Congo Conflict Morals

Alexander J. Nedd
Julie Ann Hoffman
ENGL 1410.036
4 April 2012
Children Matters: Conflict Minerals and their harmful effects within the Congo and their Natives.
Introductory Section: During my brief introduction to the Congo, and reading the research of others based on conflict minerals, I began to wonder what other factors contribute and relate to this horrid reality within the heart of Africa and its effect on the young ones that live there. After taking some extensive notes and learning a little of the history of the Congo, I decided to focus my paper on the children of the Congo and surrounding countries, including stories of child soldiers of the country and how it affects the community and family setting there. Why? These children
Michael Nest shares some of the dark and disturbing facts and figures of the minerals that are mined daily, there are an estimated 750,000 to 2,000,000 artisanal miners in the DRC pg. 37. In 2000, eastern DRC became enveloped in coltan fever, akin to the gold rushes of the 19th century in the United States. Conflict is not new to Congo” (Nest pg. 66). Between the amount of workers that are exploited for these minerals and the rush for the mineral brought by major corporations, show indeed why these minerals are considered conflict material.
“Few share Kalinda’s confidence in the government. Some suggest that if the government wants peace in eastern Congo, it needs to involve mining communities in the structure of the government. The government needs to become more inclusive, not exclusive. Most communities are isolated and therefore vulnerable, forcing them to turn to armed ethnic groups for protection and for a sense of community and control.”
First, I am done. I am truly done, two days before spring break. Mrs. Hoffman was right; it really was unlike any other paper I have ever written. And because it’s my first time I don’t expect it to be perfect but at the same time I don’t want to have done this work for an below average grade, the underlining tone of this paper of which I hope I have snuffed out. As I look at my paper and the harmful effects of conflict minerals with child issues in the heart of Africa, I have a variety of opinions on a variety of topics which have created multiple thoughts on how these problems should be solved. These unique perspectives on fact/definition, cause/consequence, value/evaluation and proposal ma.ke my paper come together well Each source brings up valid points of interest and are not the easiest to point out in turns of what’s wrong, if anything is wrong at