Danish director Frank Poulsen’s 2010 documentary Blood in the Mobile addresses the issue of conflict minerals by examining illegal cassiterite mining in the North-Kivu province of eastern DR Congo, an industry strongly linked to human rights abuses.
The cassiterite dug out of the illegal mines is, according to Danish corporate monitor organisation Danwatch, primarily purchased as tin by the electronics industry after processing in East Asia. It is then widely used in the manufacture of mobile phones.
Youth councillor Virag Erdei, who sits on both the Aberdeen City Youth Council and its sister group GRADE A:
“As young people we feel very strongly about this issue. Many people of our age group are becoming ill and are dying because of the products we are buying in the Western world.
“I hope this film can educate and inform, as we all have a social and environmental responsibility to change the planet and make it a better place.
“I would like to thank the Belmont for screening the film for us and their support.”
Members of the public are encouraged to come along to the free screening at the Belmont Cinema, Aberdeen at 11am on Saturday 24 November. More information available from Aberdeen City Youth Council website: www.acyc.info