Gold, tantalum, tin and tungsten. Without these minerals, important uses such as wire coating, phone vibration and the ability to store electricity would not be possible. Consequently, these minerals are a necessity for every cell phone, computer, iPod and TV that our nation and its companies use.

But to acquire these minerals, girls and women are raped, children are forced to join armed groups, and mine workers are dramatically underpaid. All of this currently takes place in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo where the resources are located. These resources are more commonly known as conflict minerals.

These inhumane actions are a result of Congo rebel groups taking control of the country. Their goals are to have their miners work for a minimum wage, smuggle the minerals out of the country, and gain millions of dollars to later spend on weapons. This has resulted in 1.3 million people forced into slavery, and at least five million people thus far have died. The Democratic Republic of Congo has suffered from this ongoing conflict since 1998.

On November 19, 2009 Congressman Jim McDermott introduced the Conflict Minerals Trade Act to the U.S. House of Representatives to help stop the trade of conflict minerals. This act was meant to monitor and ultimately stop the commercial activity revolving around the conflict minerals in the Congo.

Currently, President Obama signed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act where a section was allotted in regard to conflict minerals. According to www.kpmg.com, the act’s intentions are to reduce "violence and exploitation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring countries by exposing companies that use minerals derived from this region through disclosure and public pressure."

These two political movements, along with other various actions, are leading to changes in regard to conflict minerals.

Dave Algoso is an internet blogger who works in the development industry. He personally takes some interest in the conflict minerals crisis as he sees both the positives and the negatives of the U.S. government’s involvement.

"Is the U.S. government overstepping its bounds? No, certainly not. U.S. policies have countless impacts on conflicts around the world. We can’t ignore that fact. Pretending to be indifferent simply supports the status quo. That said, ‘doing more’ is not always the best thing. . . . The U.S. government should be thinking about the impacts of its policies on poor Congolese, but no, that doesn’t necessarily mean ‘putting in more effort’," Algoso said.

John Taylor, Vice President of Government Affairs and Communications for LG Electronics, sees the conflict in the eyes of a business; most companies do not want to be affiliated with conflict occurring in Congo due to these minerals.

"No reputable company wants their products to directly or indirectly support armed groups that commit human rights abuses. It is unacceptable," Taylor said.

Kenneth Hong, director of Global Communications for LG Electronics, explained their personal policy for monitoring the minerals they receive for products.

"LG suppliers must verify the origin and provide source information for all raw materials to confirm that they are not obtained through illegal mining. This requirement will be reflected in all standard contracts in 2011," Hong said.

While many see only the positives of strictly tracing minerals, drawbacks do exist. Hong elaborated on the difficulties in tracing minerals.

"Lack of resources, not cost, is the bigger challenge. One company simply does not have the resources to reach the origin of every material that it buys from its suppliers," Hong said.

Through the difficulties companies are facing, many are still trying to do what they believe is right. Several companies are taking actions to not help contribute to the problems in Congo with the rebel groups.

"By not contributing to the economies of nations that violate human rights, companies can make a significant impact. Organizations can send a strong message that will we not support corrupt governments with our money," Hong said.

New regulations set up by the U.S. government will require companies to allow the public to see if they are remaining conflict-free.

"As you may know, public companies will be required to report to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on their conflict mineral use," Taylor said.

Because the public could see what companies are effectively tracing their minerals to make sure they are conflict-free, companies believe consumers will acknowledge and appreciate companies that maintain a clean record.

"Educated consumers will also be more inclined to support our brand knowing that we take a clear stand on the issue," Hong said.

In its seventh year, the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC) promotes an industry code of conduct for global supply chains to improve working and environmental conditions. While they are not a government organization that can make laws or regulations, they do, however, have a Code of Conduct that their members must follow in regards to conflict minerals. Wendy Dittmer, EICC’s Director of Strategic Communications, explained what the EICC is currently doing.

"We are working to enable our members to improve social and environmental conditions in the global electronics industry," Dittmer said.

Groups and activists are also working to aid Congo in this war. The Enough Project is a group whose mission statement says, "Enough is dedicated to ending genocide and crimes against humanity, and preventing them from occurring in the future."

Matt Brown is the Associate Director of Communications for the Enough Project. He explained what the group does.

"Our activists take action by contacting their elected officials to change American policy to favor human rights and the end of conflict and genocide," Brown said.

A special division of the Enough Project focuses primarily on the wars occurring in Congo.

"RAISE Hope for Congo, a campaign of the Enough Project, aims to build a permanent and diverse constituency of activists who will advocate for the human rights of all Congolese citizens and work towards ending the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo," www.raisehopeforcongo.org explains.

Brown understands the politics involved in the issues in Congo.

"Certain minerals from the Congo go to fund warlords who are using the profits to carry on their human rights abuses. We are also trying to end the conflict caused by the Lord’s Resistance Army, a rebel group originally from northern Uganda that has spread into Congo, Sudan and Central African Republic," Brown said.

Alexandra Hellmuth is the Youth Coordinator for the RAISE Hope for Congo Campaign. She explained what the campaign is planning to do in order to most effectively help Congo.

"The multimillion dollar trade in conflict minerals provides incentive for militia groups to destabilize communities and gain control of the mines. By collaborating with the U.S. government, international organization, grassroots and Congolese organization, the campaign aims to educate and mobilize individuals to use their unique connect to the conflict—the consumer electronics products that use Congo’s conflict minerals—to be a part of the conflict’s solution," Hellmuth said.

Hellmuth projects how their group can initiate the change needed to end the wars in Congo.

"By creating a system to trace, audit, and certify their products as conflict free, companies will contribute to choking off funds in their supply chain that find their way to armed groups and military units in Congo. This will not only reduce the resources available to these groups, who are among the worst human rights violators in the conflict, it will also create an incentive for minerals traders to reform their business practices and contribute to a more legitimate trade, one that would deliver more benefits to the Congolese people," Hellmuth said.

Actor and actress Ben Affleck and Ashley Judd have recognized the seriousness of crimes occurring in Congo and have taken a stand against them. Affleck was moved after reading about the misery in Congo, and therefore founded the Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI). ECI is one of the first U.S. based advocacy and grant-making initiatives that solely focus on those suffering in Congo. According to CNN during a congressional panel, Affleck stated that "the U.S. government [should] take a hard look at its current commitment and find a way to do more."

Judd on the other hand, traveled to Africa to see the atrocity for herself. According to CNN she felt the situation to be "jaw-droppingly raw" as she goes on to explain the militias motive: "By humiliating women and terrorizing families, the militias achieve their objective of literally displacing them, literally running them out of their homes so that the armed militias can simply set up without obstacles, without barriers — access to phenomenal mineral wealth on which these families are living." With these public figures taking action to fight against the horrors and raise awareness to those around them, it provides those in Congo a bit more hope.

Affleck and Judd did not respond to Lantern requests for comments on this topic.

While the inhumane actions in Congo are still occurring, different groups of people are being proactive to fight for basic human rights and freedoms. From Hollywood to Congo, many people around the world have come together hoping to end the war surrounding conflict minerals.