Truth about Blood DiamondsThe phrase blood diamonds Most people are only aware of this issue at all because of a movie called Blood Diamond, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The movie is set against the backdrop of the chaos and terror that enveloped Sierra Leone in the 1990’s. As a result of this movie Sierra Leone has become the country most identified with blood diamonds.
Starting in 1991 a group of rebels, (read terrorists), crossed over the border from Liberia and has fought for control of the principal diamond fields of Serra Leone. The Revolutionary United Front or R.U.F. as they are known have effectively plundered a countries natural resource and terrorized an entire populous. They have done this primarily by brutal terror tactics and have been aided the international community turning a blind eye and mindless consumerism. For their part the R.U.F. developed the trade mark amputation of limbs as a way of providing living reminders to intimidate those they did not kill. Men, women, children and even infants suffered this fate. It is hard to estimate the numbers of people that have been brutalized in this way. With estimates of the dead at over 50,000 the number of people who have had their limbs chopped off is sure to be staggering. Liberian warlord, Charles Taylor, was the force behind R.U.F. He eventually became Liberian president. He provided a base next door to Serra Leone for the R.U.F. and a vital conduit for the diamonds. Diamond for guns, money and drugs, this was the trade. It has been documented in the Washington Post how FBI sources say that international terror organizations like Al Qaeda have profited by this very trade. Serra Leone is not the only country that has suffered as the result of this trade. Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo have suffered as well. The hostilities in these countries have pretty much ceased with estimates of the dead as high as 3.7 million people. Côte d'Ivoire, a West African country in the midst of a volatile conflict, is the latest country to have its name make it onto this dark list, and conflict diamonds from Liberia are still being smuggled into neighboring countries and exported as part of the legitimate diamond trade. What can you do?Do not knowingly buy a conflict diamond. Believe it or not there is no shortage of people in this world who actively seek these stones out in an effort to make money. We now have something called the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) introduced in 2003. This Kimberley Process was developed in an attempt to stem the flow of blood diamonds. Participants have to certify that shipments of rough diamonds are conflict-free. In the United States, the KPCS is enforced by the Clean Diamond Trade Act, also introduced in 2003. While it is not perfect it helps. Ask the people you buy your jewelry from if they participate. If they do not, ask them why. If you are buying loose stones ask for certification as to where they came from. There are more than enough diamonds in the market. There are lots of opportunities to buy them at a great price especially at auction. While it’s hard to be absolutely sure about where a stone comes from there is one thing that you can to – ask. Buying a blood diamond supports international terror and suffering. Don’t do this. You don’t have to. There is no shortage of reputable online jewelers that you can shop from. Be aware. The companies we recommend certify that they are conflict diamond free.
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