Points to Ponder

The Coltan Issue

25% of the world’s Coltan comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, but this is not the only place where it can be obtained. Coltan reserves are found around the world, but most abundantly in Australia (in addition to China, Canada, and Brazil)

Coltan export from the Congo is more competitive than other markets because it can be mined for much less money than in other areas. It is currently being mined illegally in the DRC (largely at the fault of a corrupt government and rebel militia groups), AND because of the immense poverty affecting the people of the Congo, many are willing to conduct the mining efforts for little to no money.
This directly impacts the already endangered Eastern Lowland gorillas in the Congo, because their habitats are being destroyed (as a result of the mining). They are being hunted and killed as a food source for the miners, in addition to the selling of gorilla body parts on the black market.
Countries (the United States included) pay big $$ for the import of Coltan because it is needed in nearly all electronics- most of what we have at home has Coltan in it! (DVD players, VCR’s, video game systems, I-pods, MP3 players, digital cameras and camcorders, computers, laptops, AND CELL PHONES!!)
Government agencies are now trying to prohibit the import/export of “Congo Coltan” to American and European markets not only because of its effects on the gorillas, but also because it has been directly connected to financing the civil wars that are occurring in the DRC.

Environmental Impact

When discarded or improperly recycled, many cell phones and other electronics are dumped into E-waste landfills in third world countries. The chemical contents of these electronics (Coltan) can leech into the water and soil of the landfill sites affecting the health of the people and wildlife that live there.
Eco-Cell recycles all cell phones and other electronics collected by Mariah Saves Gorillas through a No Landfill Cell Phone Recycling Program.
By recycling cell phones and other electronics, the Coltan can be removed and recycled through a process called smelting. This smelting process melts down old Coltan so that it can be reused in new cell phones and electronics.
Recycling Coltan lessen the need for newly mined materials, which then lessen the impact that the mining is having on Gorilla habitats across Africa, including that of the Congo.

Gorilla Protection

For every cell phone or other electronic item that Mariah Saves Gorillas collects, Eco-Cell will donate money to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International (and also to the Buffalo Zoo). These funds are used to further research and protection efforts of our already edangered gorilla friends.
The DFGFI Karisoke Research Center (in Rwanda) conducts field research to determine the impact that Coltan mining has had on the Eastern Lowland Gorillas in the DRC and also employs military personnel specifically responsible for keeping the gorilla safe every day.