Diamonds

History First First used and mined mined 2500 years ago Was Was a symbol of wealth and nobility Originally Originally a rare engagement present Mary of Burgundy - first known recipient of a diamond engagement ring in 1477.

Diamond Mining South Africa South Africa Namibia Namibia Botswana Botswana Republic of Congo Republic of Congo Sierra Leone Sierra Leone

Largely Monopolized Largely Monopolized De Beers De Beers 60% market share 60% market share Centered in Johannesburg, South Africa Centered in Johannesburg, South Africa Uses strict supply controls Uses strict supply controls “sightholders” “sightholders” Questioned social and environmental policies Questioned social and environmental policies Indicted and fined $10 million in U.S. antitrust suit Indicted and fined $10 million in U.S. antitrust suit $9 billion/year industry $9 billion/year industry The Diamond Industry

De Beers Advertising Campaign Advertising Campaign “A diamond is forever” “A diamond is forever” Manipulating demand through cultural means Manipulating demand through cultural means

Direct Environmental Damage Actual Mining Waste Actual Mining Waste Causes air pollution Causes air pollution Machinery/Chemicals Used Machinery/Chemicals Used Water Pollution Water Pollution

Indirect Environmental Damage Clearing of plant life Mine dumps make land impossible for cultivation Dust storms ruin crops Earth-shaking blasts

Blood Diamonds

What are blood diamonds? Also called “Conflict Diamonds,” Blood diamonds are “diamonds that originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments, and are used to fund military action in opposition to those governments, or in contravention of the decisions of the Security Council” ~United Nations General Assembly December 1, 2001 Blood Diamonds

Why the diamond is such an easily traded commodity? Large Amount of Wealth in Small Size Form of Currency Blood Diamonds

Where does the Blood Diamond Trade occur? Botswana South Africa Namibia Angola Sierra Leone Nigeria Blood Diamonds

How countries like Nigeria and Sierra Leone are affected: Rebel Forces Use Diamonds to Finance Arms Purchases Blood Diamonds

How countries like Nigeria and Sierra Leone are affected: Blood Diamonds

What is being done to curb the trade of these diamonds? Kimberley Process Fully Implemented in August 2003 after 52 nations Ratified Certification System for rough diamonds Also established national import and Export Standards Blood Diamonds

BLOOD DIAMONDS

Diamonds symbolize wealth, love, and grace around the world In several African nations they have been a means to power a reason to terrorize millions of innocent civilians, and may have even helped finance some of the world's most brutal terrorists

The History

In 1991 a few hundred men crossed the Liberian border and attacked towns in eastern and southern Sierra Leone

Once the war began money became scarce and people took things into their own hands by searching for other means of finding money to fund the war Africa is known for there diamonds, it is the most valued item

The War

Liberia is the main area of conflict: key meeting place for rebels, terrorists and other criminal groups to exchange blood diamonds for weapons Criminals are able to trade these diamonds with ease and are rarely caught, they use the money to purchase illegal weapons

Thousands of Sierra Leoneans have been killed and mutilated mainly because there was no large scale, international intervention in the early stages of the war

The ongoing Blood Diamonds War has yet to cease

The Government

The Kimberley Process is an international government initiative to stop criminals who profit from the illicit trade in rough diamonds A diamond certification evaluation sheet must be completed, that displays the diamonds origin Otherwise the shipment of that diamond must be confiscated

The major difficulty is deciphering between a “genuine” diamond and a “conflict” diamond Once any diamond is sent off and polished, discovering its origin is impossible ! Blood diamonds still contribute to 30% of global trade

The Victims

Guiltless children are turned into soldiers and forced to mine for small bits of carbon that have no intrinsic value in themselves, and no value whatsoever to the average Sierra Leonean 50,000 have been killed50,000 have been killed Half the population displacedHalf the population displaced More than two-thirds of its already severely limited infrastructure destroyedMore than two-thirds of its already severely limited infrastructure destroyed 130,000 people have been killed130,000 people have been killed Tens of thousands raped, abused, and mutilatedTens of thousands raped, abused, and mutilated Children make around twenty cents a dayChildren make around twenty cents a day Global diamond trade makes around $80 billion a yearGlobal diamond trade makes around $80 billion a year

Something MUST be done!