Andrew Forrest, philanthropist and mining billionaire addressed a long standing issue with the Japanese gaming tycoon Nintendo on ethical mining regarding Conflict Minerals. The raw materials have accounted for extreme conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo hence the name, as guerilla groups execute sexual terrorism, recruitment of child soldiers and death by the millions. The grave human rights abuses have raised the attention of what Conflict Minerals are and what their role is in industry supply chains.
In a recent article from Zoe Lewis and Sasha Lezhnev of Enough, the NGO responds to recent 125th anniversary photography issue of National Geographic magazine. The special collector’s edition issue highlights a trip to Bavi, a rebel controlled area, and Nyabibwe, a conflict-free area, both in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by Marcus Bleasdale and Jeffery Gettleman.
Despite the recent filling for Chapter 9 bankruptcy by the City of Detroit, the auto industry continues to push forward with conflict minerals compliance.
The regulations, outlined in Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Consumer Protection Act, require that all publically traded companies disclose whether they use tin, tantalum, tungsten or gold in their products.
With the first filling deadline approaching, companies are feeling the pressure to get up to speed on compliance from all sides. A recent Guardian report with Particia Jurewicz, Director of the Responsible Sourcing Network details her most recent report co-authored with Enough. The report outlines a set of guidelines for companies. Click Here for Full Report
Former U.S. Special Advisor for Africa’s Great Lakes Region and the Democratic Republic of the Congo until June, 2013 was Ambassador R. Barrie Walkley. In 2011 he addressed deep rooted issues taking place in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi. Walkey was formally appointed by Hilary Clinton to coordinate U.S. foreign policy on Africa’s regional complications with a focus on conflict minerals and violent militias.
SOLANA BEACH, Calif., Aug. 13, 2013 /3BL Media/ -- VF Corporation is the latest multi-billion dollar corporation to tap Source Intelligence to undertake their compliance with the conflict minerals due diligence requirement under Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. In June, the company signed a three year contract with Source Intelligence.
Since 2006, Responsible Sourcing Network, a project of As You Sow, founder and director, Patricia Jurewicz, addresses labor and human rights abuses. Currently Jurewicz is involved with the PPA for Responsible Mineral Trade, the Cotton Coalition, ICCR’s Human Trafficking Group, and the Conflict Free Smelter Program. With 20 years of diverse experiences related to supply chain manufacturing and corporate responsibility, she will be speaking at the Global Conflict Minerals Symposium.
Former Special Advisor for Conflict Diamonds in the Bureau of Energy, Economic, and Business Affairs at the United States Department of State, Brad Brooks-Rubin to speak at the Global Conflict Minerals Symposium among other great speakers diving into the complex law Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act SEC 1502.
Tulane University to present Conflict Minerals Burden Survey at Global Conflict Minerals Symposium. This survey acts as a follow up to the October 2011 study, which analyzed the economic impact of Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The latest study will now look at the realized impact affected companies are experiencing from conflict minerals legislation.
