Roskilde Festival

Fair Phone – Fair Future

© Polani Mohan In Congo children dig up the metal cobolt which is used in mobile phone batteries.

In this year's humantohuman campaign, the Roskilde Festival and DanChurchAid draw attention to cell phone companies’ responsibility for sustainable and socially responsible production practices, by launching the campaign 'Fair Phone Fair Future' at this year's festival. Most people know of fair trade coffee and bananas. But when it comes to cell phones and other electronic equipment, it is impossible for consumers to know whether their products have been produced in a fair manner.

Congo: A rich, yet poor country

The DR Congo is one of the world’s biggest exporters of minerals such as cobalt and coltan, which are essential in the production of cell phones. Yet, Congos population is impoverished, and have no part in the country’s enormous wealth in resources. The campaign therefore focuses on the wealth that is right under the nose of the Congolese population – but which they presently do not have any possiblity to benefit from.

Festival guests will 'text for change'

Via a text message petition, this year's festival guests will help put pressure on the international cell phone companies. The goal is to make companies take responsibility for their own production chain. “This is the only way consumers can make sure that their phones are not putting lives at risk - and that the mining industry will benefit the people of Congo,” says International Director of DanChurchAid, Christian Friis Bach.