| Author | |
|---|
The Last African
Villager
| Joined: | Saturday December 18th, 2004 |
| Location: | ??????? |
| Posts: | 1744 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: |   |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Friday August 18th, 2006 00:49 |
|
I think I read about this sometime ago, but I didn't really realise what it could mean.
In out plasyations (and mobiles) there is coltan. This mineral is highly sought after. aDn you can find it in our video games, notably Playstation. Acording to this article coltan became even more highly sought after because the huge popularity of Sony PLaystation. Which in turn launched Rwanda invasion of East Congo (even though the ciountry claims otherwise, duh) due to pure profit.
Soon PS3 will be laucnhed. Should we (as african activists, well at least supposedly) boycott the PS3 as it's hihly likely that it contains coltan ?
Here is the article , it's old though and long.
http://johannhari.com/archive/article.php?id=863
and a quote from it
"Kids in Congo were being sent down mines to die so that kids in Europe and America could kill imaginary aliens in their living rooms.�
I have some issues with article though, it's gives me a "agenda-drive-feeling".
The issue with boycotting the coltan from Congo, is that coltan is everywhere, even ind this very computer. Also not necessarily all coltan are from Congo, but then again 80% (!) of all coltan is derived from Congo, so it's more likely than not that is Congolese coltan in your PS2,2 and mobile. And then comes the question should we only boycott the PS3 or should we boycott mobiles,compuetr etc as well. This poses a lot of questions.
But it reminds me of the whole Muhammad (PBUH) issue in Denmark, where a few large corporations were forced to actually take a stance (in favour of angry muslims) or lose profit. Of course the issue that we a lack any economival power might be raised some (no counting the AA that may have some considerable monetary power).
At the same time shouldn't we put our money where are mouths are. Personally a boycott is very unrealistic. Sony could isult black/african people all over, we would still have somebody that would but their stuff. I also want to add that Sony as a company is at the moment almost compltely relying on the PS3 (electronic sales have gone less than good, so to say), they may actually fall or rise depending on how it fares.
Peace out....
____________________
If beastiality is allowed on the BNV then why cant I post booty?-Black Power
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
Shemsi en Tehuti
Villager
| Joined: | Tuesday August 2nd, 2005 |
| Location: | Florida USA |
| Posts: | 3359 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: |  |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Friday August 18th, 2006 01:00 |
|
Damn...thanks a million for this info Dark Prince. Do you know if this mineral is used for Xbox as well? I think we should boycott Playstation definitely!
We as Africans have to understand and recognize more fully the far-reaching effects of commerce, Capitalism, and the role of large corporations. It is these types of issues Pan-Africanists need to seek out more expeditiously, because these conflicts stemming from Capitalist interests are probably the root to many of Africa's problems. Yet, we seem to keep asking why many conflicts keep happening.
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
The Last African
Villager
| Joined: | Saturday December 18th, 2004 |
| Location: | ??????? |
| Posts: | 1744 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Friday August 18th, 2006 01:50 |
|
Shemsi en Tehuti wrote: Damn...thanks a million for this info Dark Prince. Do you know if this mineral is used for Xbox as well? I think we should boycott Playstation definitely!
I don't know about X-box need to look that up. Otherwise letters (and protest) could make the owner of MS to use non-Congolese coltan only. Bill Gates grant billions in Charity. Couldn't some of that money be used to buy non-congolese coltan. I would support that. Same thing with computers, mobiles etc. My point is that Bill Gates is a humantarian, he should be able to recognise. But then again he doesn't own the whole company (he owns about 61 % but as I mentioned he could take it from his charity (although that money could be sent elsewhere, maybe even africa) fond. My wish would be that he and his company would intentionally seek out noncongolese coltan instead of digging in the charity fond. After a little thinking, I don't like the suggestion of taking money from charity, but it would enable me to buy an X-box and not feel bad about.
We as Africans have to understand and recognize more fully the far-reaching effects of commerce, Capitalism, and the role of large corporations. It is these types of issues Pan-Africanists need to seek out more expeditiously, because these conflicts stemming from Capitalist interests are probably the root to many of Africa's problems. Yet, we seem to keep asking why many conflicts keep happening.
I agree 100% bro...
You have no idea how sad reading this made me. I have owned two PS1 (one broke though an "accident"), with other words congolese kids might have died just so I can play video games. Damn this shyt even got me crying...a bit. So don't think I am no p***y. And I am about to buy to buy another PSX (preowned on auction or some such). Not to mention I was considering a pre-order of PS3. Seems that may not be happening now. If PS3 becomes popular the Congolese will suffer, and anybody buying a PS3 (or a mobilephone to a lesser degree) is contibuting to that.
At least I have never bought a mobile phone (got them as gifts), no that it makes me feel any better.
____________________
If beastiality is allowed on the BNV then why cant I post booty?-Black Power
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
The Watcher
Villager
| Joined: | Tuesday May 11th, 2004 |
| Location: | London, United Kingdom |
| Posts: | 11353 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Friday August 18th, 2006 08:34 |
|
It's in your mobile phones and pocket calculators too. You really imagine any boycott will dent worldwide sales of such things? Mobile phones?
