the ground.

Recycle Electronics
Recycle your old electronics

By recycling your old cell phones, computers and other electronic products, you'll cut down on the need for new minerals. Visit electronic recyclers like Eco-Cell for more information.

RAISE Hope for Congo

1 comment:

  1. You forget the most important aspect: The Rwandan regime.
    Do you want to know where Kagame invests the proceeds from looting the 3Ts and gold in DRC? Read the article at the following link of the South African newspaper:
    http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article305809.ece

    I am amazed, puzzled, and shocked by how we look for scapegoats when the obvious is there. Armed groups are only a side effect. The problem is the political situation in Rwanda. I have proposed a likely more practical, less costly, and ultimately durable solution:
    1) identify the moderate among Rwandan rebels
    2) Put pressure on the dictator Kagame, and bring him, if necessary drag him, to the negotiation table with the moderates
    3) Put pressure on Kabila to accept the resettlement of Rwandan refugees unwilling, for whatever reason (except crimes), to go back home
    4) Put pressure on the Rwandan dictator General Paul Kagame to open up the political space
    5) Call on President Kabila's regime for accountability to and responsibility for the Congolese people

    With that, no more armed groups in Eastern DRC, no more rapes, no more killings. Companies manufacturing laptops, electronics, and cellphones are just scapegoats.

    ReplyDelete