المدير العام
المدير العام
عدد المساهمات : 1713
السٌّمعَة : 1
تاريخ التسجيل : 26/08/2011
 | | What Are "Blood Diamonds? | |
What Are "Blood Diamonds?"
The movie, Blood Diamond, traces the path of a large pink diamond found in Sierra Leone in the 1990’s by a
fisherman working as a slave in a rebel-controlled diamond mine. That diamond changed and ended many lives
and the story of that stone carries a strong social message. The story is interesting fiction but it
is based upon facts. The story can help you appreciate how a mineral resource can fuel the oppression and slaughter
of thousands of people. This is not a first time phenomenon. It happened before in Africa with ivory and gold.
What Are "Conflict Diamonds"?
Blood Diamonds, also known as “Conflict Diamonds” are stones that are
produced in areas controlled by rebel forces
that are opposed to internationally recognized governments. The rebels
sell these diamonds, and the money is used to
purchase arms or to fund their military actions. Blood Diamonds are
often produced through the forced labor of men,
women and children. They are also stolen during shipment or seized by
attacking the mining operations of legitimate producers. These attacks
can be on the scale of a large military operation. The stones are then
smuggled into the international
diamond trade and sold as legitimate gems. These diamonds are often the
main source of funding for the rebels, however, arms
merchants, smugglers and dishonest diamond traders enable their actions.
Enormous amounts of money are at stake and bribes, threats, torture,
and murder are modes of operation. This is why the term "blood
diamonds" is used.
What is the "Kimberly Process?"
The flow of Conflict Diamonds has originated mainly from Sierra Leone, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia and
Ivory Coast. The United Nations and other groups are working to block the entry of conflict
diamonds into the worldwide diamond trade. Their approach has been to develop a government certification procedure
known as the “Kimberly Process”. This procedure requires each nation to certify that all rough diamond exports are
produced through legitimate mining and sales activity. All rough diamonds exported from these nations are to be
accompanied by certificates. These certificates state that the diamonds were produced, sold and exported through
legitimate channels. The certification process accounts for all rough diamonds, through every step of their movement,
from mine to retail sale. Retail customers buying a cut diamond are encouraged to insist upon a sales receipt that
documents that their diamond originated from a conflict free source.
"Conflict Free Diamonds"
Nations who agree to participate in the Kimberly process are not
permitted to trade with nonmember Nations. The Kimberly
Process is believed to have significantly reduced the number of Conflict
Diamonds that are reaching international gem markets.
Today 71 governments and several non-government organizations abide by
the Kimberly Process. The only two nations which remain under
Kimberly Process sanctions as of December, 2006 were Liberia and Ivory
Coast. The World Diamond Council estimates that 99%
of all diamonds are now conflict free.
Legitimate Diamond Trade
The legitimate diamond trade provides jobs for over 10 million workers
and brings prosperity to areas where this activity
occurs. Support of the Kimberly Process by all nations and consumers
can convert slavery into jobs and smuggling into
respected commerce. The efforts are working. Today, almost all of the
diamonds brought to retail markets come from conflict free sources.
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Worker hand-processes stream gravels of a placer deposit in search of diamonds.
Image by USAid.gov. |
Map
of Conflict Diamond Countries. Yellow countries are where conflict
diamonds have originated. Liberia and Ivory Coast were under Kimberly
Process sanctions as of December 2006 |
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الأحد فبراير 25, 2018 3:13 pm من طرف carate
