Tune in this morning to a conversation between Enough’s John Prendergast and Howard Wolpe, director of the Africa program at the Woodrow Wilson Center and former U.S. envoy to Africa’s Great Lakes region. As our readers might know, John returned last week from a trip to North and South Kivu in eastern Congo, where he was accompanied by a film crew from 60 Minutes. Today, John will discuss U.S. foreign policy toward the region, focusing on the role that the trade in conflict minerals plays in fueling violence in eastern Congo. As public awareness about conflict minerals grows, John’s talk will provide useful background about the links between the minerals trade, brutal sexual violence perpetrated by rebel groups in the region, and the global electronics industry – which we all support through our cell phone and laptop purchases. While the situation on the ground is grim, there are meaningful actions that U.S. leaders and concerned citizens can take to help end this violence and ensure that the Congolese citizens – not rebel groups – receive the benefits of their country’s resources. (Want a hint? Check out our Come Clean 4 Congo initiative.)
Click here to watch the live video feed of the event beginning at 10:30 EST.
Check back for a readout of the event later today.