News to Know

Sunday, October 16th, 2011  |   No Comments »

This week’s must-read news stories

Congo

Anticipating New SEC Rules, Companies Shift to Conflict-Free Metals
October 12, 2o11 FORBES, Amy Westervelt
Forbes details how conflict-mineral law 1502 is motivating industry organizations and some of the largest tech companies to build transparent and sustainable conflict-free supply chains. Full Story Here…

Talking Conflict Minerals with Fidel Bafilemba
October 10, 2011 VICE BLOG, Suroosh Alvi
The Enough Project Field Researcher discusses conflict minerals, the strength of the Congolese military and what it was like growing up in eastern Congo during the war. Full Story Here…

Democratic Republic of Congo tops Global Hunger Index
October 11, 2011 ALERT NET, Emma Batha
DR Congo’s rising food prices, ineffective social services and chronic instability have combined to make 70% of its population undernourished. Full Story Here…

Somalia

UN Scales Back Aid After Abductions on Kenya/Somalia Border
October 14, 2011 BBC
The kidnapping of two aid workers from Doctors Without Borders led the UN to remove most of its foreign staff from Kenya’s Dadaab Refugee Camp, the largest in the world. Full Story Here…

UN Envoy: Somalia Has Best Chance for Peace in Years
October 14, 2011 UN NEWS CENTRE
UN officials believe last month’s adoption of a road map for peace, combined with recent political and security gains give Somalia a great opportunity to secure peace. Full Story Here…

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Sunday, October 9th, 2011  |   No Comments »

This week’s must-read news stories

Congo

Rebels Kill Five Aid Workers, Two Others in DR Congo
October 6, 2011 RADIO NETHERLANDS
The deadliest attack on humanitarian workers in the nation’s history adds to the already increasing feelings of insecurity among the nations NGOs. Full Story Here…

U.S. Buyers Shun Conflict Minerals
October 4, 2011 REUTERS, Jonny Hogg
Congo’s mining sector is struggling to adjust to a slew of new laws and regulations, causing many American companies to buy elsewhere. Full Story Here…

October 6, 2011 AFP
Members of opposition leader and presidential candidate Etienne Tshisekedi’s political party were demanding more transparency from the election commission when the scuttle with police began. Full Story Here…

Somalia

Rescue Workers Scramble to Help Victims of Truck Bombing
October 4, 2011 LOS ANGELES TIMES
The blast renews serious worries that terrorist group Al Shabab plans to escalate the violence in its fight for Mogadishu. Full Story Here…

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1502, Rape Profits & You

Tuesday, October 4th, 2011  |   3 Comments »

Dear {As-of-Now Nameless CEO},

We are contacting you as a community of American women and men – moms, dads, grandmas, small business owners — who played a vital role in the passage of conflict minerals legislation last year. Please see the attached press clippings on our actions supporting passage of the conflict mineral legislation: National Public Radio’s Morning Edition; The New York Times; and The New York Times Magazine. Please note, our protests from last year are featured in an upcoming documentary. The filmmaker’s previous feature length film secured distribution in more than 120 cities.

We are deeply disturbed that {YOUR MULTI BILLION DOLLAR CORPORATION} may be supporting NAM and the US Chamber of Commerce in threatening a lawsuit against the SEC to challenge its rules and regulations enforcing the legislation.

Let us be clear how the US grassroots movement for Congo views the threatened lawsuit: Despite unanimous, bi-partisan support for the legislation, all companies backing the NAM and Chamber will be suing the US government for the right to rape profiteer. All credible estimates indicate the regulations will require extremely modest investment on the part of industry. By claiming these regulations are too “burdensome” or “expensive”, your company effectively declares your profits, business model, and brand are predicated on the mass rape of women and children in the Congo. US consumers will not tolerate “X Co: One Stop Rape Shop”.

