From Military Engagements to

Engagement RingsTracing The Path of Conflict

Diamonds

Just Another Form of Carbon Deep below the Earth’s

surface (75-100 miles) extreme heat and pressure crystallize carbon atoms

Diamonds are then carried to the earth’s surface during volcanic eruptions

Where Are Diamonds Found?

Diamonds can either be found through:

Industrial mining Alluvial (river) mining

Most of the diamond deposits currently mined in places such as Sierra Leone and Angola are alluvial, requiring only a shovel, a pan, and hard labor to mine.

“A Diamond is Forever”

Diamonds Diamond engagement rings were not common until 1947, when De Beers launched its famous “A Diamond Is Forever” marketing campaign in the United States.

The goals of the campaign: To convince people diamonds are rare Diamonds are the way to express true love Men should be expected to spend at least 1 month’s salary on an

engagement ring

The Illusion of Scarcity

The price of diamonds depends on the availability. If diamonds are considered rare, then diamond prices will remain high. If more diamonds are available, prices will drop.

Companies like De Beers control the supply to keep prices high People think diamonds are rare and are willing to pay a lot of

money

0200400600800

10001200

Pre-1870s 1870s Formation ofDe Beers

Total # of Diamonds Price Per Diamond

Easily Exploitable Resource

How can diamonds cause problems?

The high price of diamonds has caused rebel groups to seek control of diamond mines.

Rebel groups such as the RUF force civilians to mine for diamonds.

Diamonds Fund Conflicts Rebel groups use the profits from the sale of diamonds to

buy more small arms and supplies.

In the past decade, millions of people have become refugees after being forced from their homes by diamond fueled conflict.

Millions more have died in diamond related conflicts over the past decade.

Conflict Diamonds Increase Human Rights Abuses

Human rights abuses such as: forced labor use of child soldiers amputation as a

punishment

Conflict Free Diamonds? Why is it difficult to track diamonds?

Because diamonds are small and easy to transport, it is difficult to track all diamonds leaving a given country.

Smuggling and mixing diamonds from different origins makes it almost impossible to know if the diamond came from a conflict area.

The American Love Affair With Diamonds

The United States is the largest market for diamond jewelry, buying up nearly half of the $56 billion in diamonds sold last year.

Would most Americans care

about buying only conflict free diamonds?

Would they be willing to pay more?

International Initiative: The Kimberley Process

The Kimberley Process is a voluntary initiative that requires participants to certify that shipments of rough diamonds are conflict free.

The Perfect Solution? While the Kimberley Process has not solved the problem of

conflict diamonds, it has reduced the amount of conflict diamonds sold into the open market.

Currently, violence funded by conflict diamonds is escalating in Cote D’Ivoire, proving there are serious loopholes in the Kimberley Process.

Recommendations to strengthen the Kimberley Process include increasing government oversight of the diamond industry and strengthening government enforcement policies.