Diamonds By Cristina Calandra and Tara Hull Diamonds

Diamonds By Cristina Calandra and Tara Hull

Diamonds are produced in two main ways in the United States • Sold commercially as jewelry • Diamonds are also used as tools in construction sites because of their hard exterior

Problems with Mining Diamonds • Diamonds are a non renewable recourse, once it is used you cannot replace it • Diamond mining can result in Deforestation to clear land before mining • It also leads to a loss of biodiversity • Mining can also cause heavy pollution affecting the environment • Requires a large amount of power and will impact local energy grids.

Stopping mining pollution • Many courtiers permitting standards have increased making it more difficult for mining industries • A new bacteria treatment was invented to help get rid of the pollutants that seeped into the soil near the mining fields • Mining industries are beginning to use Environmental safe technology such as solar panels to help reduce the energy they use

Where diamonds come from • Diamonds are made at least 100 miles below the earths surface, the combination of high temperature and pressure causes carbon atoms to form creating an extremely strong bond which forms crystal.

Mining of Diamonds • South Africa benefited drastically due to the $1. 5 million in diamonds in 2006 • Botwana, Namba and South Africa use diamond revenues to improve their economic growth.

Blood Diamonds • Diamonds mined in war zones, by innocent people who were kidnapped and forced to mine • The Revolutionary United Front invaded Seirra Leone -Murdered, threatened and removed limbs of civilians working in diamond villages -20, 000 fled homes, 20, 000 innocents suffered body mutation, 75, 000 killed and 2 million fled Sierra.

What the industry is doing about central consequences • In 2003 African Government created the Kimberly Process -Places requirements to make sure shipments are conflict free meaning that none of the diamonds being sold are Blood Diamonds

Our Opinion • We believe that mining companies should fallow all regulations put into place by the country • The industries mining diamonds should be more eco friendly to the environment by investing in eco friendly technology such as solar power • Africa should enforce the Kimberly law to put an end to all Blood Diamonds

Works Cited • Velardo, Michael David. "What Are Diamonds Used for Today? " EHow. Demand Media, 19 Sept. 2009. Web. 21 Sept. 2012. <http: //www. ehow. com/about_5431862_diamonds-used-today. html>. • "Diamond Mining. " The Environmental Literacy Council -. N. p. , n. d. Web. 21 Sept. 2012. <http: //www. enviroliteracy. org/article. php/1121. html>. • Bose, Debopriya. Buzzle. com, 12 Mar. 2012. Web. 21 Sept. 2012. <http: //www. buzzle. com/articles/how-does-mining-affect-theenvironment. html>. • "Diamondfacts. org. " Diamondfacts. org. N. p. , n. d. Web. 21 Sept. 2012. <http: //www. diamondfacts. org/index. php? option=com_content>. • "How the African Diamond Trade Works. " How. Stuff. Works. N. p. , n. d. Web. 21 Sept. 2012. <http: //money. howstuffworks. com/african-diamondtrade 2. htm>. • "Environmental Leader. " How the Mining Industry Is Cleaning Up Its Act · Environmental Management & Energy News ·. N. p. , n. d. Web. 21 Sept. 2012. <http: //www. environmentalleader. com/2012/07/19/how-themining-industry-is-cleaning-up-its-ac>.