We understand NAM and The US Chamber of Commerce are known to misrepresent the position of their members. We are approaching you to enlist your public statement against this remarkably risky move on the part of NAM and the US Chamber of Commerce. We urge you to issue a public letter asking NAM and The US Chamber of Commerce cease and desist, as attached here. Modifications will need to be reviewed by our attorneys. In so doing, you will clearly establish your brand as a compassionate, progressive industry leader we will celebrate.

Women’s security is not an optional extra in your business model. We urge your immediate, bold leadership in saying no to rape-based business by issuing this letter, by close of business Thursday Oct. 6. Otherwise, we look forward to continuing the dialogue in a public forum.

Sincerely,

Lisa Shannon

Founder & CEO, A Thousand Sisters

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/27/opinion/27kristof.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/magazine/24volunteerism-t.html?pagewanted=all

http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/26/scrubbing-our-cell-phones-of-conflict-minerals/

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127740457

[ATTACHED LETTER TO BE RELEASED THURS EVENING]

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News to Know

Sunday, October 2nd, 2011  |   No Comments »

This week’s must-read news stories

Congo

Is Your Mobile Phone Helping Fund War in Congo?
September 27, 2011 THE TELEGRAPH, Gordon Rayner
A new short film aims to ramp up pressure on the European Union to pass conflict mineral legislation. Full Story Here…

Congolese Parties Near Deal on Choice To Oppose Kabila
September 27, 2011 VOICE OF AMERICA, Peter Heinlein
Joint talks on avoiding further election violence provided an opportunity for Congo’s divided opposition groups to move closer to selecting a consensus candidate. Full Story Here…

Congo Journalists Face Danger Ahead of Election
September 28, 2011 ASSOCIATED PRESS, Saleh Mwanamilongo
The Congolese government has refused to enforce protection of journalists even as they are attacked, and radio and television stations are burned to the ground. Full Story Here…

Somalia

On Top of Famine, Unspeakable Violence
September 25, 2011 NEW YORK TIMES, Nicholas Kristof
Ethnic Somalis use the sparsely populated border region between Kenya and Somalia to rob and rape with impunity. Full Story Here…

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Sunday, September 25th, 2011  |   No Comments »

Some of this week’s must-read news stories

Congo

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Sunday, September 18th, 2011  |   No Comments »

This week’s must-read news stories

Congo

New Armed Groups Appear in South Kivu
September 15, 2011 CONGO SIASA Jason Stearns
Methods of disarmament, including cash payments and integration into the national army, appear to have become an incentive for the creation of more armed groups. Full Story Here…

In Congo, No Words to Describe the Atrocities
September 13, 2011 PBS
“I may not have a gun, but I have power.” PBS interviews Chouchou Namegabe, a Congolese journalist who was among the first to publicly report on sexual violence in eastern Congo. Listen Here…

Rwanda Open to Congo Warlord Nkunda Extradition
September 12, 2o11 REUTERS, John Irish
Rebel leader Laurent Nkunda may be finally brought to trial in Congo. But before Releasing him, officials in Rwanda, where he has been under house arrest since 2009, is seeking assurances he would not face the death penalty. Full Story Here…

Somalia

Famine Hits Somalia in a World Less Likely to Intervene
September 15, 2011 NEW YORK TIMES, Jeffery Gettleman
The memory of failed foreign efforts is keeping most nations from pursuing any kind of meaningful intervention – despite the face  that an estimated 750,000 people are about to run out of food. Full Story Here…

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Sunday, September 11th, 2011  |   No Comments »

This week’s must-read news stories

Congo

Tshisekedi Files to Run For President in Congo
September 5, 2011 ASSOCIATED PRESS
Etienne Tshisekedi, founder of Congo’s first opposition political party, returns from three years of medical treatment to challenge sitting president Joseph Kabila. Full Story Here…
RELATED: Violence flared in Congo’s capital after Tshisekedi declared his candidacy. Full Story Here…

The UN’s Peacekeeping Force in Congo has a New Boss
September 2, 2011 VOICE OF AMERICA, Tom Turco
A French diplomat was appointed to lead the UN’s 120,o00 peackeepers serving around the world - the largest of which is stationed in eastern Congo. Full Story Here….

