*quality

Boosting this quality contribution up in the Hot Listing - declared quality by bleedmegood.

I would imagine these are similar to conflict diamonds? I sometimes wonder if not buying conflict stuff makes their situation even worse. How do you tell the difference between someone who is a legitimate mining operation owner and who isn't? These metals are worth a great deal, and for us to get caught up in red tape against someone who doesn't deserve it seems like the worst thing we could do. The best chance you have is to get money into the hands of the people that aren't savages, and I don't know that banning buying stuff from a region does that.

PUT THE FUCKING LOTION IN THE BASKET!!

There are certain diamond outlets that guarantee that their precious metals and gems do not come from conflict. I'm not sure which ones but I do know they are out there. A few google searches could probably tell ya.

On the topic this happens every day around the world. The rich and powerful bleeding third world countries dry for their resources. For example, you think Afghanistan is a terrible war now? They just discovered some of the largest deposits of gold and other precious metals like lithium there, at least a trillion dollars worth. So Afghanistan's war today will be the oppression and slaughter of millions over the next many years as rich mega-corps that care nothing for the people vie for the riches. And because Afghanistan is a broken, unorganized third world country, they won't become richer, they will become even more squalid as a nation.

What's the real cost because the products don't seem that much cheaper... Why are they so expensive when you have little kid slaves digging for them, What are your overheads?

>> ^Xaielao:

There are certain diamond outlets that guarantee that their precious metals and gems do not come from conflict. I'm not sure which ones but I do know they are out there. A few google searches could probably tell ya.
On the topic this happens every day around the world. The rich and powerful bleeding third world countries dry for their resources. For example, you think Afghanistan is a terrible war now? They just discovered some of the largest deposits of gold and other precious metals like lithium there, at least a trillion dollars worth. So Afghanistan's war today will be the oppression and slaughter of millions over the next many years as rich mega-corps that care nothing for the people vie for the riches. And because Afghanistan is a broken, unorganized third world country, they won't become richer, they will become even more squalid as a nation.


Isn't that a rather oversimplified explanation though? Doesn't consumer demand drive the price of commodities and metals higher? And doesn't the increase in money for poor, relatively backwards countries encourage warlords? How could you guarantee something like that? Metal and diamonds are fungible, so it seems like any guarantee would be paper thin. Aren't the warlords ultimately failures of the governments of those countries more than corporations and demand for goods? Isn't the demand of goods from a poor country one of the only ways to break out of extreme poverty? If we aren't going to buy their goods, what hope do they ever have or raising the funds to combat local warlords?

I think the problem exists because the world is far less simple than you suppose. There is an interesting capitalist third world economist that talks about one of the real problems of poor countries is their lack of governments defining what private property means. This results in might makes right type of situations. Many third world countries need revolutions in ideas before they will ever achieve modern economic prosperity.

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag.(show it anyway)

Glad this is getting some attention.

who the fuck is brook smith ?


just askin..

*money
*politics

Adding video to channels (Money, Politics) - requested by NetRunner.

>> ^BoneRemake:

who the fuck is brook smith ?

just askin..


Well, son, the internet is only the greatest information repository in the history of mankind. I'm betting you can make it work for you!

Yeah, but Apple conflict minerals are more user friendly.

Sigh, I miss the West Wing.

I think the most interesting thing is that no matter who you buy from you drive demand, so your choice is not buy from conflict sources or non-conflict sources, its consume and "support" war or don't consume and don't "support" war.

Sorry but the notion that I should go without because some country is a wreck is utter BS. Its like these people who say they are boycotting BP gasoline, only to see contractually bound local gas station owners suffer.

>> ^BoneRemake:

who the fuck is brook smith ?

just askin..


As per shuac: among many other things, she's the girl at the bottom of the well.

I think you missed the point of the initiative. Check out the link. If enough consumers demand conflict-mineral-free products, the producers would comply.>> ^arekin:

I think the most interesting thing is that no matter who you buy from you drive demand, so your choice is not buy from conflict sources or non-conflict sources, its consume and "support" war or don't consume and don't "support" war.
Sorry but the notion that I should go without because some country is a wreck is utter BS. Its like these people who say they are boycotting BP gasoline, only to see contractually bound local gas station owners suffer.

Your right, companies would comply, but that doesn't mean that no one will be buying conflict minerals. And since the big companies will be buying at a higher price the market values of these minerals will increase. So now the conflict minerals are worth more and more people are willing to take the extreme risks by going to battle to get them.

As I said, to consume or not to consume, that is the real question.

>> ^Throbbin:

I think you missed the point of the initiative. Check out the link. If enough consumers demand conflict-mineral-free products, the producers would comply.>> ^arekin:
I think the most interesting thing is that no matter who you buy from you drive demand, so your choice is not buy from conflict sources or non-conflict sources, its consume and "support" war or don't consume and don't "support" war.
Sorry but the notion that I should go without because some country is a wreck is utter BS. Its like these people who say they are boycotting BP gasoline, only to see contractually bound local gas station owners suffer.