Calling a friend, listening to a song and surfing the web seem like innocent activities, but they carry a hidden cost.

Technology the western world has come to depend on has spurred genocide and turmoil in Africa as rebels fight over the limited supply of minerals found in cell phones, laptops and iPods, John Prendergast, a human rights activist said in a lecture.’

Prendergast spoke at the Boston University’s Howard Thurman Center on Thursday to an audience of 160 about the rape and murder of millions of Congolese people due to mafia monopolies of mineral mines.

Prendergast, co-founder of the Enough Project, a campaign aiming to end genocide and crimes against humanity, wrote the best-selling book ‘Not on Our Watch’ with Don Cheadle.’

He said the link between technology and genocide has not garnered much attention because it is difficult for Americans to connect ‘creature comforts’ with mass rape and murder.’

‘There may be no other war in the world that is so unknown, where the links between our consumer appetites, the things that we need on a regular basis and sexual violence is so direct,’ he said.

The demand for minerals produced in Congolese mines, which include tin, tungsten, tantaline and gold has spurred major competition with little government oversight in the area, Prendergast said.’ ‘

‘There is this literal and figurative gold rush going on in Congo,’ he said. ‘Because there is no clear rule of law, because there isn’t state control or regulation . . . of commercial transactions, the mafia has taken over in these kinds of places.”

Prendergast said some of the mafia’s methods include rape as a ‘war tactic’ used to exert control over villages and prevent rebellion.’

‘They use rape as a tool of social control and intimidation,’ he said. ‘When a militia goes into an area and they want to take control . . . they rape women systematically, because it utterly pulverizes the psyche of the community.’

In the coming months, Prendergast said he will launch a campaign putting pressure on major producers of electronics for ‘conflict-free’ products. He will also address the issue on ’60 Minutes’ to spread awareness.’

Prendergast said he hopes his potential movement will be similar to the ‘Combating Conflict Diamonds’ campaign of 1998, which helped end the ‘blood diamond’ scheme occurring in Sierra Leone.

Ten years ago, Angola, Liberia and Sierra Leone were in the midst of bloody civil wars largely funded by rebel armies’ sale and trade of blood diamonds, Prendergast said.’

‘In Sierra Leone, amputation was being used as the war tactic of choice,’ he said.

However, he said, the Blood Diamonds campaign publicized the issue and in four years convinced the big diamond traders to work with non-government organizations and activists around the world to create a regulatory industry, ending the trade of conflict diamonds.

‘It horrified people around the world when they learned about it,’ he said. ‘The connection was finally made between our desire for . . . jewelry and the horrible violence that was occurring in West Africa.’

College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Kemi Alabi said she was impressed by Prendergast.

‘I thought it was very helpful that he gave a clear idea of the direction of the campaign and how we could get involved,’ she said. ‘He definitely is trying to mobilize young people to take the steps they can.’

Jamie Miller, a member of Northeastern University’s chapter of the Student Anti-Genocide Coalition, said she thought Prendergast could have covered more in his speech.

‘It was very specifically focused on the minerals coming out of the Congo,’ Miller said. ‘I was a little surprised that he didn’t talk more about Darfur and some of the other conflicts going on in Africa, but at the same time he came here with a very clearly defined message, which is always very nice to have in a speaker.’

Raul Fernandez, Howard Thurman Center assistant director, said he was glad so many students showed up to learn about the issue.

‘A lot of times when Africa comes up [in conversation], a lot of folks think of it as a quagmire, something that can’t be solved,’ he said. ‘But I think, looking at the issue and the suffering going on . . . it’s something students should think about addressing.’