The Washington Memo Blog offers quick updates on current issues and news relevant to work here at the MCC Washington Office. Here are some excerpts from recent blog posts:
Putting the BP Oil Disaster in Context
May 4, 2010
“As we watch the growing oil spill off of the Gulf Coast, I wonder about the vulnerable communities I visited in the area at the end of March. While visiting with MCC service worker Pam Nath, we drove to the Gulf in order to see the affects of continual wetland and coastal erosion in Louisiana. Dangerous eroding since 1920 has depleted this natural barrier for hurricanes and adversely affected historic communities based on the water….”
Support the Conflict Minerals Trade Act!
April 21, 2010
“The Conflict Minerals Trade Act, introduced in the House by Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), would help develop the means to ensure that the multimillion dollar trade in minerals from eastern Congo stops financing the ongoing conflict.
“The trade in Congo’s conflict minerals, namely tin, tantalite, tungsten and gold, which are used in electronic devices such as cell phones and laptops, is a major source of funding for armed groups in eastern Congo who commit atrocities against civilians….”
