20-11-2009 Enough Project: HP in support of the Conflict Minerals Trade Act

Excerpt from the Enough website:

The next big corporate social responsibility movement – to end the deadly trade in Congo’s conflict minerals – got a major boost today with the introduction of the Conflict Minerals Trade Act (HR 4128), introduced by Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA). Co-sponsored by Representatives Frank Wolf (R-VA) and Barney Frank (D-MA), the bill would help break the link between the ongoing violence in Congo and the trade in minerals essential to our electronics devices. The bill ultimately calls for companies importing certain electronic devices to declare whether or not they are “conflict-free.”

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Certain electronics industry leaders also voiced support for the legislation. HP, for one, had a rep in the audience at today’s press conference passing out hard copies of this statement:

“HP commends Congressman Jim McDermott for introducing the Conflict Minerals Trade Act, which underscores the need to prevent the purchase of minerals from mines known to fund the ongoing armed conflict in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

“As a long-recognized industry leader in social and environmental responsibility, HP expects HP suppliers to conduct their worldwide operations in a manner that does not result in labor or human rights violations such as the direct financing of armed conflict.” (Here’s the rest.)