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The Congo Tantalum Rush

Posted by michael on from the le-voreux dept.

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."

15 of 230 comments (clear)

  1. Re:f1rst post by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    no jon katz is a dick

  2. Fifth by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Toast?

  3. Yay. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Now wait for Slashdotters to justify sacrifice that have to be made in the name of progress. And after all, it's just creating jobs where otherwise there would be none ..

    1. Re:Yay. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      Right. As if we westerners are responsible for turning miners into sleaze bags.

  4. Re:/.'s social conscience by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Rock on AC. Mod this up!

  5. She is into High Tech now? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    like her or not, Kathy Lee Gifford is a remarkably robust person

  6. Re:annoying by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic
    But don't do it after you tried the www version. I think they have some m@d 1337 referrer checking. Change the URL first, then load the page. If you screwed up, close the browser and try again.

    ~~~

  7. nikes are cheap??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    yeah right..

  8. FUCK YOU NIGGER by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    a quote from the movie blazing saddles

    Old Lady: Up yours nigger!

  9. French by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic
    Toast

    ......Has it been 20 seconds yet?

  10. fp by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    first post

  11. Re:annoying by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    In case you didn't notice slashdot itself requires registration if you plan on actually posting above 0.

  12. ninth by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    ninth post

  13. f1rst post by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    john katz likes dicks

  14. Major Toll? by quadra · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    "has a dark side that takes a major toll on human lives. "

    I'd think the lack of a job and money would take a greater toll on human lives than dangerous/risky work. I imagine it still beats starvation.