'Blood Mineral' Trade Short Film Premieres in London

Source: 
Demotix
Duration: 
Monday, September 26, 2011 - 20:00
Countries: 
Africa
Central Africa
Congo (Kinshasa)
PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
General Women, Peace and Security
Human Rights
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
Initiative Type: 
Multi-Media

New Hollywood-backed short film, Unwatchable, which exposes the ‘blood mineral' trade in The Democratic Republic of Congo, premieres in London.

The film aims to highlight the link between minerals imported from the Congo used in UK electronics, in particular mobile phones, with the use of rape and murder as weapons of war in the country.

The six minute film, which is shockingly honest and open about the terrible crimes committed in the DRC by armed gangs, is hoping to highlight the campaign by Save the Congo to alert world to the number of Congolese raped and murdered every day.

‘Unwatchable' graphically portrays the true story of a Congolese woman, Masika, who with her family is brutalised at the hands of armed militia. She and her daughters are gang-raped, while her husband is savagely mutilated and murdered.
There is however a twist in the course of the plot, as the powerful re-enactment switches the setting from Central Africa to an idyllic rural setting in England. It forces the viewer to really consider how they would react if this violence was occurring on their doorstep.

Vava Tampa, Director Save the Congo, says” Statistics and reports can convey something of the physical and emotional pain and trauma that continues to engulf the Congo, but they may fail to bring to life the human aspect of this tragedy. Unwatchable bring the ongoing wars and rape of women in the Congo into our homes and living rooms.

Some Western electronics companies are using these 'blood metals', including tin, tungsten and gold in the production of mobiles, unbeknown to its customers. The producers of the film hope that after watching the film, there will be a public outcry and people will demand an industry change and order that their mobile phone company immediately implement the OECD Due Diligence Guidance.

‘We hope that everyone will get angry, demand that mobile phone manufacturers clean up their supply chain and urge the EU to introduce legislation compelling them to do so,' said Hawker.