Apple Confirms Suppliers Do Not Use Unethically Sourced Tantalum

[gnasher729]

Is it me or was the title of the article here at Macrumors terrible? Why would you basically use a double negative to say "Do Not" and then "Unethically"....

Why wouldn't we just say "Apple confirms Suppliers use Ethically Sourced Tantalum"?

It expresses exactly what it wants to express. A supplier could use both ethically sourced and unethically sourced Tantalum. That supplier could truthfully (but misleadingly) claim that they use ethically sourced Tantalum. We don't care about that. We care about unethically sourced Tantalum.

On the other hand, a supplier might not use Tantalum at all. You ask him "do you use ethically sourced Tantalum", and he must truthfully answer "no". And now everybody thinks the worst of him. Saying "I don't use unethically source tantalum" expresses exactly what we want to know.

 

[kdarling]

This is a required report.

In 2012, the SEC adopted rules that require EVERY company listed in the US that builds products with tin, tungsten, tantalum or gold, to make yearly investigations to make sure the minerals didn't come from the Congo.

Fortunately for the thousands of such manufacturers, the investigations don't have to be first hand. Either the supplier or a third party can attest to it.

Companies need only investigate further if they find any evidence of a link to the banned mining areas.

 

[Salty Pirate]

Thank God......I was so worried!

 

[paulrbeers]

It expresses exactly what it wants to express. A supplier could use both ethically sourced and unethically sourced Tantalum. That supplier could truthfully (but misleadingly) claim that they use ethically sourced Tantalum. We don't care about that. We care about unethically sourced Tantalum.

On the other hand, a supplier might not use Tantalum at all. You ask him "do you use ethically sourced Tantalum", and he must truthfully answer "no". And now everybody thinks the worst of him. Saying "I don't use unethically source tantalum" expresses exactly what we want to know.

First off, he doesn't have to just say yes or no. His response could be "We don't use Tantalum at all" could it not? Why a yes/no response?

Further Macrumors isn't questioning a supplier directly are they? This is a title to an article and stating something like "Apple suppliers use Ethically sourced Tantalum" means that they use Tantalum AND they are ethically sourced does it not?

Edit: And before you mention something that this would be a questionaire that is filled out, I've filled out many corporate questionaires and if the question is a Yes/no, there is always an N/A option....

 

[JHankwitz]

This is a required report.

In 2012, the SEC adopted rules that require EVERY company listed in the US that builds products with tin, tungsten, tantalum or gold, to make yearly investigations to make sure the minerals didn't come from the Congo.

And this is all brought to you via the "Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act". It's great these regulations will protect me and provide reform on Wall Street.

I'd love to know how much US companies have spent to ensure they abide by these regulations, and what impact it has made on the conditions in the Congo. I agree something had to be done, but I'd like to know how much the benefit cost.

 

[RMXO]

That's a shame.
As I held the article open on my Galaxy S4 I was easily able to see the technician holding the larger iPad.

Maybe if Apple released a bigger phone you could see it more clearly LOL

Thank you sir. It brought up a chuckle from me. Great way to start off the day as I take a train to work.

 

[Snowshiro]

They meant Conflict mined tantalum. The way they wrote it is similar to people saying they don't buy conflict diamonds or conflict mineral diamond

Yeah, I know what they meant, but what they wrote is entirely different.

mm.... in the first, u missed the word, 'conflict'. in the second, u missed the 'war torn africa...'

You need to learn how commas work.

 

[RogueWarrior65]

At your next party...

Be sure that you eat only ethically-sourced guacamole made with non-conflict avocados.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303277704579349283584121344

 

[BeyondtheTech]

Notice that he was suspiciously quiet when asked if they utilized unicorn blood.

 

[nazaar]

Some of the comments in this thread are really unfortunate.

When stuff like this doesn't happen in your home country it's almost a 'who cares' attitude.

Speak up. Let corporations know that you won't accept situations like this. When they say it's not them it's who they're working with... 3rd party, 4th party... what ever. It still unacceptable.

 

[sofila]

I really don't care where the tantalum for my Macbook comes from.

Stupid persons are never satisfied. They always have to make sure that everyone else is aware of their state

 

[KdParker]

I really don't care where the tantalum for my Macbook comes from.

While I don't like the term conflict (name your mineral) and it makes me think of human suffering. I am not sure that we have a right to decide who profits from a soveriegn nations natural resources.

It's kinda like the pot calling the kettle black.

We didn't have someone outside power determining the winners and losers of our industiral revolution as all the 'first world countries' went through the same process before becoming an industrilized countries.

They broke the backs of the workers to gain weatlh and these same coutries (we know who we are) didn't hesitate to use that wealth to wage war on other nations.

I am not even sure that it is possible to pick the winners and losers in other developing cultures, especially when it comes to minerals that are in high demand around the world.

 

[8CoreWhore]

Is Tantalum what the humans will be trying to take from Pandora in Avatar 2?

It does sound tantalizing...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unobtainium

Interesting note: Critics universally slammed James Cameron for inventing such a word accusing him of being lazy and/or cartoonish.

Fact is, Unobtanium is exactly the best word to use for the material considering its etymology. The critics had no idea this word existed and ultimately the joke was on them.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

I really don't care where the tantalum for my Macbook comes from.

