Conflict metals used in mobiles

17 Feb 2010

Rare metals found in everyday electronic objects such as mobile phones are financing armed groups and fuelling conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, an international watchdog has warned.

Speaking on Monday, 15 Febraury 2010, at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Daniel Balint-Kurti, of London-based Global Witness, called on the mobile phone industry to do more to curb the use of metals mined in conflict zones.

Meanwhile, mobile phone operator Vodafone used the Barcelona event to unveil what it claims is the world's cheapest mobile phone. The Vodafone 150, which will be sold for less than 15 US dollars, will initially be launched in India, Turkey and eight African countries, including Lesotho, Kenya and Ghana. The phones have the built-in ability to manage mobile payments, which is one of the services fuelling high mobile phone growth in developing countries.

Source: Panos London

Panos London promotes the participation of poor and marginalised people in national and international development debates through media and communication projects. It is part of the worldwide Panos Network of independent institutes working to ensure that information is used more effectively to foster debate, pluralism and democracy.

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