Blood Diamonds Paul Eberts Introduction Blood Diamonds Two
Blood Diamonds Paul Eberts
Introduction • Blood Diamonds • Two Common Names • Conflict Diamonds • Child Labor Diamonds
Liberia - Civil War in 1989 - Continued until 2003 -Gio tribe over threw government -Claimed government was corrupt and providing training and weapon to Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in return for diamonds. -Al-Qaeda - U. S. Embassy bombings in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. -258 killed, 5, 000 wounded
Sierra Leone • Civil War in 1991 • Up to 50, 000 people have died since • Revolutionary United Front (RUF) --violent counter resistance - 1999, UN helped formed a peace deal (failed) -Peacemakers realized that diamond profits needed to be stopped.
Angola 1992, failed elections sparked civil war Rampant civil wars in neighbors Social and political turbulence The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) • Approximately 500, 000 Angolians died between Government and UNITA. • •
Democratic Republic of Congo • Ravaged by political and economic instability since independence from Belgium in 1960 • Previously called Zaire until 1998. • July 17, 2003 a shower sharing government was put into place, did not stop conflict. • International Rescue Committee • 45, 000 die annually from disease and starvation.
Kimberly Process • May 2000 • Met in Kimberly, South Africa • Diamond Trading and Producing Countries • Diamond Industry • Government and NGOs • 2003 was enacted to guarantee “conflict free” • September 2007 – 46 members • 74 countries within the European community and member states = 1 individual member
De. Beers • 2/3 of global diamond markets • Guarantees blood, conflict and child labor free diamonds.
Learn More… • Blood Diamonds (2006) • Starring Leonardo Di. Caprio, Jennifer Connelly and Djimon Hounsou • A Long Way Gone – Ishmael Beah
Questions? Thank you for your attention
- Slides: 10