North Kivu Steps Up Crackdown on Illegal Mineral Exports
September 5, 2011 DOW JONES NEWSWIRE, Nicholas Bariyo
New checkpoints set up in North Kivu are an effort to comply with recent U.S. mineral regulations for Congo. Full Story Here…

Somalia

Somalia Famine Widens According to U.N.
September 5, 2011 NEW YORK TIMES, Jeffery Gettleman
As many as 750,000 people could die in the next few months due to the famine that was caused by drought, war, and the eviction of aid groups. Full Story Here…

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Tuesday, September 6th, 2011  |   No Comments »

This week’s must-read news stories

Congo

Women Politicians Key to Promoting Rights in Congo
September 2, 2011 IRIN
As a new election law forces Congolese political parties to scramble for female members, most women still face obstacles to joining the political process. Full Story Here…

Congo Election May be Delayed on Logistics Setback, Costs
August 31, 2011 REUTERS, Jonny Hogg
Ballot boxes and voting booths remain stalled in transit, significantly raising the election costs of the elections and threatening delay. Full Story Here…

Congo Lawyers Threaten to Suspend Legal Aid
August 30, 2011 TRUST.ORG, George Fominyen
Lawyers in South Kivu say increased attacks are aimed at keeping them from participating in a number of upcoming and highly sensitive cases. Full Story Here…

Somalia

UN to Announce Somalia Famine Spreading
September 2, 2011 VOICE OF AMERICA, Gabe Joselow
The famine has spread to a major food producing region for the country, leaving more than 50 percent of the population at risk. Full Story Here…

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Sunday, August 28th, 2011  |   No Comments »

This week’s must-read news stories

Congo

Trial of Former Congolese Militia Leader Nears Conclusion
August 25, 2011 AFP, Nicolas Delaunay
As the first-ever trial at the International Criminal Court, prosecutors asserted Thomas Lubanga is “guilty beyond possible doubt.” Full Story Here…

Eastern Congo’s Rule by the Ruthless
August 25, 2011 WASHINGTON POST, Michael Gerson
Why a UN peacekeeper doesn’t arrest a man wanted by the International Criminal Court when he passes him on the street. Full Story Here…

UN Employee Suspected of Smuggling Congo Minerals
August 22, 2011 REUTERS, Jonny Hogg
The arrest comes as the mining industry tries to adjust to new U.S. regulations. Full Story Here…

Somalia

The Collateral Crisis in Somalia
August 26, 2011 TIME, Alex Perry
An in-depth look at how the conflict between Islamic militants and western nations led to the humanitarian crisis in Somalia. Full Story Here…

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Sunday, August 21st, 2011  |   No Comments »

This week’s must-read news stories

Congo

Congo Elections: Fears of Violence, Unity Doubts
August 14, 2011 ASSOCIATED PRESS
The race to lead the Congolese government officially kicked off this week with key opposition leaders calling for unity to defeat President Kabila and experts issuing warnings the country may not be ready come November. Full Story Here…

A Conflict Over Conflict Minerals
August 16, 2011 NEW YORK TIMES, Margot Wallstrom
The UN Special Representative for sexual violence commends the U.S. for the Dodd-Frank conflict mineral legislation. Full Story Here…

Mr. Copper
August 18, 2011 THE ECONOMIST
A profile of a Congolese mining millionaire-turned-governor in mineral-rich Katanga shows the challenges of the national government to exert its control over the vast nation. Full Story Here…

Somalia

Rape Another Risk For Somali Drought Victims
August 17, 2011 AFP, Jenny Vaughn
A look at conditions in one of Ethiopia’s refugee camps where overcrowding and idleness have increased the threat of sexual violence. Full Story Here…

Rights Report Accuses Police of Raping Somalis Seeking Refuge
August 15, 2011 DAILY NATION, Jacob Ng’Etich
Somali refugees seeking asylum face sexual assault and incarceration by Kenyan police. Full Story Here…

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