Sometimes solutions create their own problems. In 2004, legislation was passed in the United States barring the use of lead in electronics. In stride, manufacturers switched to tin to solder their parts together. A third of the world's tin resources—specifically the ore cassiterite—come from the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has an unregulated, corrupt, and brutal mining industry. In particular, child labor is rampant, controlled by men with guns, which is generally not what you want to encourage when you buy that new laptop.
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"Bonsoir," I screamed back, though it was still morning. "Ca va?"
"Ca va bien," he said as forcefully, as if he were saying, "Fuckin' A."
I heard the diminishing slurp-slap-slurp of his Wellingtons in the mud behind us. Later, I was told there was a rumor among the porters that two white guys had showed up to buy the mountain. Others we met shouted greetings in various languages, depending on who they thought we were. "Jambo mozer."
"Jambo sawa."
"Morning!"
"Good morning!"
"How ah youuuuuu?!" "I'm fine, thanks, how are you?"
"Ahhhh."
"Abadi!"
"Muzuri."
"Namaste"
"Namaste!"
"Nee-how!"
"Nee-how but I'm not Chinese."
"Ha ha!"
"Je ne suis pas Chinois asshole." Every three miles or so there were small kiosks serving rice and beans or porridge. These little outposts seemed like something out of the Gold Rush, the cooks squinting at the workers as they pass. The cooks' system was explained to us: one starts his pot at 6 AM, another at 7, another at 8, so that workers can always get a hot meal. The further along the trail the higher the price to eat.
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