The civil war in eastern Congo has been going on for almost 20 years. Millions have died. Experts call this conflict Africa's World War". It is the worst violence in even that tragic Continent's tempestuous history.
At various times over 20 armed groups have been fighting each other. Often these groups have lost any pretence of fighting for a cause, and are just fighting for local power, wealth - and to stay alive.
A limited UN peacekeeping force has so far made no progress towards stopping the fighting. They, and the Congolese government forces, have sometimes made things worse.
Yet it passes largely-unknown in Britain. Many people have never heard, or have forgotten, about Congo's millions of innocent victims. Our government, and others, give aid to Congo, and expertise.Yet this help is woefully short of the strategic help needed to resolve the causes of this conflict. We need to speak up!
One of the 'engines' which keeps the war going is the illegal mining of minerals by the fighting groups. These minerals, sold on the world market, are paying for the guns and bullets which are killing Congolese women and children today.
Some of these metals end up in the mobile phones and other electronics which we own - our convenience is keeping the fighting going in Congo. We need to make electronics companies stop buying from these sources. We need to speak up!
Our partners, HEAL Africa, are right in the middle of the conflict. Their hospital and medical teams daily treat victims of the violence.
To support HEAL Africa, and to support Congo, WorldShare has organised a petition calling for an end of the fighting, and a letter-writing campaign to world leaders. We want to get the facts of the Congo situation on their desks sufficiently often until they do what is needed. We want to tell the heads of the metal companies that we know what they are doing, and we object.
JOIN US is speaking out. You can download a petition form using the link on the left. Please email us for details of the current letter-writing campaign and latest Congo news.
