in 2003 2004 I went to Congo when I was doing an article for an organization
doing an article for an organization
doing an article for an organization called Human Rights Watch on the
called Human Rights Watch on the
called Human Rights Watch on the exploitation of Natural Resources in
exploitation of Natural Resources in
exploitation of Natural Resources in eastern Congo and I took this image
eastern Congo and I took this image
eastern Congo and I took this image which became their kind of go to image
which became their kind of go to image
which became their kind of go to image for the natural resource exploitation in
for the natural resource exploitation in
for the natural resource exploitation in eastern Congo these children were being
eastern Congo these children were being
eastern Congo these children were being used in mines to extract gold that was
used in mines to extract gold that was
used in mines to extract gold that was then used by the rebels to finance the
then used by the rebels to finance the
then used by the rebels to finance the war in eastern Congo when the children
war in eastern Congo when the children
war in eastern Congo when the children weren’t forced to work in the mines they
weren’t forced to work in the mines they
weren’t forced to work in the mines they were forced to carry Kalashnikov and
were forced to carry Kalashnikov and
were forced to carry Kalashnikov and fight as child soldiers to continue the
fight as child soldiers to continue the
fight as child soldiers to continue the fight for the Warlord’s to amass yet
fight for the Warlord’s to amass yet
fight for the Warlord’s to amass yet more wealth so that this fight continued
more wealth so that this fight continued
more wealth so that this fight continued but thankfully Human Rights Watch
but thankfully Human Rights Watch
but thankfully Human Rights Watch intervened and engaged the Swiss gold
intervened and engaged the Swiss gold
intervened and engaged the Swiss gold mining company metal technologies that
mining company metal technologies that
mining company metal technologies that was extracting or helping to extract and
was extracting or helping to extract and
was extracting or helping to extract and also buying the gold from eastern Congo
also buying the gold from eastern Congo
also buying the gold from eastern Congo and Human Rights Watch with these
and Human Rights Watch with these
and Human Rights Watch with these pictures and their report force metal
pictures and their report force metal
pictures and their report force metal technologies to pull out a buying gold
technologies to pull out a buying gold
technologies to pull out a buying gold from eastern Congo 150 million dollars
from eastern Congo 150 million dollars
from eastern Congo 150 million dollars worth of gold purchasing in eastern
worth of gold purchasing in eastern
worth of gold purchasing in eastern Congo that was financing warlords
Congo that was financing warlords
Congo that was financing warlords stopped overnight that’s the power of
stopped overnight that’s the power of
stopped overnight that’s the power of photography National Geographic thought
photography National Geographic thought
photography National Geographic thought they had great vision I think that they
they had great vision I think that they
they had great vision I think that they can do the same thing because this war
can do the same thing because this war
can do the same thing because this war isn’t over now it’s not just gold that’s
isn’t over now it’s not just gold that’s
isn’t over now it’s not just gold that’s been extracted in eastern Congo but
been extracted in eastern Congo but
been extracted in eastern Congo but young children like this this image was
young children like this this image was
young children like this this image was taken in March of this year and these
taken in March of this year and these
taken in March of this year and these children are fighting for a warlord
children are fighting for a warlord
children are fighting for a warlord called Cobra Matata who is still
called Cobra Matata who is still
called Cobra Matata who is still extracting gold in eastern Congo but now
extracting gold in eastern Congo but now
extracting gold in eastern Congo but now this gold is being used in our
this gold is being used in our
this gold is being used in our electronic products it’s not just gold
electronic products it’s not just gold
electronic products it’s not just gold but it’s tin tantalum tungsten all of
but it’s tin tantalum tungsten all of
but it’s tin tantalum tungsten all of these products are being used in our
these products are being used in our
these products are being used in our electronic products and we all use them
electronic products and we all use them
electronic products and we all use them today I use them in my cameras I use
today I use them in my cameras I use
today I use them in my cameras I use them in my mobile phone I use them in my
them in my mobile phone I use them in my
them in my mobile phone I use them in my laptop this young girl you see she’s
laptop this young girl you see she’s
laptop this young girl you see she’s fighting for in my my group they believe
fighting for in my my group they believe
fighting for in my my group they believe that bullets will drop off them like
that bullets will drop off them like
that bullets will drop off them like water and you see the skirt underneath
water and you see the skirt underneath
water and you see the skirt underneath her uniform there that’s her school
her uniform there that’s her school
her uniform there that’s her school uniform this young boy is 11 he thinks
uniform this young boy is 11 he thinks
uniform this young boy is 11 he thinks that bullets will also drop off in like
that bullets will also drop off in like
that bullets will also drop off in like water but believe me they don’t when the
water but believe me they don’t when the
