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Diamond Mining in Africa
3
Human Rights in Diamond Mining
Dillon McElwee, Isaiah Kurasz
09-01-22
Diamond mining in Africa
In 1867, European Immigrant and Livestock farmer, Daniel Jacobs, discovered African diamonds for the first time on his farmland in South Africa, and the country became a massive hub for diamond harvesting following the 1870's.
Background Information
Diamond Abundace and Slavery
- Africa's notable saturation in diamonds can be explained fairly simply; Africa is riddled with undergound volcanoes, from which diamonds are created.
- Africa's slave trade history lead people to believe that the African population was easily controlled, so taking their diamonds would be an easy task.
Why Africa?
Blood diamonds
Political State
-The blood diamond is any diamond that is sold to fund military action against the diamond's origin country's government.
- The term was coined in the 1990's during the brutal civil wars in diamond-rich african countries such as DROC and Angola.
Violation of Humans' rights in Africa
Human Rights
The mining of diamonds in Africa, notably in the 90's with the blood diamond crisis, has been the root of egregious and brutal human rights violations, namely that of child abuse and crimes committed by imperalistic powers.
Angolan Conflict Diamond
Angola
- The Angolan Civil War, which lasted an entire decade, was the most central example of conflict diamonds.
- UNITA, a rebel group, mined, sold, and smuggled diamonds in order to produce funds for weapons, vehicles, and supplies for their war against the government's MPLA.
- This brutal conflict killed and displaced virutally the entire population of Angola during its decades-long run time.
Geology of Sierra Leone
- Sierra Leone is most likley the African country richest with diamonds.
- Abandoned Diamond mining holes are littered across the country, whic become filled with mosquito infested water.
- Mosqutioes are dangerous, and these abandoned holes are major health concerns.
Sierra
Leone
In Text Information
The Poisonwood Bible's depiction of diamond mining, at least through book 2, is incredibly brief.
Poisonwood Bible Connections
Anatole's Experience
- Anatole, in chapter 3 of book 2, reveals that before he became a schoolteacher, he was an orphaned child who worked in a diamond mine.
Anatole
Text-to-World
Rachel hears Anatole talk about his diamond mining past, and makes the homeworld connection to popstar Marilyn Monroe, who would wear diamond-studded gloves in her shows. Rachel would wonder if Monroe ever knew where these diamonds came from, and if they were mined by kids like Anatole.
Rachel
Methods of Providing Aid
There are a variety of ways in which even you can help prevent child slave labor in diamond mining.
How you can help
Diamond Purchases
The biggest way to prevent child slave labor in diamond mining is to be weary of what brands you buy from. Do research and avoid brands that use child labor to mine diamonds. This will starve out brands that practice this.
Shopping Decisions
Charity
There are many charitable organizations which help in the fight against human rights violations. These organizations help fight for better laws and regulations involving child labor.
Donations
Activism
Activism is great way to shed light on child slave labor. You can spread the information by posting online, and presenting information to your local community.
Inform Others
Discussion Question
Should exterior government agencies step in and stop the human rights crisis? Is it other countries' place to do such a thing?
Discussion
Sweden. Combating Forced Labour and Discrimination in Africa, 17 May 2007, https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/forced-labour/WCMS_082041/lang--en/index.htm.
Diamond Mining in Africa | Child Labor | Conflict Diamonds. https://www.brilliantearth.com/conflict-diamond-child-labor/.
Rakestraw, Marsha. “10 Tips for Helping End Child Labor.” Institute for Humane Education, 30 Sept. 2020, https://humaneeducation.org/10-tips-for-helping-end-child-labor/.
Child Labour in Africa (Africa), https://www.ilo.org/africa/areas-of-work/child-labour/lang--en/index.htm.
“Blood Diamonds.” Time, Time, https://time.com/blood-diamonds/.