Conflict Diamonds Obstructing the flow through cooperation between Government and Industry
Conflict Diamonds: Obstructing the flow through cooperation between Government and Industry Ask my girlfriend what she wants more than anything and I can pretty much guarantee the answer, a diamond. ... Women sure do think that there is a good reason to own a diamond, they can’t really tell you why, but the marketing geniuses of the diamond industry can, to them diamonds are material Love. Other material objects can only rarely overshadow the happiness that diamonds bring to women and in some cases men, case in point Nelly. There is a dark side to the wonderful love memento that we call diamonds. These diamonds are sometimes the sole funding for civil wars that rage on in some of the most hostile countries of Africa; they are referred to as “conflict diamonds.” The proceeds from the illegal sale of diamonds by rebel armies have gone to arming and funding the rebel groups themselves, groups that often kill, mutilate and torture innocent civilians in their conquest for both government control and control of mines. The trade in conflict diamonds is most prevalent in the countries of central Africa. Amnesty International identifies Angola, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia and Sierra Leon as hotbeds of “conflict diamond” activity. Although the trade in conflict diamonds is relatively small as compared to the world market comprising roughly 4% of the worlds uncut diamond trade they still bring in a great deal of money to the warring factions that are tearing the lives of many Africans apart. ... S, and many NGO’s have urged the halt in trade of conflict diamonds as a means to reduce the funding of civil wars in Africa. The Diamond Industry When speaking of the diamond industry there is one company that is synonymous with diamonds, De Beers. ... (De Beers, December 2000) “De Beers produces about 45% by value of the total annual global diamond production from its mines in South Africa, and through its 50:50 partnerships with the governments of Botswana and Namibia.” (De Beers, December 2000) De Beers is not limited to just mining they control almost every aspect of the diamond industry.