Conflict Diamonds Case Study

For centuries, diamonds have been regarded as one of the most valuable commodities in the world and the industry has evolved into billions of dollars. At the top, De Beers dominated the entire industry worldwide, from exploration to retail selling. However, it has a reputation of a monopolist, where it influences supply and demand. The two critical factors that De Beers carefully maintained throughout the century to remain in monopoly was to create the illusion of the scarcity of the diamonds and to keep the prices high. Realizing the benefits of the cooperation and the dangers of the oversupply, most

When one is on the other side of the earth, there is only so much information that a person could obtain. This was a great enough reason for the author, Greg Campbell, of "Blood Diamonds" to expose what all eyes are not seeing and what many are blind to in this world. Campbell went out to research the tracks and origins of a very valuable stone known as the diamond. In doing so, he urges to research the origins and life of this precious rock. He goes about researching just exactly how the life of the diamond begins in the jungles of Sierra Leone and ends up in the London on its market. This is what could be said to be the ultimate reason for this book "Blood Diamond”. Evidently, Campbell wanted to expose or let it be known how African

The process of producing the diamonds so they could be sold on the market involved many steps which were illustrated in the movie, Blood Diamond. Smugglers like Archer would supply the RUF with guns. The guns would be used by the RUF to intimidate the people of Sierra Leone into working as laborers for them, we see this with Solomon and his son. These men would be forced to dig in the water mines for hours a day searching for diamonds of all sizes. Then the diamonds are mixed with other diamonds all around the world, mixing the illegal ones with the legal ones; this was explained in the movie by Archer to Maggie. When the diamonds are mixed in with the others, no one can determine for certainty where each originated from. It is then distributed to nations where they are made into necklaces and bracelets, and no questions are asked.

What Diamond failed to discuss is the political decisions made to engage in European imperialism, to construct steel and guns, and to utilize disease as a weapon. European’s acquirement of guns and steel did not mean they were compelled to use such technology to colonize the other continents. Without acknowledging this, Europeans appear as inadvertent conquerors. Guns, Germs, and Steel does not explain the capability for people to make judgements and influence the aftermath. For example, stated in the epilogue, the Fertile Crescent lost its head start because it was the inhabitants’ decision to clear the woodlands periodically, not allowing the vegetation to grow back soon enough. In China, it was the type of political organization the inhabitants agreed on that allowed one of their dictators to decide whether they accept innovation for the entire empire. The arrangements that Europe, the Fertile Crescent, and China established, along with the environments they resided in, and many other factors, all contribute to the disparate fates of their

The notion of East to West success opposed to the North South failure of several nations I find to be astonishing. The way that he is able to break it down scientifically and shows the failure of the Voortrekkers began once they passed the tropic of Capricorn and entered the tropics of Africa. This exposed them to the germs of the tropics that they have never experienced before, and for the first time putting the people of Eurasia at a geographic disadvantage. This point is extremely significant to Diamonds theory, as it demonstrates the importance of geography and how “germs” are the most dangerous and uncontrollable weapon that still remain today to be a crucial struggle for regions. This demonstrates the vital role that geography

For the most part, diamonds have had positive impacts on the continent. One of the positive impacts was that diamonds helped generate revenue. By generating revenue, this helped poor countries become more economically stable which they were not before the

Also, there needs to be a more defined definition of a blood diamond (“War on Blood Diamond Trade Loses its Lustre in Age of Digital”). The Central African Republic fails to realize that the diamonds being bought come from instances of executions, child labor, as well as looting (“Companies must Not Profit from Blood Diamonds”). Obviously, Africa is rich in minerals, which is its curse (Ainger et al.367: 9-27). Consequently, there has been 50 wars, fighting for control of resources. Political, social, and economical factors matter in these resource wars (Ainger, et al.367: 9-27). Recently, the Kimberly process fails to uphold in central Africa, Cameroon. As a result, Cameroon is flooding with conflict diamonds because of mediocre leadership along with corruption (“Conflict Diamonds from CAR Entering International Markets Via Cameroon”). This may be the effect after the African Republic was internationally embargoed in 2013 (“Conflict Diamonds from CAR Entering International Markets Via Cameroon”). Therefore, “As the Kimberley Process visits Cameroon, it must take action immediately and demonstrate to companies, retailers-and most importantly to consumers-that it is able to stop the flow of conflict diamonds," Offah Obale. Presently, the diamond industry is in a bit of a mix as the Kimberly process is expected to help countries receive clean diamonds in order to restore international market relationships ("War on Blood Diamond Trade Loses its Lustre in Age of Digital"). Now, it is known that the common life-span is estimated to be 34 years old in Africa, Sierra Leone. Also, “We have always maintained that the conflict is not about ideology, tribal or regional difference... The root of the conflict is and remains diamonds” says UN ambassador of Sierra Leone, Ibrahim Kamara. At the present time, there is a cease fire in the Republic of Congo since

