Causecast

The conflict in eastern Congo, the deadliest in the world since World War II, is being fueled by a multi-million dollar trade in minerals that go into our electronic products from cell phones to digital cameras.

•Tin – used inside your cell phone and all electronic products as a solder on circuit boards. 53% of tin worldwide is used as a solder, the vast majority of which goes into electronics. Armed groups earn approximately $85 million per year from trading in tin.
•Tantalum (often called “coltan”)– used to store electricity in capacitors in iPods, digital cameras, and cell phones. 65-80% of the world’s tantalum is used in electronic products. Armed groups earn an estimated $8 million per year from trading in tantalum.
•Tungsten – used to make your cell phone or Blackberry vibrate. Tungsten is a growing source of income for armed groups in Congo, with armed groups currently earning approximately $2 million annually.
HOPE artists

Facts about Congo
- 400,000 Congolese have fled their homes due to violence in 2008.
- 500,000 Number of Congolese that die each year as a consequence of war.
- 1,100 Number of rape cases reported every month.
- 46 The average life expectancy for a woman living in the DR of the Congo.
- 22 Number of armed groups involved in the 2008 ceasefire agreement.
- 1 Number of times women are mentioned in the ceasefire agreement.
- 0 Number of times sexual violence and rape is mentioned in the ceasefire agreement.
- $144 million Yearly profits by armed groups from trade in Congo minerals.

What you can do
1) HOPE for Congo: Download the graphic in this email to your phone or create your own 600 × 800 pixel graphic using the facts above to tell people about Congo. HOPE will send out an official CALL TO ARTISTS for Congo in April!
2) Learn more about the Tiziano Project.