Online Exhibit
Conflict Minerals
U.S. Geological Survey experts provide technical support to the State Department to help track and monitor the mining of conflict diamonds and minerals.
As student protests continue, miners tweet messages supporting the students and blaming the government.
Myca’s president calls the miners “selfish” and “disruptive.” She says if they strike, she will tell the mine owners to fire them all and replace them with nonunion workers.
The leader of the Miners’ Union says the president cares more about money than the well-being of her people. The union plans to vote this afternoon on whether to strike. You want to calm all sides down so that the graphite trade continues uninterrupted.
U.S. Embassy to Myca
Office of the Ambassador
We should aim to maintain dialogue with government leaders and labor leaders so that when conflicts arise they can help calm tensions.
Myca’s president could get the miners fired and replaced. But a strike would damage the economy. The president has stayed in power for so long partly by providing the country with a strong economy.
The union leader has been open about supporting student pro-democracy protesters. But he is also very protective of his miners and their jobs. He doesn’t get along with the president and will be angry with her threat.
