International human rights activist to return to Exeter

The inspirational Bandi Mbubi, founder of human rights group Congo Calling, will return to Exeter this month in a follow-up to his high profile appearance at TEDxExeter earlier this year. Congo Calling campaigns for responsible mining practices and an end to human rights abuses in the Congo and for fairtrade phones worldwide.

Bandi Mbubi will be speaking in Exeter on Thursday 29th November at 7.30pm in St Stephen’s Church, High Street, Exeter.

Bandi spoke in Exeter in April as part of TEDxExeter, the first in a series of annual events that use the internationally recognised TEDx approach to present speakers with world-changing things to say. As well as the live event, all talks are recorded and uploaded to the web and by this month Bandi’s talk had been watched over 300,000 times around the world on the main international TED.com website – a phenomenal success.

Bandi Mbubi’s campaign centres on the way the natural wealth of his home country, the Congo – where minerals essential to the manufacture of mobile phones are mined – is being used to fund armed conflict and leading to horrific human rights abuses. Bandi’s solution is to call for fairtrade mobile phones: “We demand fairtrade food and fairtrade clothes. It is time to demand fairtrade phones!" he says.

Bandi has already inspired many individuals and organisations to engage with his campaign and to take action. His return to Exeter on the 29th November will be a great opportunity to learn about how the mining of rare earth minerals, used in so much of the technology we use every day, is fuelling violence in the Congo – and about what the people of Devon can do to help those suffering there. The talk will be followed by an open discussion. Co-organiser Sara Gibbs said, “We’re really pleased and excited that a speaker of Bandi Mbubi’s stature is visiting Exeter again. This is a fantastic opportunity for us to show our support for his campaign and to contribute to his work to end the suffering of ordinary men, women, and children in the Congo.”

Tickets for the event cost £5, with all profits going to support the work of Congo Calling. Tickets can be purchased at:
http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/event/1851125767/es2/?rank=1&ebtv=C
Some tickets may be available on the door but buying in advance is recommended.

Contact information for event organiser:
events@congocalling.org