https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbW4mhTc847pDErNMeKoX2lrF6qIAYhosDjkQjXwCVK-zBNSbcCG1VU5W-bqKjXstHEscKZWn2qNVBewwro6CGTKVBZXdNkzLxK7jNktY-gnQFafcqipltMd_eZZtZjGYEYCFxRzwdxgIj/s800/37483_1549420893340_1169631386_1582357_462540_n.jpg https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYt0IxtWFuv37PvB1Gd8Kod6TlahOT_fhCn-iJ8-pEkoryHl_SvEIjhUDJML7F-v4hMaQBJw4Fskj3bTjBktrthhTtlLVbRpNAMTwAGxVcmZiEYY1XjZiXf2V7nzboZ6p-7DxzTlfLH9U/s800/40915_1566771847103_1169631386_1632329_1637737_n.jpg
Showing posts with label Conflict Diamonds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Conflict Diamonds. Show all posts

Home » Posts filed under Conflict Diamonds

Conflict Diamonds

Monday, May 30, 2011 by admin

When you purchase a diamond what do you look for? Price? Quality? Uniqueness? The next time you purchase a diamond you might want to give some thought to conflict diamonds.

Conflict diamonds are diamonds which get traded illegally in order to raise money to support conflicts. In Africa, some of the poorest countries often have conflicts where rebels cease control of all of the natural resources. This will often include the diamonds the country produces.

Although conflict diamonds have gotten a lot of bad press, estimates are that only 1% of all diamonds are conflict diamonds. In addition, De Beers participates in what is called the Kimberley Process. Rough diamonds that need to cross an international border are placed in specialized containers and are given a conflict free certificate which is contains a unique serial number.

In addition, De Beers has agreed to show evidence to each purchaser up the chain that the diamonds are conflict free. This occurs all the way from the beginning of the Kimberley process to the final sale to the consumer.

Because of these safeguards, customers who purchase from De Beers can focus on finding the perfect diamond jewelry for their needs without having to be concerned that they are unknowingly supporting conflicts in diamond producing countries.

Posted in: | | |

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.

Posted in: | | |

The Diamond War in Sierra Leone

Sunday, January 30, 2011 by admin

The war in Sierra Leone was fought over control of the diamond mines. It began in March of 1991. More than 50,000 people died in the first six years of fighting. Hospitals were reporting that one hundred people were dying of starvation each day, and there was a mass exodus out of the country with a least 384,000 becoming refugees as they fled the violence to seek safety in neighboring countries. The four million people of Sierra Leone’s population that stayed in the country suffered from hunger, and watched the almost total disintegration of their once proud society. Children younger than eighteen became hardened soldiers. All of this tragedy and death was for shiny rocks.

Conflict or blood diamonds have destroyed thousands of lives. Eventually, the United Nations and the International diamond industry finally stepped up and said, “No More.” They banned the purchase and even the use of “conflict” diamonds which effectively cut off the ability of the rebels to purchase weapons and continue the carnage they were causing in their country. These sanctions on conflict diamonds made all of the combatants open to compromise.

What was called the Kimberly Process was aimed at stopping the use of children as soldiers as well as using civilians as targets. It made it much more difficult for rebels and terrorists to profit from what was causing the destruction of countries such as Sierra Leone and nearby Angola. A United Nations Peace Keeping force was dispatched to Sierra Leone, and despite the fact that some UN soldiers were captured and held by the rebels who demanded a UN withdrawal, eventually the country was largely disarmed. The United Nations Security Council’s ban on the exporting of diamonds had taken the wind out of the conflict. When the sanctions were extended to neighboring Liberia where the rebels were still receiving support and arms, the area began to realize the implications. The so called blood diamond was going to lose any value it might have had, and was not going to be able to finance the conflict and chaos that it had in the past.

President Kabbah of Sierra Leone declared the war in his country officially over on January, 18, 2002. Although the UN troops were not completely withdrawn until 2006, the diamond war had ended.

Posted in: | | |

How To Avoid Purchasing Conflict Diamonds

by admin

First and foremost, as a purchaser of diamonds, it is important that you are aware of the source of the diamonds you purchase. Asking your jeweler, or rather demanding to know this information, can help assure that diamonds are no longer used to fund death and destruction. The certification used in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme will allow the jeweler who deals in diamonds to show their prospective clientele that they sell only legitimate diamonds.

