The latest events in the third world countries connected with gold mining leave no doubt regarding the fact that gold is both an unethical and unsocial commodity. For instance, in Congo, millions of innocent people die as a result of genocide. Moreover, gold extraction leads to an environmental crisis. Since gold along with other conflict minerals is the major driver of continued violence in Congo and other third world countries, the global society must interfere in the situation and prohibit gold mining to stop the genocide.
Each year, gold mining causes millions of deaths of disadvantaged people in Congo and other adversities such as slavery and uncontrolled violence by militia groups. This outrageous violence is the sad outcome of human greed for enrichment. According to Buxbaum (n. d.), gold comes from “the Democratic Republic of Congo, where militant groups smuggle and tax the appropriately-named “conflict minerals,” drawing in $183 million yearly to fund their violent operations” (para. 14).In addition, motivated by greed for wealth accumulation, offenders torture and terrorize the local inhabitants to intimidate them.
The document Congolese Miners Speak Out on Conflict Minerals For First Time claims that “rebel groups that brutally rape women to control lucrative mines” (para. 17). Moreover, common people suffer from daily hardships because of gold mining. According to Congolese Miners Speak Out (2011), “14 years of crimes committed against the Congolese people” (para. 14). These people are forced into slavery in the gold mines on the daily basis (Buxbaum n. d.). All in all, basic human rights for safety and security in third-world countries are violated due to uncontrolled gold mining.
Another hardship the gold mining causes is environmental exploitation. In this vein, land resources in Congo are being ruined since gold-mining causes the destruction of valuable soils (Congolese Miners Speak Out, 2011). A similar situation is occurring in connection with the water resources because they are being polluted as a result of gold mining (Congolese Miners Speak Out, 2011). The above-mentioned facts prove that uncontrolled gold mining in Congo causes further harm to the local population by ruining the local environment.
The global society must interfere in the state of affairs and end up with the genocide in Congo happening because of unethical gold mining. Common people have to expand their knowledge regarding the technological benefits they acquire through other people’s pain. Although not many people are familiar with the fact that global corporations find suppliers of raw materials in disadvantaged countries such as Congo, the reality is quite disillusioning. Buxbaum (n. d.) states that “the electronics we use requires the mining of raw materials” (para. 1). Also, the author explains how the raw materials are implemented in the process of manufacturing modern electronic devices, “gold coats the internal wiring in the guts of your computerized devices” (Buxbaum, n. d., para. 2).
Thus, the average consumer in the developed countries makes use of goods produced of Congolese gold on a daily basis. It is time to change attitudes in consumer society. Buying electric devices manufactured of the raw materials that have been extracted with the violation of human rights is both unethical and unsocial. Since according to Buxbaum (n. d.), “buyers of consumer electronics have the power to demand conflict-free products from manufacturing giants” (para. 3), it is their prerogative to influence the choices of global corporations.
Buxbaum’s vision is really thought-provoking. Why should people pay for their fellow human’s grief? Why should they finance those who tolerate illegal practices even having detailed information about them? Why should consumers be the part of the terrible evil that is happening in Congo and other disadvantaged lands? The answers to those questions are quite simple. There are no sound reasons to support the evildoers financially. Buxbaum offers a good and very easy solution to the problem.
People have to stop buying gadgets from suppliers who utilize the gold extracted in Congo in their production. This recommendation is really wise because if there is no demand then there will no offering. Furthermore, in case people of the world do not stop tolerating genocide in the third world countries, they may suffer in the future out of the same problem. Humanity must take action to prevent the problem of conflict minerals mining in poor countries.
Reflecting on the above-mentioned, gold extracted in Condo is both unethical and unsocial. A mode of storage of financial funds, a technological metal needed for the production of modern devices and gadgets, a material for the production of jewelry and other articles of luxury, gold is also a reason why millions of people suffer from genocide, enslavements, terror, and tortures. Being the major driver of continued violence in Congo and other poor countries, gold mining in those lands should be prohibited. The best option to achieve this result is to stop buying from those corporations that use Congolese gold in their production since if there is no demand there will be no offer.
References
Buxbaum, M. (n. d.). Behind the Screens: Conflict Minerals and Toxic Waste. Web.
Congolese Miners Speak Out on Conflict Minerals For First Time. (2011). Web.