Making mining more sustainable: how to take the conflict out of minerals?

The proceeds from hhttp://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/d/b/1/2/event_189656082.jpegarmful social and environmental practices in mines, especially in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), have been used to fuel armed conflict in the region. This is a major concern to governments and many industries across the globe. The Dodd Frank Act (http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2012/2012-163.htm) in the United States defines conflict minerals as Tin, Tungsten, Tantalum and Gold (3TG) and any derivatives thereof. In the DRC, the illicit trade in conflict minerals provides rebel groups and units of the national army with tens of millions of dollars a year that they use to buy guns and shore up their rival campaigns.

At this Meetup we will talk about the link between mining and human violations. Many of the products we use on a daily basis contain conflict minerals. What can we do to make mining more sustainable?

Our guest speaker will be HRH Prince Jaime de Bourbon Parme. As Special Envoy Natural Resources at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jaime focuses on long-term and durable security of supply of metals and minerals. He also looks at the social and environmental impacts of the extractive industry.

In 2005, Jaime made a documentary (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xyzo8Pjr1ZY) on the interaction between war and natural resources (e.g. blood diamonds, gold, tropical wood and cobalt). It was broadcast on Dutch public television. It is now used at events and universities worldwide.