The Kimberley Process is a voluntary system that places stringent guidelines on its participants, who account for 99.8% of the world’s diamond producers. There are 45 countries that are participants in the Kimberley Process, assuring the world’s diamond trade stays out of the conflict business, and that the proceeds from the sale of diamonds are not used to fund conflict and war.

Another group that is dedicating its time and efforts to stopping the illicit trafficking in conflict diamonds is Amnesty International. The Clean Diamond Trade Act which passed the United States Congress in 2003 followed the precepts of the Kimberley Process.

The conflict diamond issue is not an issue belonging to the other side of the world. It is one that touches the life of Americans. It is the consumer that ultimately will put a stop to this problem, and in order to do so, they must be aware of the laws and the Certification process, and insist that the jewelers that they deal with are in compliance. They must be careful to make sure that all transactions relating to diamonds are done with reputable jewelers. If your jeweler can not certify that a diamond you are considering is not a conflict diamond, it is time to take your business elsewhere.

Posted in: | | |

Blood Diamond - The Movie

by admin

Blood Diamond, a new film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Connelly, is set to open in December. Blood Diamond is set in the 1990’s in the midst of the civil war in Sierra Leone. During this war, diamonds were sold by rebels in an unethical manner to raise money to fund war efforts. The movie centers around a South African mercenary named Danny Archer, played by DiCaprio. He meets a Mende farmer named Solomon Vandy (played by Djimon Hounsou). He learns that Vandy, who was forced to work in the diamond fields, has found and hidden a valuable rare rough pink diamond. Along with an American journalist, played by Connelly, the trio must go through rebel territory in attempt to save Vandy’s family.

The film, produced by Warner Bros. Pictures, is already being considered as one of the top contenders to receive an Oscar for Best Picture. In addition, DiCaprio is said to give the performance of his career in Blood Diamond and is being talked about for a Best Actor Oscar nomination.

In addition to the Oscar Buzz, Blood Diamond has been the source of much discussion and controversy, particularly among those in the diamond industry. Diamond sellers are worried that the images of DiCaprio as a diamond smuggler and the trade of conflict diamonds will make Christmas shoppers wary of purchasing a diamond during what is typically a busy time for jewelers. Many in the diamond industry are worried that the general public will come away with a negative impression of the diamond market, without realizing that many things have changed since the time in which the movie is set. In a large part due to the conflicts which are portrayed in the film, the Kimberley process was created to insure that the use of conflict diamonds was virtually eliminated.

Blood Diamond opens December 8th in the United States. It is directed by Edward Zwick and is rated R.

Posted in: | | |

Conflict Diamond - Then and Now

by admin

There has been a lot of attention paid to conflict diamonds in the recent past. While conflict diamonds have been a very big concern to the diamond industry, today 99% of the world’s diamonds are conflict free. The media tends to focus on the negative aspects of the diamond industry and it rarely brings to light some of the good that is occurring today because of diamonds.

The fact is that because conflict diamonds have been virtually eliminated, the opportunity for diamonds to do a lot of good has increased. First, diamonds allow many people around the world access to health care. The revenue from the sale of diamonds has been used to build hospitals, clinics and hospices in areas where these services simply did not exist before. Diamond companies are also proactive in assisting their employees with their health needs. The diamond industry has been a leader in providing access to HIV testing and treatment for their employees.

In Botswana, where diamonds were discovered in 1966, the increase in the number of public schools can be contributed directly to the revenue from the diamond industry. School buildings have been built and access to books and other educational materials has increased. The goal is to increase the literacy rate which will have an impact on the health of Botswana’s economy.

India has long suffered from poor economic conditions in many of its rural areas. In recent years, there has been a tremendous growth in the diamond industry. There are now over one million Indians employed in the diamond industry. Nine out of every 10 diamonds in the world are polished in India. Not only has this helped the individual workers, but it has been instrumental in increasing the gross domestic product of India.

Although there was a period of time where diamonds were used to fund conflict, today revenue from diamonds is increasing the quality of life for people around the world.

Posted in: | | |

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Popular Posts