No chance... no chance at all. That's a poor way to tackle the issue and an avoidance method. Passively not doing something is hardly going to upset the scale of business and war involved.
It would be like an Arab in London trying to boycott plastic and oil to stop the war in Iraq... be serious!!
____________________
Fabulous secret powers were revealed to me the day I...
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
Shemsi en Tehuti
Villager
| Joined: | Tuesday August 2nd, 2005 |
| Location: | Florida USA |
| Posts: | 3359 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Friday August 18th, 2006 12:02 |
|
DrunkMonkey wrote: It's in your mobile phones and pocket calculators too. You really imagine any boycott will dent worldwide sales of such things? Mobile phones?
No chance... no chance at all. That's a poor way to tackle the issue and an avoidance method. Passively not doing something is hardly going to upset the scale of business and war involved.
It would be like an Arab in London trying to boycott plastic and oil to stop the war in Iraq... be serious!!
You make a good point. So what do you suggest as first steps to this problem.
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
The Last African
Villager
| Joined: | Saturday December 18th, 2004 |
| Location: | ??????? |
| Posts: | 1744 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Friday August 18th, 2006 21:37 |
|
DrunkMonkey wrote: It's in your mobile phones and pocket calculators too. You really imagine any boycott will dent worldwide sales of such things? Mobile phones?
I mentioned like 5 times in my very first post that it existed in mobile phones and computers among many things, so obviosuly if you read the post you would have known I was more than aware. Also I wasn't talkng about the UK solely, I am talkig about worldwide boycott. The danish drama this year caused the fall of severeal companies and hundreds if thousands of sackings...so obviosuly it's impossible.
No chance... no chance at all. That's a poor way to tackle the issue and an avoidance method. Passively not doing something is hardly going to upset the scale of business and war involved.
Once again I was asking if a Boycott of PS3 was appropiate. If you had read the article you would notice that playstation was largely the reason Rwanda invaded in the very first place, it made the whole war profitable. If playstation wasn't popular the war the invasion might very well not have occured at all. Since the demand wasn't that high. As long as they are losing money they might actually listen, especiialy Sony who might actually go out of buisness unless PS3 succeds.
It would be like an Arab in London trying to boycott plastic and oil to stop the war in Iraq... be serious!!
But, I as not saying we should boycott all products in this case, as the thread title implied it was about video games and not mobile phones, computers or calculators. That was merely an expansion on the thought. And yes I clearly mentioned how hard it would be. If not impossible. I am dependent on my computer (and I mentioned that it existed in computers) not only personally but proffesionally as well. So obviously I cannot work if I boycott computers as well. And without work you'll have problems proving for yourself. Also unless enough people do this it won't matter.
Take the upcoming game Medival Total War 2. The game creators went sent all their islamic related issues to a muslim scholar so that they wouldn't give a picture of islam that would be offensive to muslims. They belivied that going out of their way to make sure that muslims were not insulted was more profitable than not. And don't know a single muslim that has bought or played their games (Total war series) although I know there are. Sure this merely a minor issue, asn the probably didn't ant sugnificant dollars at all, which other companies that deal with coltan may. If the same i problems were posed towards say Sony they could possibly go out their way not aquire coltan, as long as it was more profitable than losing all their black game buyers. Unfortunately there are less black than muslims and blacks are much poorer. Thus it's not profitable to cater to us. If enough people do something it does indeed have power . history has showsn this more than once. But the though that black people would give up PS3 for the congolese might be unrealistic as you said, but then again what doesn't that say about us...
Also it a question of principle. Would you buy stuff from people YOU knew were racist b**tards, that didn't value your black ass at all ?
Also the the bound between the Iraq war and oil can be questioned, to say the least. The coltan bound and PS cannot according to said article....nuff said
Last edited on Friday August 18th, 2006 21:41 by The Last African
____________________
If beastiality is allowed on the BNV then why cant I post booty?-Black Power
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
Shemsi en Tehuti
Villager
| Joined: | Tuesday August 2nd, 2005 |
| Location: | Florida USA |
| Posts: | 3359 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Friday August 18th, 2006 23:56 |
|
Question...
How the hell does 80% of this mineral for electronics come out of the Congo, without this country being one of the most technologically advanced nations in the world? If not that, why are they not simply the richest nation in that part of the world even rivaling the oil producing nations of West & North African and the Middle East? This ish just makes me angry. Perhaps Mez can address this for us.
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
Kunjufu
Villager
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Saturday August 19th, 2006 00:05 |
|
Shemsi en Tehuti wrote: Question...
How the hell does 80% of this mineral for electronics come out of the Congo, without this country being one of the most technologically advanced nations in the world? If not that, why are they not simply the richest nation in that part of the world even rivaling the oil producing nations of West & North African and the Middle East? This ish just makes me angry. Perhaps Mez can address this for us.
Its called conglomerate influenced, financed and bought corrupt puppet leaders like Kabila, Mabutu et al.... The civil wars in these countries are not natural events they are Western inflenced for exactly this type of reason....
