1)What aspects of the article relate to supply and demand? Explain.

2)Is there any connection to wants and needs in the article?  Explain.

3)What is your emotional response to this article as a consumer? How did it make you feel?

4)What aspects of this article are controversial?  Explain.

5)What aspects of this article require us to think about ethics?  Explain.

6)Discuss the point of view of the supplier.

Smartphones: Blood stains at our fingertips

1.      What aspects of the article relate to supply and demand? Explain.

The article deals with the aspect of demand and supply in the market. The world has a high demand for electronic appliances which also makes manufacturers demand for raw materials like Coltan which is used in the creation of tantalum, a major component in making electronic circuitry (Nest, 2011). This makes the demand of the mineral high in the world as many companies seek to manufacture more appliances due to the growing demand. The mineral is mined in Democratic Republic of Congo which is faced with a civil war since 1998 that has been caused by the mining industry as warlords seek to control operations (Montague, 2002). The warlords therefore control the supply of the mineral and its given to the highest bidder. Many companies have gone to bed with these warlords to get the minerals.

2.      Is there any connection to wants and needs in the article?  Explain.

The article shows the demand for electronic appliances in the world. Demand for such products can be described as a want because people desire to have the latest phones, refrigerators and televisions however, however they may not be that much needed (McGregor, 2009). Demand for electronics cannot be described as a need because it refers to items that human beings must have them in order for them to survive. Human beings do not need electronics to survive however, the need shelter, food and clothing.

3.      What is your emotional response to this article as a consumer? How did it make you feel?

The emotional response I had as a consumer of electronics is anger. I felt angry because the products we use had raw materials that had made millions of people in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to loss their lives because companies were using warlords to acquire minerals from the country. Companies were exploiting the poor citizens because they do not want to use proper channels to acquire the Coltan because it will reduce their profitability. This can only be described as inhumane.

Step-by-step explanation

4.       What aspects of this article are controversial?  Explain.

Using of warlords to acquire the Coltan is the most controversial part of the article. Companies getting into bed with criminals is unethical as it should strive to undertake its business in the most professional manner it can. This means that the companies are the main obstacle to peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) because they are aiding the warlords with money which they use to sponsor the civil war.

5.      What aspect of this article requires us to think about ethics? Explain

The aspect of companies using warlords as suppliers makes us think about ethics. These warlords sponsor wars which lead to recruitment of young children as soldiers, torturing and killing of people and despicable acts like gang rapes. Such activities make them criminals and any association with them is going against human rights and making you an accessory to their activities. Companies should therefore, hold themselves responsible for the civil war in DRC and should stop doing business with criminals because it is unethical since these warlords exploit poor citizens to get the minerals.

6.      Discuss the point of view of the supplier.

The suppliers who are now the warlords view their actions as fighting for their country and only seek in profiting out of suffering citizens. Selling of the minerals to them is business and do not care about the people they hurt while trying to take control of these mining places.