Blood Diamonds

What price for these diamonds?

"Conflict diamonds are 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 RUF is a loosely organized force that fought to seize control of the lucrative diamond-producing regions of the country. The group funds itself largely through the extraction and sale of diamonds obtained in areas of Sierra Leone under its control."

"Once estimated at several thousand supporters and sympathizers, the group has dwindled to several hundred, although many of the demobilized fighters have not been reintegrated into society and could take up arms against the government again."

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“My name is Jabaty Mambu. On January 6th 1999, nearly 7,000 residents were killed when the rebels invaded the city of Freetown. At 7 PM I was at home with my parents and other elders who lived with us. They burst in, five of them. ‘Get Up and sit on the floor they shouted.’ "

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1)Gooch, Charmian. "Global Witness Leaves Kimberley Process, Calls for Diamond Trade to Be Held Accountable." Global Witness |. N.p., 05 Dec. 2011. Web. 24 Sept. 2012.

3) "Dreams of Africa Funds Relief for Children." Dreams of Africa. N.p., 22 June 2010. Web. 24 Sept. 2012.

2) Clyde, Marianne. "Real Life Victims of Blood Diamonds." Renaissance Women. N.p., 01 Feb. 2007. Web. 24 Sept. 2012.

4) Brown, Pervenia P. "Africa." Blood Diamonds. N.p., 13 Dec. 2005. Web. 24 Sept. 2012.

5) Jacobson, Lana. "Lana Jacobson - The Writer Studio." Journalist and Freelance Writer Lana Jacobson. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2012.

6) "Reporter Discusses Dark Side of Diamonds." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 13 Feb. 2003. Web. 24 Sept. 2012.

7) Goreux, Louis. "Conflict Diamonds." Worldbank. Africa Region Working Paper Series No. 13, Mar. 2001. Web. 24 Sept. 2012.

8) Armstrong, Paul. "How Diamonds Fuel Africa's Conflicts." CNN. Cable News Network, 26 Apr. 2012. Web. 24 Sept. 2012.

9) Doyle, Mark. "Sierra Leone 'blood Diamonds' Not Forever." BBC News. BBC, 21 May 2012. Web. 24 Sept. 2012.

10) "'Blood Diamonds' Still Sold by U.S. Retailers." 'Blood Diamonds' Still Sold by U.S. Retailers. N.p., 01 Apr. 2004. Web. 24 Sept. 2012.

11) Thakur, Pradeep. "Conflict Diamonds' Entry to India Raises Money Laundering Fear." The Times Of India. N.p., 16 Jan. 2012. Web. 24 Sept. 2012

12) "Israel's Part in the Sinister Blood Diamond Trade." Al Bawaba. N.p., 06 June 2012. Web. 24 Sept. 2012.

13) "UK: Blood Diamonds - New Call on Industry to Clean up Diamond Trade." AIUK :. N.p., 22 Jan. 2007. Web. 24 Sept. 2012.

14) ELibrary: Login." ELibrary: Login. N.p., 02 Mar. 2007. Web. 25 Sept. 2012.

15) Hoyt, Alia. "How the African Diamond Trade Works" 21 April 2008. HowStuffWorks.com. Web. 25 September 2012.

Some extra help:

Kimberley Process

As of June of 2010, the company Whiteflash starting selling a brand of conflict free diamonds called the Hearts and Arrows collection, where part of the proceeds go to an African relief fund for children to try to put a stop to blood diamonds.

The Kimberley Process started when Southern African diamond-producing states met in Kimberley, South Africa, in May 2000, to discuss ways to stop the trade in ‘conflict diamonds' and ensure that diamond purchases were not financing violence by rebel movements and their allies seeking to undermine legitimate governments.

• provide scholarships
• medical care
• food

RUF

Effects on the Countries:

Name all 5 countries that mine the diamonds.

Revolutionary United Front

Answer:

Sierra Leone

Liberia

Ivory Coast

Democratic republic of Congo

Angola

Freetown:

• Created embargoes on firearms
• Depleting resources
• Destroying the land and creating pollution
• Hurting agricultural industries
• Rebel groups trying to take over.

• Sierra Leone capital
• Founded by freed slaves
• Used to be a slave trade city
• Settlement has been destroyed many times
• 4 times
• Civil war from 1990-2002
• Increased crime rate in the city

• Revolutionary United Front

Blood Diamonds

In what month of 2003 did the conference in Kimberley, South Africa take place?

Answer:

May of 2002.

Effects on the people:

How long did the civil wars in Freetown last?

Answer:

12 years

Why isnt it working?

• Companies are still buying the diamonds
• Cant inspect every diamond
• Once they are cut it is impossible to tell them apart
• Government refuses to get involved

What are they?

Bibliography

India

USA

What does RUF stand for?

Who's buying them?

Answer:

Revolutionary United Front

Israel

England

What price for these diamonds?