Conflict metals used in mobiles
Rare metals found in everyday electronic objects such as mobile phones are financing armed groups and fuelling conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, an international watchdog has warned.
Speaking on Monday, 15 Febraury 2010, at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Daniel Balint-Kurti, of London-based Global Witness, called on the mobile phone industry to do more to curb the use of metals mined in conflict zones.
Meanwhile, mobile phone operator Vodafone used the Barcelona event to unveil what it claims is the world's cheapest mobile phone. The Vodafone 150, which will be sold for less than 15 US dollars, will initially be launched in India, Turkey and eight African countries, including Lesotho, Kenya and Ghana. The phones have the built-in ability to manage mobile payments, which is one of the services fuelling high mobile phone growth in developing countries.