Conflict Diamonds - Kimberly Process
Thursday, February 3, 2011 by admin
The funding of conflicts using the proceeds of diamond sales in Africa has brought about regulations to stop this type of abuse to humanity. With the cooperation of the diamond industry and government intervention to address the issues and work together to solve the problem, great steps have been made to stop the use of conflict diamonds in the past six years.
In 2000, a zero tolerance policy was announced by the diamond industry and that policy still drives its policy makers today. In 2002 Kimberley Process Certification Systems was established and with it the elimination of the trade in conflict diamonds became a reality. The good news is that 99% of all diamonds in the world today are from non-conflict sources. The proceeds of non-conflict diamonds are being used for the economic growth of countries around the world.
Just some of the many programs that are now being funded by non-conflict diamond sales are the free education programs in Botswana, which allow its youth the chance to explore the world and have a chance at a better tomorrow. Also, in Botswana, these funds are going toward the building of hospitals and funding health projects. The peace in Sierra Leone allows it to export around $142 million in diamonds a year. Koidu Holdings, a diamond mining company in Sierra Leone has pledged 20% of its profits to national social safety and to the local community in which it operates. All of this goes to help with the reconstruction of its once war torn nation.
With the stamping out of conflict or blood diamonds, society as a whole is taking giant steps into the future without the use of a natural resource and an item of great beauty being turned into a weapon to fund death and destruction.
In 2000, a zero tolerance policy was announced by the diamond industry and that policy still drives its policy makers today. In 2002 Kimberley Process Certification Systems was established and with it the elimination of the trade in conflict diamonds became a reality. The good news is that 99% of all diamonds in the world today are from non-conflict sources. The proceeds of non-conflict diamonds are being used for the economic growth of countries around the world.
Just some of the many programs that are now being funded by non-conflict diamond sales are the free education programs in Botswana, which allow its youth the chance to explore the world and have a chance at a better tomorrow. Also, in Botswana, these funds are going toward the building of hospitals and funding health projects. The peace in Sierra Leone allows it to export around $142 million in diamonds a year. Koidu Holdings, a diamond mining company in Sierra Leone has pledged 20% of its profits to national social safety and to the local community in which it operates. All of this goes to help with the reconstruction of its once war torn nation.
With the stamping out of conflict or blood diamonds, society as a whole is taking giant steps into the future without the use of a natural resource and an item of great beauty being turned into a weapon to fund death and destruction.
2011 All Rights Reserved