March 15, 2017
As a consumer and human-rights activist, I urge you to keep the Conflict Minerals Rule fully intact, and to work with your fellow SEC commissioners to enforce the Rule moving forward.
American consumers are powerful, and we need to be careful as a society that our purchases do not hurt vulnerable people overseas.
More specifically, I own a Toshiba laptop and an LG cell phone. I do NOT want Congolese blood to be spilled in order to buy the minerals to produce my next electronics purchase. In other words, I do not want my next cell phone to be made from minerals from a mine controlled by an armed group in the DRC or elsewhere.
I've noticed that some tuna cans have a "dolphin-safe" label to indicate that the tuna was caught in a way that did not endanger dolphins. And of course some paper products indicate how much of their fiber had been recycled. I don't know if any electronic products have a "conflict-mineral free" label, but they should: I think some objective organization should provide electronic manufacturers with some type of "conflict-free" certification that is indicated on the product itself (or on the product's package) so ethical consumers can buy products that do not indirectly fund armed conflict.
I leave you with Jesus's words regarding how we should treat vulnerable and needy people: "And the King (Jesus) will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me'." --Matthew 25:40(NLT)
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