Best Buy IdeaX

[#1]

Label new cell phones as free from conflict mineral from the DRC .

[#2]

To clarify.... what part of the phone uses what mineral?

I would like to purchase phones from companies that pays a fair wage and looks after it's employees.  Sadly in a price sensitive society, they reward manufacturers who delivers a products with a minimal cost taking advantage of cheap labour.

[#3]

True regarding the market place, however consumer choices if well informed can be quite powerful. Look at organic foods.  Intel has unilaterally decided not to use any minerals sourced from the conflict areas. More technical information can be found on the web site raisinghopeforthecongo.org

the minerals in question are tantalum,tin,tungsten,and gold. Not as flashy as blood diamonds but bloody conflict, raxpe and evil are perpetuated by their profits. Over 5 million have been killed in this genocide, unscrupulous mining is polluting the waters, and warring factions are killing and further threatening the endangered lowland gorilla.

[#4]

I'm fairly certain that phones don't come from the manufacturer with a list of where the materials used to make them came from. I would suggest reaching out to the manufacturer on this.

[#5]

That is exactly the point! Please use your considerable influence to request from your suppliers that they source  the minerals used in electronics from non conflict areas. A manufacturer will be forced to consider where their minerals come from with a large corporation such as yourselves giving them a bit of a nudge. YOU have the buying power to demand it. Just think of the free publicity you could create by putting out the news.   "best buy in fulfilling our corporate mission....will now sell environmentally sound and conflict free electronics. This green sticker labeled CF, will ensure customers that the products they buy meet the highest standards......etc."

If I had a choice that's what I would prefer and quite frankly pay more for. 

[#6]

if it is an issue for an individual for these concerns then one can do their own research and find out this information. 

A company should not be spouting out reasons why you should not buy a product from them.

You would probalby find then that most imported phones are going to offend you. 

[#7]

Genocide , mass xrape and destruction of endangered species and the environment offends me. And many consumers are not aware of the situation, nor their complicity in funding such atrociities.

consumers can and should  bring pressure on manufacturers and suppliers to state the origin of their sourced minerals. I do not suggest companies "spout" anything , least not what products to buy.  Most companies are aware, most consumers are not. If your gold watch was made from concentration camp prisoners teeth would you think the same way?

[#8]

So how many of us are avoid Apple products???
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxconn_suicides