Has made "no known effort to trace or audit its supply chain".

No KNOWN effort. END OF STORY.

Just because I dont have knowledge of something doesnt mean its not there.

is there KNOWN effort on how the Enough Project got the infrastructure and equipment to come up with all this information? Are all their computers "clean" etc? Just sayin.

Not being able to demonstrate that you're not using these materials is not the same as using these materials.

With that said, the whole "conflict" diamonds/materials thing is (often) blown out of proportion ...

Hypothetically speaking, the 3DS might source $1 in materials from these regions, and $0.01 might end up in the hands of the violent regime; but this is similar to buying a shawarma from a man who gives 10% of his money to his mosque, and then the mosque donates 10% of their money to a terrorist organization (through a charity front).

you don't think nintendo would show what they do if they would do something like the other companies? i don't really understand how all people can believe nintendo would live with such a report if they wouldn't do less than others.

that's surely just my opinion but i really don't see the reason why other companies say what they do and nintendo not if they do a lot for good reputation.

if you would be a huge company and would do as much as your competition in this case, wouldn't you try to explain that so you wouldn't look like the worst? companies always try to get a good reputation everywhere if they can, i don't see why they shouldn't try here.

I think the problem is that Nintendo can't legitimately say whether they are using these materials ... To use an example of how Nintendo operates:

Nintendo knows they need a Blue-Tooth receiver for the Wii U so they licence a design from a technology firm and contract several different manufacturers to produce the Blue-Tooth module for them (which will be supplied to Foxcom for assembly), each of these firms assembles the Blue-Tooth module using components manufactured by other companies, and these companies manufacturing a variety of basic elements source their materials from where they can find the best price. So Nintendo can't say where any of the materials come from ...

This reminds me of the periodic Greenpeace flaps, where the issue wasn't that Nintendo was some sort of Dr. Blight eco-villain, just that they're secretive

Of course, in this case, being secretive is the point. But Nintendo's response is more or less the right one. Unlike a lot of these other companies, Nintendo's hardware assembly involves them doing next to nothing on their own. If you want to know about where stuff in the Wii comes from, you ask IBM and AMD, not Nintendo.

I think this underscores the flaw in these studies.  If someone chooses not to respond, they are penalized and demonized -- regardless of whether or not they are guilty.

Funny thing, in the US at least, you do not have to testify against yourself when on trial.

Mike from Morgantown

Criss, Nintendo has a policy of not partakign in these surveys unless it's part of the Japanese government regulations.

They have a great green energy policy but Greanpeace scores them a 0 every single year because they don't file a report with Greanpeace.   Same with this survey.

Happens every year.  Those familiar with the company, investors, share holders, government boards, etc...all have an understanding of this issue.  And because it means nothing to them in the corporate world, why both spending the money to compile these reports when it's not needed?

More eco-nuts and their "If you're not with us, you're against us" philosophy. Nothing to see here. Move along.

They're not eco-nuts, they're human rights advocates, and they have a legitimate point: if companies are buying a lot of these conflict minerals, that puts money in the pockets of deadly rebel groups, mostly in the Eastern regions of the DRC, allowing them to continue their activities. Boycott the conflict minerals, and you cut off a source of funding for these guys and open up further possibility for a peaceful future in the DRC.

I would argue that their methodology is flawed, especially since most consumer electronics manufacturers just assemble things (if that, see Nintendo). Who you would need to target with these reports are more of the semiconductor makers, like IBM and Intel, who are on the list anyway.