New study links consumer demand to resource wars

The world's insatiable demand for cellular phones and other consumer luxuries is fueling violent conflict and killing millions in developing countries, the Worldwatch Institute, a research organisation in Washington, D.C., says in a new study. "If you purchase a cell phone, for example, you may very well be paying to keep the war going in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where rival armies fight for control over deposits of coltan, a commodity that just over a decade ago had little commercial value, but is now vital for the one billion plus cell phones in use today," Michael Renner, a researcher at the Institute and author of The Anatomy of Resource Wars, said on Thursday. In his statement, he said that wars over natural resources like coltan - a mineral that keeps cell phones and other electronic equipment functioning - diamonds, tropical woods, and other rare materials had killed or displaced at least 20 million people and were raising at least US $12 billion a year for rebels, warlords, repressive governments, and other predatory groups around the world. "Companies and rich nations that benefit from cheap raw materials have long turned a blind eye to the destruction at their source, and most consumers don't know that a number of common purchases bear the invisible imprint of violence," he said. Most of the violence in resource-related conflicts is directed against civilians. Grotesque practices like hacking off limbs serve to terrorise local populations into submission or flight. Young boys are often turned into child soldiers and girls into sex slaves for older fighters. Child and slave labor is used to extract the resources. More than five million people were killed in resource-driven conflicts during the 1990s, while another five to six million fled to neighbouring countries, and anywhere from 11 million to 15 million people were displaced inside the borders of their home countries. In addition to the human toll these wars take, many resource-related conflicts are being fought in or near areas of great environmental value, accelerating deforestation and decimating populations of gorillas, elephants, and other wildlife. Renner suggested a number of actions to curb resources wars, among them the development of strong global certification systems for diamonds, timber, and other resources. [Complete account of Renner's work]