____________________
African heart, African mind
    Â
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
Shemsi en Tehuti
Villager
| Joined: | Tuesday August 2nd, 2005 |
| Location: | Florida USA |
| Posts: | 3359 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Saturday August 19th, 2006 00:08 |
|
Kunjufu wrote: Shemsi en Tehuti wrote: Question...
How the hell does 80% of this mineral for electronics come out of the Congo, without this country being one of the most technologically advanced nations in the world? If not that, why are they not simply the richest nation in that part of the world even rivaling the oil producing nations of West & North African and the Middle East? This ish just makes me angry. Perhaps Mez can address this for us.
Its called conglomerate influenced, financed and bought corrupt puppet leaders like Kabila, Mabutu et al.... The civil wars in these countries are not natural events they are Western inflenced for exactly this type of reason....
This was my inclination, but was uncertain. I didn't want to be talking out of my arse on this one.
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
Kunjufu
Villager
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Saturday August 19th, 2006 00:13 |
|
Shemsi en Tehuti wrote: Kunjufu wrote: Shemsi en Tehuti wrote: Question...
How the hell does 80% of this mineral for electronics come out of the Congo, without this country being one of the most technologically advanced nations in the world? If not that, why are they not simply the richest nation in that part of the world even rivaling the oil producing nations of West & North African and the Middle East? This ish just makes me angry. Perhaps Mez can address this for us.
Its called conglomerate influenced, financed and bought corrupt puppet leaders like Kabila, Mabutu et al.... The civil wars in these countries are not natural events they are Western inflenced for exactly this type of reason....
This was my inclination, but was uncertain. I didn't want to be talking out of my arse on this one.
I'm not sure about Mabuto..but I know for certain that Kabila was definately Western financed, mainly for the minerals for Mobile phones and I suspect for the diamond deposits.. this is why imo the Congo will never have any peace..
____________________
African heart, African mind
    Â
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
The Last African
Villager
| Joined: | Saturday December 18th, 2004 |
| Location: | ??????? |
| Posts: | 1744 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Saturday August 19th, 2006 03:54 |
|
Kunjufu wrote: Shemsi en Tehuti wrote: Kunjufu wrote: Shemsi en Tehuti wrote: Question...
How the hell does 80% of this mineral for electronics come out of the Congo, without this country being one of the most technologically advanced nations in the world? If not that, why are they not simply the richest nation in that part of the world even rivaling the oil producing nations of West & North African and the Middle East? This ish just makes me angry. Perhaps Mez can address this for us.
Its called conglomerate influenced, financed and bought corrupt puppet leaders like Kabila, Mabutu et al.... The civil wars in these countries are not natural events they are Western inflenced for exactly this type of reason....
This was my inclination, but was uncertain. I didn't want to be talking out of my arse on this one.
I'm not sure about Mabuto..but I know for certain that Kabila was definately Western financed, mainly for the minerals for Mobile phones and I suspect for the diamond deposits.. this is why imo the Congo will never have any peace..
Mobuti was defintely a pawn and financed by the west,so you were right. He also took huge development loans and used spent it all on himself and the people Congo still "owes" the west this money
____________________
If beastiality is allowed on the BNV then why cant I post booty?-Black Power
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
Apedemak
Villager
| Joined: | Sunday October 17th, 2004 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 3135 |
| Photo: | [Download] |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Saturday August 19th, 2006 21:41 |
|
If we boycotted Mobile phones & games consoles then what about everything else? One thing that is getting to me is the diamond mining industry... on one hand you have situations as mentioned with colbalt then you have Kanye west and rappers going O.T.T with it all with diamond braces and what not... thats a major piss take considering the jewish have their hand in the diamond mining industry in Africa as well as a major one in the media industry.
Its like a slap in the face.
Idealistically we should boycott, at least to show awareness, most people don't know half about what comes from where... The devil is in the detail as they say. By kicking up some noise it lets them know we know rather than help them by remaining ignorant and even promoting them in some cases. Could run off a list of dodgy companies but it'd hit more with the gaming and mobile phone industry.... Shell should be next.
____________________
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
Apedemak
Villager
| Joined: | Sunday October 17th, 2004 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 3135 |
| Photo: | [Download] |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Sunday August 20th, 2006 14:49 |
|
| ----edditt---- Last edited on Sunday August 20th, 2006 18:41 by Apedemak
____________________
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
YoBlackStar
Villager
| Joined: | Monday November 22nd, 2004 |
| Location: | Whatever I Rep Ghana. |
| Posts: | 49 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Thursday August 24th, 2006 20:47 |
|
Kunjufu wrote: Shemsi en Tehuti wrote: Question...
How the hell does 80% of this mineral for electronics come out of the Congo, without this country being one of the most technologically advanced nations in the world? If not that, why are they not simply the richest nation in that part of the world even rivaling the oil producing nations of West & North African and the Middle East? This ish just makes me angry. Perhaps Mez can address this for us.
Its called conglomerate influenced, financed and bought corrupt puppet leaders like Kabila, Mabutu et al.... The civil wars in these countries are not natural events they are Western inflenced for exactly this type of reason....
wait which Kabila are were talking about? Father or Son...
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
|
|
Current time is 12:52 | |
|
