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Author: John Bradshaw

“Be a Slave or Die”

“Be a Slave or Die”
Some have criticized the Enough Project’s advocacy on conflict minerals in the Congo as unintentionally destroying the livelihoods of artisanal miners. Critics say our efforts to promote regulation of the trade in minerals and to cut out abusive armed groups will result in a de facto embargo of Congo minerals and eliminate jobs in the mining sector. This conclusion, though, is based on a false premise; there actually aren’t any “jobs” to be eliminated in eastern Congo’s artisanal mines. Those working in the mines are essentially slaves with no real “livelihood” to lose ...