The Congo Tantalum Rush

Logic Bomb writes: "The New York Times Magazine takes a look at the mining of a muddy substance called coltan. Once refined, it becomes tantalum, the crucial ingredient in capacitors. To put it simply, the modern high-tech world depends on this stuff. And while most of us have images of squeaky-clean chip factories and such -- in marked contrast to sleazy textile sweatshops -- it turns out that this industry has a dark side that takes a major toll on human lives. Definitely worth a read."

Comments

Re:Not just hi-tech

[KupekKupoppo]

...most of us are wearing at least one piece of clothing produced under less than ideal conditions.

I'm naked, but I guess you still might be right right. I was probably produced under less than ideal conditions.

[sigh]

The tantalum must flow!

[Giant Hairy Spider]

Now you know that would just cause the bushmen you believe to be sparse and to have long since integrated into society to adopt the son of one of the current industry representatives as their messiah, resulting in them taking over the world riding elephants, letting hurricanes into mid-west USA and central Asia with nuclear weapons, and shouting loud enough to crack stone floors.

You wouldn't happen to be a grossly obese man who floats around on suspensors, would you?