IPC Webinar on conflict metals and how they impact the electronics industry

On Friday, October 8, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 am Central time, IPC will present a webinar on minerals in conflict. Conflict minerals are minerals mined in areas, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which provide revenue to rebel groups committing atrocities.  Efforts by Congress, human rights groups, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and industry are underway to improve transparency in minerals, such as columbite-tantalite (coltan), cassiterite, wolframite (ores for tantalum, tin, and cobalt, respectively) and gold, that provide revenue to rebel groups committing atrocities in the DRC.

Human rights groups and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are taking actions to address the continued funding of violence and atrocities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through the illegal mining of tin, gold, and tantalum ores. Beginning in 2007 NGOs, such as the “Enough Project” and “Make IT Fair,” are urging consumers to reject electronics made with “conflict minerals,” forcing electronics companies to pay much closer attention to the source of the metals in their products.  Some suppliers are being asked to certify that the tin used in their products are not conflict tin.