BLOOD DIAMONDS
Added on: 2nd Mar 2015
ALSO KNOWN AS CONFLICT DIAMONDS, HOT DIAMONDS,
AND WAR DIAMONDS, BLOOD DIAMONDS ARE MINED
IN WAR ZONES AND SOLD TO FINANCE INSURGENCIES.
THESE AREAS USUALLY INCLUDE CENTRAL AND WEST
AFRICAN COUNTRIES
WARLORDS USE EXTREME VIOLENCE IN ORDER TO FORCE
THE LOCALS INTO EXTRACTING THEIR DIAMONDS
FOR EXAMPLE, DURING THE CIVIL WAR IN SIERRA LEONE
A GROUP KNOWN AS THE REVOLUTIONARY UNITED FRONT
KILLED, THREATENED, AND EVEN CUT OFF THE ARMS
OF PEOPLE IN THE DIAMOND VILLAGES UNTIL THEY TOOK
CONTROL OF THE MINES
IN SIERRA LEONE 20,000 PEOPLE WERE MUTILATED AND
MILLIONS FLED THE COUNTRY
ACCORDING TO NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC NEWS, BLOOD
DIAMONDS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR 4 MILLION DEATHS.
THE PROBLEM WASN'T REALLY MADE KNOWN TO THE
PUBLIC UNTIL LEONARD DICAPRIO STARRED IN THE MOVIE
BLOOD DIAMOND
THE DIAMOND INDUSTRY RESPONDED TO THE MOVIE WITH
SUCCESSFUL PR CAMPAIGNS – PEOPLE KEPT BUYING.
SEVERAL YEARS EARLIER IN 2002 THE KIMBERLY PROCESS
CERTIFICATION SCHEME WAS CREATED TO REGULATE
DIAMOND TRADING AND PREVENT ILLEGITIMATE DIAMONDS
FROM ENTERING THE MARKET
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