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Thirst For Coltan Fueling African Conflict

MetaPhyzx writes "According to an article put forth by the Toward Freedom website, the metallic ore known as columbite-tantalite or coltan for short is fueling conflict in central Africa. The relevance to us who read news for geeks: Coltan is in quite a few consumer electronics; the article references the Sony Playstation series." As reader fahrvergnugen points out in the comments below, there's reason to more than doubt the currency of the claims in the above-linked article, as outlined in a post at Joystiq.

10 of 252 comments (clear)

  1. Something tells me... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...That John Connor has something to do with this.

  2. Consumer Electronics? by Hektor_Troy · · Score: 4, Funny

    Consumer electronics my ass - it's being stockpiled for Terminator endoskeletons

    --
    We do not live in the 21st century. We live in the 20 second century.
    1. Re:Consumer Electronics? by MBGMorden · · Score: 4, Funny

      Speak for yourself. I think a Terminator version of Summer Glau (programmable, of course) would be one hell of a big seller at Best Buy. I know I'd buy one.

      If they had a Kristanna Loken on sale I'd probably pick up one of those too. Depends on what type of rebates they were offering.

      --
      "People who think they know everything are very annoying to those of us who do."-Mark Twain
  3. Wait, what did that say? by techpawn · · Score: 4, Funny

    Thirst for Coltrane Fueling African Conflict?
    See there is a place for Jazz in the world... But liked him before he got clean man... No junk... No soul...

    --
    Ask not what you can do for your country. Ask what your country did to you
  4. Re:Sorry to say but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Lord Apathy (584315):

    Really, who gives a shit anymore?

    Surprising.

  5. Re:Text from TFA by X0563511 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Is there a <br /> shortage?

    --
    For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
  6. Re:Sorry to say but... by jd · · Score: 4, Funny

    The Aussies have 99% of the world's supply of a war-fuelling substance, and it's not a lager?

    --
    It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)
  7. Re:Sorry to say but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Damn Skippy!

    Did i mention that i too am work in Nigeria? As matter of fact i has 10 million dollars worth of coltan that my uncle left me, and fortunate for me I sold it to wealthy european business man. But he pay in american cashiers check and I no can cash.

    My friend, this where you come in, I willing to give you 10% of money for you to cash check. All you need do is send me the 90% in cash then you cash check and make $100,000!

    What think you?

  8. Re:Sorry to say but... by Belial6 · · Score: 4, Funny

    "The martial arts are primarily a means of defense, not attack, and are said to be quite handy against guns, knives and indeed rocks."

    Are you seriously going to go with this? Really?

  9. Re:Sorry to say but... by kabocox · · Score: 4, Funny

    (Hell, most geeks already know this. Which is a more effective way to stop someone reading your e-mail? Threatening them or encrypting it?)

    Um, I thought it was either boring them or annoying them with the content of said e-mail.