water but believe me they don’t when the fighting subsides most of the children
fighting subsides most of the children
fighting subsides most of the children are forced then to go back into the
are forced then to go back into the
are forced then to go back into the mines again this image was taken in
mines again this image was taken in
mines again this image was taken in January this year
January this year
January this year when we went back for National
when we went back for National
when we went back for National Geographic and this boy is extracting
Geographic and this boy is extracting
Geographic and this boy is extracting gold and tin from this area in Pluto in
gold and tin from this area in Pluto in
gold and tin from this area in Pluto in north eastern Congo and this child
north eastern Congo and this child
north eastern Congo and this child he’s 1314 years old the children they
he’s 1314 years old the children they
he’s 1314 years old the children they live in the mines they’re forced to work
live in the mines they’re forced to work
live in the mines they’re forced to work in the mines twelve hours a day but then
in the mines twelve hours a day but then
in the mines twelve hours a day but then they sleep there so their their toil
they sleep there so their their toil
they sleep there so their their toil doesn’t stop when night falls they curl
doesn’t stop when night falls they curl
doesn’t stop when night falls they curl up in their tent just at the edge of the
up in their tent just at the edge of the
up in their tent just at the edge of the mine and get up in the morning carry on
mine and get up in the morning carry on
mine and get up in the morning carry on working the gold that’s extracted and
working the gold that’s extracted and
working the gold that’s extracted and the tin that’s extracted in the tungsten
the tin that’s extracted in the tungsten
the tin that’s extracted in the tungsten that’s extracted is then taken to the
that’s extracted is then taken to the
that’s extracted is then taken to the borders of Congo and exported through
borders of Congo and exported through
borders of Congo and exported through the border countries of Rwanda Uganda
the border countries of Rwanda Uganda
the border countries of Rwanda Uganda and Burundi and then shipped to the Far
and Burundi and then shipped to the Far
and Burundi and then shipped to the Far East this is a gold mine that has
East this is a gold mine that has
East this is a gold mine that has collapsed and this mine is called Leslie
collapsed and this mine is called Leslie
collapsed and this mine is called Leslie France in French which means sufferance
France in French which means sufferance
France in French which means sufferance and you can see why this is a gold mine
and you can see why this is a gold mine
and you can see why this is a gold mine as well in north eastern Congo all of
as well in north eastern Congo all of
as well in north eastern Congo all of these people are a mixture of civilians
these people are a mixture of civilians
these people are a mixture of civilians and military extracting gold again this
and military extracting gold again this
and military extracting gold again this gold will be shipped to the border of
gold will be shipped to the border of
gold will be shipped to the border of Uganda this time around sold to the
Uganda this time around sold to the
Uganda this time around sold to the military in Uganda and that money will
military in Uganda and that money will
military in Uganda and that money will be used to finance both weapons
be used to finance both weapons
be used to finance both weapons purchases and further exploitation of
purchases and further exploitation of
purchases and further exploitation of gold so this is what happens the gold
gold so this is what happens the gold
gold so this is what happens the gold the tungsten the tin tantalum starts in
the tungsten the tin tantalum starts in
the tungsten the tin tantalum starts in eastern Congo and goes to the
eastern Congo and goes to the
eastern Congo and goes to the neighboring countries and then is
neighboring countries and then is
neighboring countries and then is shipped to the coastal regions which and
shipped to the coastal regions which and
shipped to the coastal regions which and then put on a ship it ends up in
then put on a ship it ends up in
then put on a ship it ends up in smelters and production factories in
smelters and production factories in
smelters and production factories in Asia when it’s turned into electronic
Asia when it’s turned into electronic
Asia when it’s turned into electronic products those electronic products are
products those electronic products are
products those electronic products are then shipped to stores around the world
then shipped to stores around the world
then shipped to stores around the world and we buy them so we are complicit in
and we buy them so we are complicit in
and we buy them so we are complicit in this conflict more than anyone we have a
this conflict more than anyone we have a
this conflict more than anyone we have a responsibility more than anyone to
responsibility more than anyone to
responsibility more than anyone to engage and increase our knowledge about
engage and increase our knowledge about
engage and increase our knowledge about this conflict so that it stops the
this conflict so that it stops the
this conflict so that it stops the impact of this war on the Congolese is
impact of this war on the Congolese is
impact of this war on the Congolese is devastating two million people at any
devastating two million people at any
devastating two million people at any one time have been displaced over the
one time have been displaced over the
one time have been displaced over the last 15 years 5.5 million people have
last 15 years 5.5 million people have
last 15 years 5.5 million people have died in eastern Congo that’s more than
