Blood Diamonds
Diamonds sought after and mined in cold, bloody war.
Lucrative Market
The diamond industry is a lucrative market for illegal diamond production. Conflict, or blood diamonds are mined in a war zone and sold, usually clandestinely, in order to finance an insurgent or invading army's war efforts. This is why they are called Blood Diamonds.
Some Of The Damage
Child soldiers
Children forced to become soldiers.
More Children
Young children, arely over the age of eight are forced to mine in toxic fumes, and kill innocent people.
Men, women, and children
Men, women, and children forced to work non-stop for days.
You dont need to be able to read, to mine.
The literacy rate is very low and 70% of the people live in poverty. Between 1991 and 2002 Sierra Leone Civil War resulted in the death of 50,000 people and destroyed much of the infrastructure. Human rights abuses were reported including the use of child soldiers. In addition, many people migrated towards other nations as refugees. (A refugee is a person who is outside their country of origin or habitual residence because they have suffered (or fear) persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because they are a member of a persecuted 'social group'). Years of political strife and instability have left the nation economically strapped. Africa is in shambles.
Why We Need To Stop This.
- First, in memory of those who died in Sierra Leone, in Angola, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other African countries in conflicts fueled by rough “Conflict’ Diamonds;”
- Second, to end the killing in on-going conflicts in Africa;
- Third, to save the children of Africa whose lives would be threatened by future conflicts fueled by conflict diamonds;
- Fourth, to ensure those countries which depend on diamonds for their development and economic well-being will benefit from their patrimony; and
- Fifth, to assure consumers the diamonds they wish to enjoy are without the taint of conflict.