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BLOOD Diamonds:Are they forever?
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“
Are You Involved?
• What is the historical background to the diamond industry?
• What are Diamonds?
• Why do people want them so badly?
• Who is producing the worlds diamonds?
• What are the working and living conditions of those producing the worlds diamonds?
• Should we be looking more closely at where our diamonds are coming from?
• Should we more carefully look at how all our consumer goods are being created?
Slave/Gun Cycle & Diamond/Gun Cycle –
Is History Repeating Itself?
◼ Slavery was a part of African History long before the Europeans arrived
◼ The Transatlantic Slave Trade
◼ From the 1400’s to 1870 10 million slaves were sent from Africa to America
The Slave/Gun Cycle◼ Transported in chains
◼ Minimal amount of fresh water (space).
◼ Suffocation and disease killed many.
◼ Those who survived (usually about 50%) were sold to plantation owners. ◼ Sugar ( West Indies)
◼ Tobacco/Cotton (N. America)
The
Triangular
Slave Trade
• Resources from Americas to Europe
• Manufactured goods brought from Europe to Africa ( Weapons)
• Slaves brought from Africa to Americas
Todays Cycle
• Many of today's diamonds are produced in 3rd World countries in Africa an South America.
• Slave conditions mining diamonds
• In addition in 1998 about 20% of the world’s diamonds were being used to finance wars of insurgency in countries like Angola, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
The Gun Cycle Continues◼ Guns – most wanted item by
Africans
◼ Once again the diamonds end up in developed Western Nations, while the rebel groups trade the money they make for the diamonds for more weapons and the cycle continues.
“Blood Diamonds”
◼ Opposition leads to being slaughtered
◼ Those who most need protection are often those who are most often abused under this immoral trade.
What are
Diamonds?
• The Ancient Greeks
thought that diamonds
were splinters of stars
fallen to earth.
• In reality diamonds are
crystals of pure carbon
(coal) that has been
crystallized at high
temperatures over millions
of years.
• The value of a diamond is
usually measure by what is
known as the “four c’s”.
Color, Clarity, Carat weight,
and cut. Today the world
would benefit from an
additional C. Conflict-free.
Royalty and Diamonds
◼ Monarchy Convinced Diamonds were more important than jewels
◼ Queen accepted a diamond from De-Beers Corporation
Why Diamonds ⚫ Before 1938 –Average Diamond in United States 80 Dollars
⚫ Advertising showed diamonds and love
Hollywood Steps In◼ Movie industry
◼ Powerful
◼ Fast growing
◼ Movie Idols
◼ Showcase
◼ Advertisements
Hollywood Engagement Rings
“Diamonds
are Forever”
◼ DeBeers slogan "A Diamond is Forever”
◼ By 1950 90% of young men proposing marriage were doing so with a diamond engagement ring
◼ Marilyn Monroe◼ “Gentlemen prefer Blondes”
◼ “Diamonds are a girls best friend”
Where are today’s Diamonds coming from?
◼ Most diamonds are produced in Nations in African and South America (DRC, Sierra Leone)
◼ Today we are the largest consumer of diamonds
◼ In 2006 Canada produced 2 billion dollars worth of diamonds
Where are the World’s
Blood Diamonds?
◼ Many of the world’s diamonds
are mined in 3rd World nations.
◼ The Term “Blood Diamond”
is used to describe a diamond
mined in a war zone, and
usually used to finance that
war.
◼ Other terms for Blood
Diamonds are Dirty
Diamonds, Conflict Diamonds,
or War Diamonds.
The
Kimberly
Process
◼ Kimberly South Africa in 2000
◼ United Nations
◼ Diamonds must have a certificate describing where the Diamonds came from and how many diamonds there are
◼ Do not buy from conflict areas
◼ Working Conditions
◼ Mines
◼ Children
Blood Diamonds: The True Story
◼ https://www.youtube
.com/watch?v=eThl
mx7w9r0
◼ Video Link
What does the following suggest about the mining
industry?
◼
Click on photo-essay
below by mousing over
the icon to view
presentation. Hit
closebutton (x) when
done – then hit space
bar to continue.
The End?
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