PublishedPolity Press, March 2011 |
ISBN9780745649320 |
FormatSoftcover, 200 pages |
Dimensions20.9cm × 15.1cm × 1.7cm |
The story behind tantalum or 'coltan' is one of the most compelling of all those concerning natural resources. Yet a decade ago hardly anyone had heard of this obscure mineral, used to manufacture the cell phones and laptops that have become so central to our daily lives.
Then in 2000, reports emerged about mines deep in the Congo jungle where coltan was being extracted in brutal conditions watched over by warlords. The UN team sent to investigate revealed how international competition for coltan was contributing to the ongoing collapse of the DRC and the continuation of a war that has cost millions of lives.
