BLOOD DIAMONDSWilliam Kim

 

   

$4000.00

CONFLICT DIAMONDS

• Conflict diamonds are diamonds illegally traded to fund conflict in war-torn areas, particularly in central and western Africa. 

• The United Nations (UN) defines conflict diamonds as "diamonds that originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments, and are used to fund military action in opposition to those governments, or in contravention of the decisions of the Security Council." 

• These diamonds are usually referred to as "blood diamonds."

ENJOY THE MOVIE! ; )

Van De Kamp & DeBeers Corp. 

• The producers of “Blood Diamond” have taken care to assure us that they are not damning the industry itself, rather raising awareness of the need to make sure one does not buy conflict diamonds. 

• But the film accurately casts De Beers, the Johannesburg- based company that is by far the most powerful entity in the diamond industry (called Van De Kamp in the movie) as its villain.  

• De Beers’ very existence is woven into the history of Apartheid South Africa and the colonization of the continent, and the Kimberly Process is still full of loopholes. 

PRESENT DAY AFRICA

• Conflict diamonds captured the world's attention during the extremely brutal conflict in Sierra Leone in the late 1990s. During this time, conflict diamonds represented approximately 4% of the world's diamond production. Illicit rough diamonds have also been used by rebels to fund conflicts in Angola, Liberia, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo.

• Following are African diamond producing countries where rebels have used diamonds to fund conflict in the past. These countries are now at peace - with rebels no longer trading in conflict diamonds - and are participants of the Kimberley Process. 

• Although the flow of conflict diamonds has been reduced to less than 1%, there is still one African diamond-producing country — Ivory Coast — that is under UN Security Council Resolution to prohibit the extraction and trade in diamonds. This country produces a very low percentage of the world's diamond supply. 

PRESENT DAY SIERRA LEONE

• Sierra Leone is now at peace. Ernest Bai Koroma became president following elections in September, 2007. Today, diamonds represent a resource of crucial importance to the future development of the country. 

• Sierra Leone continues to be a participant of the Kimberley Process and exported approximately $125 million worth of diamonds (approximately 3% of the world's diamonds) in 2006. Revenues from diamond exports are making a positive contribution to the rebuilding of its infrastructure, health services and education systems.

Making a Difference and Buying With Confidence

DON'T FEEL BADAs a consumer, you should feel good about your diamond purchase. Ask your friends and family for recommendations to find a jeweler you can trust. Make sure that the jeweler is willing to spend time providing the information you need. A reputable jeweler should:• Only use suppliers who can provide a guarantee that their

diamonds are from sources free of conflict• Have a conflict diamond policy• Be able to answer a customer's questions about the topic

ASK QUESTIONS TO GET THE ASSURANCE YOU NEEDFor further reassurance from a jeweler, a customer can ask the following suggested questions:• How can I be sure that none of your jewelry contains conflict

diamonds?• What is your company's policy on conflict diamonds?

SPREADING AWARENESS IS EASY!

No, we don't HAVE to Riot about Blood Diamonds on Bloor Street...

Some of the simple, yet effective ways of spreading awareness are to: 

Tell your friends to tell their friends to:• Join the Official Blood Diamond Facebook Group• Diamonds Aren't What they Seem

o www.diamondfacts.org                        OR• Watch Blood Diamond the Movie