This is a very poorly done piece. The gentlemean who professes to be an expert in "conflict minerals" is not. All of the "metals" mentioned in the piece are sourced overwhelmingly from Maylaysia and Brazil (tin), Australia and Brazil (tantalum), the Peoples Republic of China (tungsten), and the Republic of South Africa, The United States, Canada, Russia, and China (gold). Minerals used to produce metals that are mined in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by "artisanal" miners are smuggled out to avoid taxes and produced without any regard for the health or safety of the miners. The minerals are processed by western and Chinese companies who fabricate certificates of origin-this seems unknown to your expert-and pay far below market prices. The various thugs and warlords who use slaves to produce these minerals are abetted by the end-users who get a cost advantage by ignoring the suffering of the actual workers and the laws of the DRC and the global market place for metals and minerals. Sincerely, Bob, you should avoid having pieces like this; it makes you look foolish and shallow.