Conflict Diamonds: Americans and the Outside Word

CNN posted an article recently on conflict diamonds that made me think back to my international studies courses and model U.N. conferences.


Before I started participating in those activities, I was unaware of what confict diamonds were. But what I came to learn was terrible.


Many African nations have some form of conflict funding item (whether it's diamonds, mineral ores, wood, guns, etc.), and with every form comes human rights violations.


Sierra Leon is the most infamous case of what has come to also be known as "Blood Diamonds", and has a movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio that is loosly based around events that took place during the civil war in Sierra Leon,  many of the same human rights abuses exist to this day.

An oversight process, called the Kimberly Process, was put in place in Kimberly, South Africa to help end the bloody treatment of men and women in these diamond mining facilities (It is located here because it is funded by the De Beers Diamond company who holds a large percentage of the diamond market).


But it has not worked out as hoped.


The numbers still don't add up with as many diamonds in the market, because the diamonds are easily smuggled into other countries by lack of police oversight and police corruption.


These smugglers can then sell the diamonds, and return with money to fund their activities.

                                           Enslaved workers using primitive
                                           techniques to mine diamonds. 




Did you know that people have been enslaved and forced to work as a diamond worker? and if they don't work as fast as the foreman wants they are either beaten, or physically maimed. 

                                                        A person who has had their 
                                                       hands cut off, because they 
                                                       did not work fast enough.


Unfortunately, most Americans know nothing about these conflict items that help fuel human rights abuse in Africa.


So tell that friend you have that is getting engaged, or your mother who wants a new ring for your parent's 30th anniversary.


It's estimated that even today, with the Kimberly Process in place, that 4% of the world's diamond market is made up of blood diamonds.


Don't help to fuel the fire, and consider other less expensive options for jewelry.


For example, cubic zirconia costs less than a diamond; doesn't look like cut-glass; and, is really just a diamond made in a lab.


So think before you buy this holiday season.


May your breaks be pleasantly warm.


And if you want to know about the declaration of human rights.