The Truth About Blood Diamonds

2857 Words6 Pages

It’s hard to imagine that a mineral could be fueling wars and funding corrupt governments. This mineral can be smuggled undetected across countries in a coat pocket, then be sold for vast amounts of money. This mineral is used in power tools, parts of x-ray machines, and microchips but mostly jewelry. Once considered the ultimate symbol of love, the diamond has a darker story. "Blood" diamonds or "conflict" diamonds are those mined, polished, or traded in areas of the world where the rule of law does not exist. They often originate in war-torn countries like Liberia, Sierra Leone, Angola, and Côte d'Ivoire were rebels use these gems to fund genocide or other questionable objectives. Even with a system known as the Kimberly process which tracks diamonds to prevent trade of these illicit gems, infractions continue as the process is seriously flawed. The continuation of the blood diamond trade is inhuman, and unethical, and in order to cease this illicit trade further action to redefine a conflict diamond, as well as reform to the diamond certification prosess is nessasary.

Said to be a girl's best friend, diamonds are often seen as a symbol of poverty, war, and death for many Africans. Due to the cruel and inhuman manner by which these diamonds are mined and process, the trade of these illicit gems must be stopped. Conflict diamonds or blood diamonds are often associated with war, forced labor, child labor, and smuggling. Paul Orogun wrote an article for in the journal, World Affairs, where he describes some of the brutal conflicts in recent African history. “Blood Diamonds and Africa's Armed Conflicts in the Post—Cold War Era”, in which he talks about the conflicts associated with the illegal diamond trade. Orogun de...

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... 10 Jan. 2014.

Miklian, Jason. "Rough Cut." Editorial. Foreign Policy Jan.-Feb. 2013: 31-35. EBSCOhost. Web. 10 Jan. 2014.

Parmar, Sharanjeet, and Matthew Wells. "Child Miners Struggle to Survive." National Catholic Reporter 44.31 (2008): 12-13. EBSCOhost. Web. 13 Jan. 2014.

Orogun, Paul. "Blood Diamonds and Africa's Armed Conflicts in the Post—Cold War Era." World Affairs. Vol. 166. N.p.: World Affairs Institute, 2004. 151.

Spinks, Rosie. "Export of Zimbabwean Diamonds Threatens Ethical Jewellery Trade." The Ecologist 40.26 (2011): 9-11. Library Database. Web. 10 Jan. 2014.

Ward, Olivia. "Efforts to Halt Blood Diamond' Trade Hit a Wall." Library Database. Toronto Star, 23 Nov. 2012. Web. 11 Jan. 2014.

Wilson, Sigismond A. "Sierra Leone's Illicit Diamonds: The Challenges and the Way Forward." GeoJournal 76.3 (2011): 191-212. EBSCOhost. Web. 12 Jan. 2014.

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