BLOOD DIAMONDS

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