How far distant from the situation must we be to feel no moral responsibility for the effects of our actions?

Read the following description and answer the questions at the end.

A situation was described recently in the computer industry magazine The Industry Standard (http://www.thestandard.com). The article A Call to ARMS in the June 11, 2001 issue described how the demand for cell phones and computer chips is helping to fuel a bloody civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

An ore called Columbite-tantalite (coltan) is one of the most sought after commodities in the world. Refined, the ore produces a metal called tantalum that sells for $100 a pond. Tantalum is a key component of modern technology.

Various trading companies sell coltan to processing companies. The processing companies sell to manufacturers of tantalum capacitors who sell to the high tech companies such as Ericsson, Intel, Motorola, Hewlett-Packard, AMD, Dell, Sierra, Solectron and Nokia. Then, we buy the computers and cell phones.

Between the mining and the end users there can be a dozen or more intermediaries involved in coltan traffic. Half those intermediaries can be involved between the individual mining operations and the legitimate regional traders.

Over $6 Billion a year is paid for coltan. It is also produced in Australia, Canada and Brazil. And, that's OK since these nations have legitimate governments that regulate mining and monitor legitimate transactions.

But, in war-torn Congo, there is a lengthy civil war. Neighboring Rwanda and Uganda are funding several groups. These rebel groups have found that Coltan represents a lucrative means of financing additional arms to continue the fighting. In addition, Rwandan, Ugandan, and Burundian guerilla groups have smuggled thousands of tons of coltan from the Congo into their own nations.

Coltan brings in about $20 million a month to guerilla groups and independent farmers in northeastern Congo. Much of that money goes to prolong the fighting.

Warring rebels have forced farmers to abandon their land, rich in coltan. Guerilla groups have forced native prisoners, including children, to mine for coltan. Guerilla often hijack legitimately mined coltan and sell it to other intermediaries. Over 10,000 people have been killed and more than 200,000 have been made homeless in the conflict.

Manufacturers have claimed that they deal only with legitimate sources of coltan. Most, however, state that they have no way of knowing the ultimate source of coltan obtained from central Africa.

In spite of the uncertainty over sources, most suppliers and manufacturers claim they do not purchase products from rebels. Ericsson requires that suppliers comply with corporate environmental, ethics and human rights policies. Motorola asked suppliers to ensure that no rebel related Congolese tantalum is sold to them. HP also tries to ensure that they receive no rebel related tantalum.

The United Nations proposes a trade embargo on the import and export of coltan and other minerals between the Congo and is neighboring Burndi, Rwanda, and Uganda.

A summary of the facts could include the following points:

• Some coltan mining and shipments help support the continued civil war in the Congo.
• Determining the exact source of coltan is difficult.
• Coltan is used to produce tantalum capacitors and other components of modern electronic devices.
• Such electronic devices are increasingly in demand.
• The Congo is far distant from most people (especially in the United States).

The moral issue, then, is whether it is proper to support the killing of innocents in exchange for electronic devices?

Some questions below will help clarify your view of this moral issue.

All About Ethics and Morals presents three general methods of evaluating issues. These methods clearly show that assisting the needless killing of innocents is immoral.

Let's look briefly at each general method. We'll phrase each criteria to specifically relate to this situation.

1. General Ethics Criteria
   • Does the purchase modern electronic devices (and the potential support of the civil war in Congo) respect the rights of people affected by it?
   • Would you think that the purchase of such devices was right if you were a citizen of northeastern Congo?
   • Would the potential support of civil war be a good policy in general?
2. Relevant general principles
   • Does the purchase of these goods support the dignity of the people involved?
   • Does it support the "spirit of brotherhood"?
   • Does it support freedom of discrimination based on color, sex, language, religion, and political opinions?
   • Does it promote the right to life, liberty and security of person?
   • Does it promote freedom from slavery?
   • Does it promote freedom of thought, conscience, and religion?
   • Does it support equal pay for equal work?
3. Religious teaching that points to God's nature
   • Does it show love toward your fellow human beings?

The evaluation of ethical criteria, general moral principles, and religious teaching indicates that contributing to a prolonged civil war and its harmful effects is not moral.

The issue is not, however, clearcut.

The Congo is definitely far away. The ability to detect rebel-supplied coltan is difficult, at best. And, we all have other concerns, closer to home.

With this as background, please answer the following questions. After you "vote" the current results will be displayed in place of the questions.

I have a moral responsibility to ensure my actions (such as purchasing product containing rebel-supplied tantalum) do not cause additional bloodshed and suffering in the Congo.
Agree Strongly
Agree
Uncertain
Disagree
Disagree Strongly
No opinion

I have a moral responsibility to help ensure that a recognized body (perhaps the United Nations or the United States) takes action to reduce rebel trafficking in coltan and the suffering in the Congo.
Agree Strongly
Agree
Uncertain
Disagree
Disagree Strongly
No opinion

The conflict in the Congo is too far away for me to personally have a moral responsibility.
Agree Strongly
Agree
Uncertain
Disagree
Disagree Strongly
No opinion

   

After you vote, the results will be displayed in place of the questions.