Fair Trade Minerals
February 20th, 2009
I am traveling home soon if all goes as planned. I am available for speaking and acting with you on the concerns of CPT. If interested in contacting me about speaking, please write or call 260-982-2971 in a couple weeks! Blessings of peace to you! Cliff Kindy
Since mineral extraction from the DRC has long been one of the major underlying causes of the ongoing conflict in the east of the DRC, this come as a sketchy idea that needs your input and critique. Does it have merit? How can it be improved? How can it be implemented?
Because of the way in which extractive resource mining impacts the conflict situation and the way of life of the people of the Congo, we make this invitation:
Fair Trade Minerals:
Transparency with DRC government and public
fair wages to labor and highest quality training
certification as fair trade to buyers
entice industry leaders from Asia, Europe, North America
make clear “tariff/poll/export tax” payments to DRC
highest environmental standards at sites
start competition for higher standards with competitors
make clear disconnect from armed actors (security and guards, not militias)
Artisanal channel of MPC:
provide link for artisanal groups to Fair Trade certification
diversify into gold, diamonds, copper, etc
offer high prices to artisanal groups willing to meet those fair trade standards
Possible CPT offer to MPC:
1. try to obtain publicity globally for effort
2. try to attract Microsoft, Sony, etc to certified Fair Trade Minerals (may involve a consumer campaign)
3. attempt links for this vision in other locations (Colombia, Iraq, Canada, US...)