Blood Diamonds - Conflict Diamonds- What is the Kimberly Process?

The movie, Blood Diamond, draws out the path of a large pink diamond found Sierra Leone in the 1990’s by a fisherman working as a slave in a rebel-controlled diamond mine. The so called “blood diamond” changed and ended many lives but also brought a strong social message. The story is based upon real facts but is interestingly fictional. Although fiction, the story can help you appreciate how a mineral resource can fuel the oppression and slaughter of thousands of people. This is not a first time occurrence, it also happened in Africa with gold and ivory. What exactly are “conflict diamonds”? Conflict or blood diamonds are stones that are produced in areas controlled by rebel forces that are opposed to internationally recognized governments. Rebels will sell these diamonds and use the money for arms or to fund their military forces. Blood diamonds are often produced by forced labor of men, woman and children. The diamonds are also stolen during the shipment or by seizing the mining operations. The flow of Conflict Diamonds has originated mainly from Sierra Leone, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia and Ivory Coast. Due to the violence involved with the diamonds the United Nations and other groups are working to block the entry of blood diamonds into worldwide diamond trade. “The Kimberly Process” is a result of these groups. The Kimberly Process requires each nation to certify that all rough diamond exports are produced through legitimate mining and sales activity. In doing this each diamond that leaves the countries need to leave with a certificate. In the certificates there is an explanation that they were produced, sold, and exported through legitimate channels. Today 71 governments and several non-government organizations abide by the Kimberly Process. The only two nations which remain under Kimberly Process sanctions as of December, 2006 were Liberia and Ivory Coast. The World Diamond Council estimates that 99% of all diamonds are now conflict free.

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