[bogomipz]

I was surprised the article left out the issue that there are many mines that are controlled by regional warlords in the Eastern Congo. Profits from not only cobalt but other minerals fund regional militias/armies. So its even more egregious than just labor exploitation as these warlords contribute to instability in a region that is far from the control of Kinshasa the country's capital.

It would be good to see something established similar to the Kimberly Accord for diamonds and certifying conflict free acquisition but the cynical part of me thinks that this designation would rendered ineffective due to corruption and falsification.

[archgoon]

From the article:

  > In 2010, the United States passed a conflict-minerals law
  > to stem the flow of money to Congo’s murderous militias,
  > focusing on the artisanal mining of four minerals.

  > But this same diligence is not required when it comes to 
  > cobalt.

  > While cobalt mining is not thought to be funding wars, 
  > many activists and some industry analysts say cobalt 
  > miners could benefit from the law’s protection from 
  > exploitation and human rights abuses.

[bogomipz]

Sure, I read that however I was referring to the establishment of an internationally accepted certification protocol much like the Kimberly Process Certifaction Scheme has for diamonds.

Also I don't think anyone can say with any degree of certainty that Cobalt is not helping to finance militias or warlords when the DRC ranks at 129 out of 149 countries on the Corruption Percpetion Index.

Source: http://www.worldaudit.org/corruption.htm

It is accepted that much of the "Great War" in the Eastern part of the DRC was financed by Cassiterite, Cobalt, Coltan and Tungsten.

See: http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-congo-still-ravaged-by-u-s-...