UK Government v. Global Witness - What is it all about?

London-based non-governmental organization Global Witness recently launched a lawsuit against the British government over their refusal to put forward to the United Nations Sanctions Committee UK-based companies and individuals involved in the illegal trade of conflict minerals.

The United Nations Group of Experts, Global Witness and others have significant evidence showing the involvement by certain select British companies and citizens in supplying armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The UK government has argued that the evidence gathered by the United Nations’ own Group of Experts is insufficient for referral to the United Nations Sanctions Committee. Global Witness disagrees.

In November 2009 the United Nations Group of Experts completed a report which named THAISARCO as sourcing minerals from armed groups through their supply chains. THAISARCO is the smelting arm of Amalgamated Metal Corporation (AMC).

Though no independent verification was undertaken, the UK government has said that AMC no longer purchases minerals from eastern DR Congo and so no action is required. While this statement was made, the UK government has failed to independently verify this claim. Global Witness wants to see the UK government adequately investigate companies and individuals suspected of breaching the UK’s international legal obligations.

I find the legal approach by Global Witness unique and look forward to what happens next.

Motorola "Discloses" Hand in Conflict Minerals

Major cell phone manufacturer Motorola Inc. revealed in a recent disclosure report that in the first quarter the company spent $880,000 to lobby the federal government. According to the Associated Press, Motorola lobbied the government on laws such as those which discouraged the use of confict minerals by electronics manufacturers.

Just last week it was disclosed that Research in Motion, the maker of the BlackBerry, had directed their lobbying in a similar manner. Both companies are active members of the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC) which for months has been working on proposals to address the issue of conflict minerals in the supply chain. These initiatives have received significant criticism from non-government organizations.

The new laws which Motorola and Research in Motion were lobbying against requires a company to verify whether or not the raw materials used to make their products are from conflict areas such as the Democratic Republic of Congo or the countries surrounding it.

For the 3 months ending June 2010, Motorola lobbied the United States Congress, the Justice Department, the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department.