Digital Story Proposal

My digital story starts with me as a high school student eager to better myself. I felt as though technology would play a huge role in this, after all, there are many things that can be accessed through the internet. I loved technology and began doing self-research about it. I taught myself all of the software and hardware in various devices to find the best one. I loved video games and the graphics, I loved cell phones for their abilities, and I also loved computers for what they allowed me to accomplish. I fell in love with technology for its abilities. I was completely blind to the horrors that were happening in modern society. As I grew older and came to college I was granted the gift of an international student for a roommate. His name is Patrick Bucyana. Being the child of two UN officers Patrick was able to travel to many places. He became informed of many areas of society and dove into research as a political science major. Patrick is the one who showed me the dark side of technology. During a late night discussion in the dorm room Patrick asked if I had ever heard about the Congo or the resources in it. Strictly being an American with no insight to what was going on I stated my ignorance and he elaborated. He began preaching of blood diamonds and gold mining, but one thing that particularly caught my attention was the mining of Coltan. He spoke of the slavery and the civil war in the Congo and then talked about the uses of Coltan. He was a firsthand reference to the dark side of technology. Patrick’s parents are from Rwanda (a neighboring country to the Congo that has had many genocidal attacks and fighting). Patrick told me he lives in Mozambique but still has family Rwanda. He talks about how Rwanda used to be extremely unsafe. Even in modern day there are armed soldiers roaming the streets to protect its citizens. This insight has been wonderful and is the reason why I started my social action project. Also through my first year seminar class my professor, David Shutkin, has enlightened me of the waste produced by electronics. My view of electronic technology has changed, I’ve gone from someone who ignorantly believed technologies sole purpose was to better the lives of its users without care for other humans in society; to a firm believer in finding proper disposal methods and an advocate to stopping slavery and the use of conflict minerals in the Congo. While my efforts have not made an impact yet, I feel I can make a change through proper education of others.  While Patrick was the source of my inspiration I began researching the topic, reading every article I could find. It is a mere understatement to say that I am “interested” in this topic. I love this stuff, every article has information that shocks me, and it always breaks my heart to read about children held at gun point or citizens raped by armed rebel groups. It’s a situation where everything I read makes me more curious. I’ve read articles from CNN, Huffington Post, ABC, small bloggers, and National geographic. While I was unable to find the stories of other people like me, I know my story is not one of a kind. I know that every person apart of the “Walk Free Foundation” had a similar experience. One day while reading the article from National Geographic I realized other people apart of big businesses share my experience. Companies like Intel have made efforts to better their company, not from an economic standpoint but rather a social justice standpoint. I believe my story has a large message and I am extremely excited to share it via social media. However, I feel this becomes a source of irony. I, being someone who opposes the use of conflict minerals am going to share my story via electronics that typically use these minerals. Maybe I can concoct a way to share my story using the equipment that is conflict mineral free, that to me would be something of a success.

Annotated Bibliography

 

Slaves, Free The. "Several Types of Slavery Linked to Congo's Mining Industry." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 02 Sept. 2010. Web. 07 Nov. 2013.

This article provides insight regarding the types of slavery in the Congo. It also talks a little about the metals that are required and how the rebel groups desire the illicit profits. It even talks about another non-profit organization that helps the standards of the Congo.

 

"Intel and Conflict-Free Minerals." Intel. http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/corporate-responsibility/conflict-free-minerals.html.  N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2013.

This is Intel's statement regarding the use of conflict mining. It shows that there are big businesses with an equal desire for social justice.

 

Gettleman, Jeffrey. "Conflict Minerals." The Price of Precious. N.p. http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2013/10/conflict-minerals/gettleman-text. Web. 07 Nov. 2013.

A truly unique article regarding first hand experience in the Congo. Talks about an encounter with the leader of a rebel group and sight of the slave workers. Also provided insight to companies with a similar view for social justice as well as other organizations.

 

"Blood in the Mobile." Blood in the Mobile. N.p., n.d. Bloodinthemobile.org. Web. 07 Nov. 2013.

This was my first encounter with this topic after talking with Patrick. On the main page is a snippet of a documentary that deals with mining in the Congo. The video is one I plan to watch in the near future to better my knowledge.