Blood Diamond Crisis
What's really happening?
It's more serious than the movies say
Africa, has long since been rich and resources, culture, but not so much economically. An on going problem, that has been an issue for decades, is the blood diamonds. What's actually happening though, otrher than what we always hear about war and child slaves? It's much more than that. Many armys have taken over towns and kidnapped hostiges, and forced them into slavery. No one is excluded from this. The women, the children, the men, the old and the weak are sent down into these mines, to risk their lives. What's at stake? Their life, their families, their friends, and their livelyhood. Rape, violence, torture, and murder are very common forms of punishment.
Zimbabwe
Facts; $2 billion annually, 10% of worlds diamond supply.
Cote D'Ivoire
Facts; $20 million is smuggled out each year
Angola
Soliders are frequently raping and kidnapping residents and causing war
Central African Republic
Frequent wars and raids break out
Blood Diamonds
These are some men being forced into working, and sifting for diamonds that they get pain little to nothing for
Democratic Republic of Congo
Children, women and men are forced into mines to risk their lives, just to stay alive.
What's Being Done?
To much surprise, not much.
It's a very popular topic, but ehats actually being done? There are two well known organizations that are attempting, but doing little. The Kimberly orgainization does backround checks on the stones, and if they do not have a cirtificate then they are deemed to be a blood diamond. This is attempting to stop the mining by not buying them. The Brilliant Earth project, is trying to take the child slaves out of the mines and give them an education, so their lives aren't wasted away.
Statistics
Produce 15% of the worlds diamond supply
Diamond miners are some of the poorest in the world
46% of workers are 5-16 years of age
Angolas annual income from the diamonds is $150 million