[SI-LIST] Re: Chip caps vs. Tantalum

>   Finally, for those who care, the use of tantalum
> caps contributes to the extinction of African mountain gorillas
> because the
> tantalum mines lure large numbers of workers into remote areas and
> then the
> miners hunt the gorillas for food.
 
I'm glad that someone mentioned this.  The mining of tantalum for
electronics, for capacitors, has indeed become a major threat to the
primate species in Africa in recent years, for exactly the reason given.

In addition to satisfying the needs of our corporate masters, we need to
maintain some sense of ecological and social responsibility.  Otherwise
we may be indirectly responsible for the extinction of severely
threatened species, and for similar problems around the world.  It
should be a factor to consider in our engineering decisions.

Andy



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