died in eastern Congo that’s more than
died in eastern Congo that’s more than the population of Brooklyn the Bronx and
the population of Brooklyn the Bronx and
the population of Brooklyn the Bronx and Manhattan combined women often have to
Manhattan combined women often have to
Manhattan combined women often have to flee these areas alone and they end up
flee these areas alone and they end up
flee these areas alone and they end up building their homes and trying to find
building their homes and trying to find
building their homes and trying to find a
a
a safe space for their family in the
safe space for their family in the
safe space for their family in the displaced camps this is taken in Goma
displaced camps this is taken in Goma
displaced camps this is taken in Goma which is under the shadow of this
which is under the shadow of this
which is under the shadow of this volcano an active volcano in eastern
volcano an active volcano in eastern
volcano an active volcano in eastern Congo last erupted in 2001 the camp’s go
Congo last erupted in 2001 the camp’s go
Congo last erupted in 2001 the camp’s go to massive sizes people live very very
to massive sizes people live very very
to massive sizes people live very very close to each other and in the rainy
close to each other and in the rainy
close to each other and in the rainy season cholera is devastating and the
season cholera is devastating and the
season cholera is devastating and the last time I was visiting this area this
last time I was visiting this area this
last time I was visiting this area this was during a cholera epidemic and within
was during a cholera epidemic and within
was during a cholera epidemic and within three weeks 250 people had died of
three weeks 250 people had died of
three weeks 250 people had died of cholera the children that are forced to
cholera the children that are forced to
cholera the children that are forced to live in these conditions then try to
live in these conditions then try to
live in these conditions then try to find some small amount of shelter their
find some small amount of shelter their
find some small amount of shelter their families could try to provide for them
families could try to provide for them
families could try to provide for them and this young boy is living in a
and this young boy is living in a
and this young boy is living in a displaced camp in Goma again one of the
displaced camp in Goma again one of the
displaced camp in Goma again one of the most devastating things that I’ve ever
most devastating things that I’ve ever
most devastating things that I’ve ever seen in eastern Congo is the worst
seen in eastern Congo is the worst
seen in eastern Congo is the worst weapon that is used and that’s sexual
weapon that is used and that’s sexual
weapon that is used and that’s sexual violence and an American institution
violence and an American institution
violence and an American institution recently finished a survey and concluded
recently finished a survey and concluded
recently finished a survey and concluded that there were 40,000 women being raped
that there were 40,000 women being raped
that there were 40,000 women being raped every year in eastern Congo 40% of every
every year in eastern Congo 40% of every
every year in eastern Congo 40% of every whim of a fifth 40% of all women in
whim of a fifth 40% of all women in
whim of a fifth 40% of all women in eastern Congo will at some point in
eastern Congo will at some point in
eastern Congo will at some point in their life experience sexual violence
their life experience sexual violence
their life experience sexual violence and this woman she’s 15 years old and
and this woman she’s 15 years old and
and this woman she’s 15 years old and she’s there she was abducted by the
she’s there she was abducted by the
she’s there she was abducted by the rebels and taken to the bush forced to
rebels and taken to the bush forced to
rebels and taken to the bush forced to be a sex slave for the soldiers and
be a sex slave for the soldiers and
be a sex slave for the soldiers and she’s here now she escaped luckily and
she’s here now she escaped luckily and
she’s here now she escaped luckily and she’s here now in a shelter in Goma with
she’s here now in a shelter in Goma with
she’s here now in a shelter in Goma with her child of 18 months and the girl is
her child of 18 months and the girl is
her child of 18 months and the girl is 15 years old the top right hand side
15 years old the top right hand side
15 years old the top right hand side there you see the statistics the
there you see the statistics the
there you see the statistics the admissions into this sexual violence
admissions into this sexual violence
admissions into this sexual violence clinic for 2013 you see the total at the
clinic for 2013 you see the total at the
clinic for 2013 you see the total at the bottom 540 people have been admitted
bottom 540 people have been admitted
bottom 540 people have been admitted into this clinic for sexual violence I
into this clinic for sexual violence I
into this clinic for sexual violence I took this image on the 28th of January
took this image on the 28th of January
took this image on the 28th of January of this year we mentioned this number of
of this year we mentioned this number of
of this year we mentioned this number of 5.5 million people that have died as a
5.5 million people that have died as a
5.5 million people that have died as a result of this conflict since 1998 and
result of this conflict since 1998 and
result of this conflict since 1998 and not many of them have died by the bullet
not many of them have died by the bullet
not many of them have died by the bullet or the gun violence only accounts for
or the gun violence only accounts for
or the gun violence only accounts for maybe five percent of that number most
maybe five percent of that number most