From a guy who calls himself "a hebrew"? Wow.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unobtainium
Interesting note: Critics universally slammed James Cameron for inventing such a word accusing him of being lazy and/or cartoonish. The critics had no idea this word existed and ultimately the joke was on them.

Disagree. "Unobtanium" is so well established and well known, that for Cameron to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on a story that tries to be serious, but then uses the word as an actual name of a real mineral the whole film hinges on, is so ridiculous it takes you right out of the movie and into the writers room looking for the hamster that wrote it. ...and the rest of that film.

 

[imageWIS]

Coolest thing ever made out of tantalum:

 

[melendezest]

Coolest thing ever made out of tantalum:

Image

Very nice! Than is the manliest watch I've ever seen.

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While I don't like the term conflict (name your mineral) and it makes me think of human suffering. I am not sure that we have a right to decide who profits from a soveriegn nations natural resources.

It's kinda like the pot calling the kettle black.

We didn't have someone outside power determining the winners and losers of our industiral revolution as all the 'first world countries' went through the same process before becoming an industrilized countries.

They broke the backs of the workers to gain weatlh and these same coutries (we know who we are) didn't hesitate to use that wealth to wage war on other nations.

I am not even sure that it is possible to pick the winners and losers in other developing cultures, especially when it comes to minerals that are in high demand around the world.

Agreed. Not to mention, that a lot of the strife in Africa is the direct result of the imperialistic and unethically capitalistic policies of said industrialized "first-world" countries, who used everything from human trafficking (slaves) onwards on their way to becoming the powerful entities they are today.

The strife in Africa is saddening and Africans bear most of the responsibility, but let's not try to sweep our (countries') guilt under the rug, either.

Still, companies taking steps to ensure responsible and ethical resource gathering is a step in the right direction, no matter how you look at it.

 

[MartiNZ]

As long as that thing is running OS X and not iOS, bring it on. New category of a touch device with a proper OS? New to Apple at least....

 

[A Hebrew]

From a guy who calls himself "a hebrew"? Wow.

Ok.

Which makes you a perfect example of what is wrong with the world today.

What is wrong with not caring? Explain.

 

[KopThat]

Image

Would be nice if it was an iPad Pro

It could be the screen from a Macbook Air

She may be very small and it's a normal sized iPad

 

[hal9k]

working condition at Samsung

Just wanted to share with you guys these articles.

Film reconstructs tragedy of Samsung employee (an article from the Korea Herald)
http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140123000868

Not just Apple: Working life at the Samsung iPhone factory
http://blogs.computerworld.com/19941/not_just_apple_working_life_at_the_samsung_iphone_factory

Apple may not be perfect all the time but I believe they are honestly trying to correct themselves when something is not working or against the spirit of Apple.
Compare that to what Samsung does or believes (which I think is "Wining is everything").

In Korea, a small independent film was released recently which had been funded with crowd-sourcing which tells a story of a young woman who died of leukemia at age 23 in 2007 after working for four years at a Samsung memory chip factory (please read the article above) If a case like this had happened at Apple, I would have been very shocked. But at Samsung, not so much.
I am not just an observer far away from the reality. I live in Korea and believe me, I know what these guys are like.

----------

Also please check this out.

http://stopsamsung.wordpress.com

 

[jouster]

Which makes you a perfect example of what is wrong with the world today.

I dunno. I'm sure there are many who are ready to post about their outrage on anonymous fora. How many of them actually change their purchasing habits?

At least s/he was being honest.

 

[Rafagon]

Which makes you a perfect example of what is wrong with the world today.

Don't be such a hypocrite.

Cows, chickens, and countless other animals are killed every day for humans to feed on. Humans kill animals so that they can have leather belts and auto leather interiors.

Doesn't anyone see a conflict in this??

 

[highdough]

I really don't care where the tantalum for my Macbook comes from.

I prefer all the goods I buy are made by small children through forced labour, and that their blood is physically on the goods. That way I can be sure that I'm contributing to their circumstances. I insist on this because I have no conscience and care only about myself.

I would write more, but I need to get away from an innocent bystander who is having a heart attack. I don't want to inconvenience myself by getting involved.

 

[kdarling]

I'd love to know how much US companies have spent to ensure they abide by these regulations,

It was predicted that compliance investigations would cost billions, but they did the smart thing and went in together.

The Conflict Free Sourcing Initiative (CFSI) is sponsored by a group of 150+ major companies (including Apple, Samsung, Motorola, HTC, LG, even AT&T, Sprint and Verizon) who pay from $3K to $20K a year to be members.

Apple wrote their press release to make it sound like they did all the checking themselves, but CFSI is the "third party" that audited all the smelters, came up with the lists, etc... and they did so for all their members.

and what impact it has made on the conditions in the Congo. I agree something had to be done, but I'd like to know how much the benefit cost.

No idea what impact it's actually made. We know that conflict diamonds continue to make their way out of the area, and no doubt many minerals (especially gold) do so as well.

 

[dec.]

Apple wrote their press release to make it sound like they did all the checking themselves, but CFSI is the "third party" that audited all the smelters, came up with the lists, etc... and they did so for all their members.

The press release and excerpt of the WSJ-Interview both explicitly say that the smelters "were identified/validated by third parties". Is the "CFSI" not a "third party"? I'm not sure where you think that you see that they "make it sound like they did all the checking themselves", but ok...