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Coltan - In and Beyond the
Democratic Republic of Congo
is a recycling project put together by a team of
Charles Darwin University Education students who
have been working with community members as part
of a global education unit focusing on learning
through the wider community.
The project’s primary aim has
been to promote awareness of issues related to
production and consumer responsibility of
electronics, such as, mobile phones, laptops,
and
Game
Boys.
These issues are directly affecting the
environment, human and animal rights, and
economical alternatives in the DR of Congo.
While the situation surrounding coltan mining in
the DR of Congo is colossal, an amazing
difference can be made by changing one small
habit.
Coltan is a metallic ore that is
most easily extracted from the DR of Congo where
it can be found in wildlife reserves and
national parks, including two World Heritage
sites. Illegal mining is taking place
contributing to the: displacement of millions
of people, exploitation of child labour, and
civil unrest. Massive environmental damage, as
well as human and animal injustice, has been the
result.
Around
12 million Australians own mobile phones and
exchange them on average every 18-24 months . More
than 95% of these are unaccounted for, and could
end up in landfills.
In April 2005 Federal Minister for the
Environment Ian Campbell urged states to recycle
mobile phones and come up with plans for carbon
trading as a result of not entering the Kyoto
Protocol.
Recycling will limit the need to mine coltan,
therefore reducing environmental damage and
social injustice, and is an activity the greater
community can undertake with the added benefit
of “making a difference”.
A relationship with Eco-Cell has been
established for the safe recycling of mobile
phones and includes installation of recycling
boxes in designated places, such as local
schools.
Schools or interested parties can access
resources, including activity sheets, video
links, and web pages, as well as Eco-Cell
recycling boxes by
contacting
Us.
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