maybe five percent of that number most of the people have died because of lack
of the people have died because of lack
of the people have died because of lack of access to medication lack of access
of access to medication lack of access
of access to medication lack of access to an aspirin lack of access to drugs
to an aspirin lack of access to drugs
to an aspirin lack of access to drugs that will treat diarrhea for chilled
that will treat diarrhea for chilled
that will treat diarrhea for chilled that will treat malaria and this has
that will treat malaria and this has
that will treat malaria and this has taken deep in rebel territory where we
taken deep in rebel territory where we
taken deep in rebel territory where we saw the first image with the young child
saw the first image with the young child
saw the first image with the young child soldiers that were working for Cobra
soldiers that were working for Cobra
soldiers that were working for Cobra Matata and these people are in a
Matata and these people are in a
Matata and these people are in a hospital deep in that rebel territory
hospital deep in that rebel territory
hospital deep in that rebel territory and they’re waiting for drugs there
and they’re waiting for drugs there
and they’re waiting for drugs there wasn’t even an aspirin in this hospital
wasn’t even an aspirin in this hospital
wasn’t even an aspirin in this hospital when I took this picture and that’s
when I took this picture and that’s
when I took this picture and that’s really the the devastating impact that
really the the devastating impact that
really the the devastating impact that this conflict has had on the population
this conflict has had on the population
this conflict has had on the population is that the fundamental breakdown of the
is that the fundamental breakdown of the
is that the fundamental breakdown of the health service the fundamental breakdown
health service the fundamental breakdown
health service the fundamental breakdown of anything that can support the local
of anything that can support the local
of anything that can support the local population all because people want
population all because people want
population all because people want natural resources and the most
natural resources and the most
natural resources and the most devastating impact the most devastating
devastating impact the most devastating
devastating impact the most devastating thing that you see as a photographer in
thing that you see as a photographer in
thing that you see as a photographer in this particular part of the world is
this particular part of the world is
this particular part of the world is when you see children that could have
when you see children that could have
when you see children that could have survived children that could have
survived children that could have
survived children that could have recovered from diarrhea or could have
recovered from diarrhea or could have
recovered from diarrhea or could have recovered from malaria or anaemia this
recovered from malaria or anaemia this
recovered from malaria or anaemia this child Alexandrine her name was six
child Alexandrine her name was six
child Alexandrine her name was six months old she died of cholera very
months old she died of cholera very
months old she died of cholera very treatable just because the conditions in
treatable just because the conditions in
treatable just because the conditions in the camps of the conditions in eastern
the camps of the conditions in eastern
the camps of the conditions in eastern Congo she passed away and maybe when we
Congo she passed away and maybe when we
Congo she passed away and maybe when we leave this auditorium think quite deeply
leave this auditorium think quite deeply
leave this auditorium think quite deeply about how implicated we all are in this
about how implicated we all are in this
about how implicated we all are in this conflict I’m not saying don’t buy any of
conflict I’m not saying don’t buy any of
conflict I’m not saying don’t buy any of these products I’m not saying don’t use
these products I’m not saying don’t use
these products I’m not saying don’t use any of these products quite the opposite
any of these products quite the opposite
any of these products quite the opposite local Congolese people need these
local Congolese people need these
local Congolese people need these minerals it’s there there’s you know
minerals it’s there there’s you know
minerals it’s there there’s you know they this is part of their national
they this is part of their national
they this is part of their national wealth and they should exploit it but
wealth and they should exploit it but
wealth and they should exploit it but they should exploit it safely and then
they should exploit it safely and then
they should exploit it safely and then at and the electronics combination
at and the electronics combination
at and the electronics combination should be engaged in that I think and
should be engaged in that I think and
should be engaged in that I think and and the hope is that this body of work
and the hope is that this body of work
and the hope is that this body of work along with National Geographic and the
along with National Geographic and the
along with National Geographic and the engagement that they can bring power
engagement that they can bring power
engagement that they can bring power that they can bring through photography
that they can bring through photography
that they can bring through photography to this argument maybe one day we can
to this argument maybe one day we can
to this argument maybe one day we can actually buy a smartphone or a computer
actually buy a smartphone or a computer
actually buy a smartphone or a computer or a camera or a television that is
or a camera or a television that is
or a camera or a television that is stamped conflict-free thank
”
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