Though it's thousands of miles away Sierra Leone connects to what we go through today

Over here it's a drug trade, we die from drugs Over there they die from what we buy from drugs!

-Kanye West – Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix)

“Conflict Diamonds”

• 1. What does Lupe mean when he refers to diamonds as ‘the older brother of the drug game?’

• 2. Make a list of people, places and things Lupe refers to in this song, that are involved in some way with the trade of ‘conflict diamonds.’

• 3. What realizations did Lupe come to about diamonds prior to writing this song? (Find at least 2)

Provide a clear definition of what a ‘conflict or blood diamond’ is.

THE UNITED NATIONS (UN) DEFINES ‘BLOOD OR 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."

THE KIMBERLEY PROCESS (KP)

• Formally supported by the United Nations Security Council in 2003.

• Places requirements on member-states to enable them to certify shipments of rough diamonds as ‘conflict-free.’

THE KIMBERLEY PROCESS (KP) MEMBERSHIP

• 1 – Ensure diamonds originating from that country do not finance rebel groups or other entities seeking to overthrow UN-recognized governments.

• 2 – Diamonds exported are accompanied by a Kimberley Process Certificate.

• 3 – No diamond is imported or exported to non-members of the scheme.

Conflict Minerals• As of 2010, the resource fueling

one of the world’s deadliest wars is Gold in the Congo.

• Gold bars are less traceable than diamonds.– No industry standard exists for

verifying the origin of gold.

• Other conflict minerals being illicitly exported from the Congo include things like: cobalt, tungsten, cassiterite, coltan, tantalite.

Section 1502 – United States Consumer Protection Act

• A conflict minerals provision included in 2010. Signed by President Obama.

• Aims at increasing transparency of supply chains, and gaining full disclosure from those extracting and using resources labelled ‘conflict minerals.’

• “A product may be labeled as ‘DRC conflict free’ if the product does not contain conflict minerals that directly or indirectly finance or benefit armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or an adjoining country.”

DOES SECTION 1502 OF THE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT GO FAR ENOUGH AND WHAT THINGS

CAN YOU DO TO HELP HALT THE USE OF CONFLICT MATERIALS?

Section 1502 – United States Consumer Protection Act

• Unless companies identify their smelters and processors they will be unable to determine if they are in fact using ‘conflict minerals.’

– Some companies argue the cost of this is not in their budgets, but groups like Global Witness have tracked minerals in the DRC & neighbouring countries with much smaller budgets.

Section 1502 – United States Consumer Protection Act

• Global Witness is suggesting to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that:

– 1 – Companies should be required to identify their smelters and processors and more importantly publish them.

– 2 – Verify the smelters’ chain of custody documents.– 3 – Look out for ‘red flags.’

What is Canada doing with regards to ‘conflict minerals?’

• NDP foreign affairs critic, Paul Dewar, introduced a bill to fight the spread of ‘conflict minerals’ in the DRC this past March.

• “We have to do what we did with blood diamonds. This is about doing what we’ve done before with the Kimberley Process.”

–Paul Dewer

Statistics as of 2010

TAKE ACTION

• Follow @miningconflict and @Global_Witness on Twitter to stay updated on current events with regards to, and campaigns against conflict minerals.

• Commit to purchase conflict-free products:– http://www.raisehopeforcongo.org/