The conflict diamonds started to be present and problematic in Sierra Leone as soon as DeBeers mining company took control of all diamond prospects throughout this region. Although DeBeers was keeping a moderate watch on the trading and actions being taken through it, traders from Lebanon (bordered by Syria and Israel to the south) were able to easily smuggle and mine diamonds out through the company. Later towards the 1950s, countries, such as Sierra Leone, had to give up the chance of regulating the illicit diamond industry, thus having to warn owners of the mines to provide their own security measures for the mines and land they owned. The issue wasn’t justly political or economic until Sierra Leone gained its independence in 1961, letting Siaka Stevens enroll as Prime minister, therefore having a one-party ruler. Stevens took control, and monopolized the diamond mines, as well as encouraging them to gain power and fame nationwide. Things were looking austere for diamond control rights and regulations, not only to watch a civil war emerge, surging through the country as fire fought fire and brother fought against brother. As the war extended from 1991 to 1999, it brought forth other problems as a result of citizen on citizen warfare for the diamonds such as rape, murder, and sex slaves. Once 75,000 lives were claimed, the people of Sierra Leone finally realized that victims and executors of these terrible crimes has emerged from the cash crop known as diamonds.

Africa is commonly referred to as "The Heart of the World"; if this were interpreted literally our heart has a serious condition that’s not receiving the attention it so desperately deserves. The purpose of blood diamonds is simple; they’re used as currency to buy warring factions and warlords armaments and fuel civil wars in unstable countries as well as continued guerrilla tyranny throughout countries like Angola and more famously Sierra Leone. When addressing the issue of blood diamonds mined from Sierra Leone, understanding the country’s geography, civil and political aspects are crucial. Blood diamonds often have a misconstrued meaning, and the definition of what they are requires a clear explanation. The brutal process of acquiring

Although there are no firm estimates of how many diamonds are in circulation, to put these numbers into perspective, one out of 25 diamonds to three out of 20 diamonds will trace back to an illegal source. However many of the diamonds that are mined today are claimed to be conflict free. De Beers, the largest producer of diamonds in the world, states on its website that “more than 99% (99.8%) of the world’s diamonds are certified conflict free” (FAQs). This statement from the De Beers Company shows that there is progress being made however there is still a gap in the industry for which conflict diamonds may sneak through. Although miniscule amounts of blood diamonds are being traded today, they still pose a threat to the world if any rogue nation decides to begin buying blood diamonds thus filling the coffers of the warlords and perpetuating the violence that already plagues countries like Sierra Leone.

It was enacted for the 54 members in 2003 when all the certification and legislation parameters were formed based on a consensus of the General Assembly (Kimberley Process Certification Scheme Core Document). These 54 members are now responsible for a vast majority of the diamonds legally traded worldwide and ensure that the basis for these diamonds do not infringe upon basic human rights ("KB Basis" Kimberley Process). People are not allowed to openly trade diamonds that have a “conflict” source in an attempt to reduce violations of humanitarian rights.

However there is also a advantage for mining diamonds. This is most effective in Africa, diamonds is an essential part in Africa to increase the economic growth and therefore again increasing the GDP per capita in Africa. Some statistics have shown that if there wasn’t diamond mining in Africa.(DTC Indian Diamond shortage, n.d.) Africa will be in a even worse situation. An approximate 65% of the diamonds comes from Africa and some African countries such as Namibia have an annual export earning of 40%, therefore an big impact in the Namibia society. Also there it is known that because of diamond industry in Botswana children are able to have free education until the age of 13. (DTC Indian Diamond shortage, n.d.) Therefore from these sources it is shown that although the profit that is earned by mining diamonds are used in an incorrect way. However there are also positive impact on the society, as said above.

The term “conflict mineral” refers to anything extracted from a mine that is located within an active conflict zone. According to Graham Templeton with extremetech.com, one of the worst conflict zones in the world is the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It is also one of the most abundant in many of the resources, such as gold, tin, tantalum, and tungsten, which are important to electronics manufacturing. Mineral mines within the DRC are often controlled by militias that treat much of the population, which is often subject to theft murder and rape, as an extension of the local lucrative resources. With the steadily increasing demand for electronics, a country rich in resources should begin to prosper. However, the valuable resources within the DRC have only profited the local militias, and intensified the chaos.

The film marker is trying to raise awareness of the illicit conflict diamond trade and reinforcing the Kimberley process1 and showing how it will stem the flow of conflict diamonds. This is successful mainly due to the public outburst after the movie. The great impact of the movie has caused diamond

3. Description of the IMF Project to Help Africa Crack Down on Illicit Diamond Trade