An ugly paradox of the 21st century is that some of our elegant symbols of modernity — smartphones, laptops and digital cameras — are built from minerals that seem to be fueling mass slaughter and rape in Congo. With throngs waiting in lines in the last few days to buy the latest iPhone, I’m thinking: What if we could harness that desperation for new technologies to the desperate need to curb the killing in central Africa?
Let's be aware. I'll be the first to admit, I love my BlackBerries-- both of them. They allow me to stay connected with my life and my work, and often they make that connection more fun. Smartphones make my life easier, but they don't make my life. And I don't think any piece of technology that I have is worth ending life of someone else, even if it's just a small piece of much larger puzzle.
Let's be aware. I'll be the first to admit, I love my BlackBerries-- both of them. They allow me to stay connected with my life and my work, and often they make that connection more fun. Smartphones make my life easier, but they don't make my life. And I don't think any piece of technology that I have is worth ending life of someone else, even if it's just a small piece of much larger puzzle.
There is so much more going on in our world than the bubbles we hide ourselves in. Pop your bubble-- there's a lot going on out here.
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