A massive 11,000-carat ruby has been unearthed in Myanmar’s war-scarred gemstone heartland

Most people are probably familiar with conflict nature of some metals used in electronics. The difference with blood diamonds is: - There are simply no alternatives. If you need cobalt, you effectively have to get it from Congo. - Companies are developing technologies (like sodium-ion batteries, instead of current lithium-ion ) to replace those metals wherever possible. - Companies aren't running ads that your phone motherboard isn't "real" unless a 7yo child died digging it up. - Gemstones are usually a "vanity" items that people could do away with, modern electronics are effectively essential.

the real gotcha when it comes to the human suffering factor of a product will always be recreational drugs. Hilarious watching slacktivists try to justify how having a fun night is worth supporting the most inhumane industry on earth

Oh I know. That's why I take care of my devices and use them as long as possible until I can't anymore and then recycle them so the parts can be reused. I'm not out here buying the new IPhone everytime one drops. I used my mom's hand-me down phones for years and she does the same thing I do when it comes to using them until you absolutely need another one. Not the gotcha you think it is.