How would you feel if you knew that your precious diamonds killed 5 African kids? How would you react if your valuable diamond ring that symbolizes unity is directly linked to pain, chaos, and vicious cruelty? An interviewee of the Times Max Rodriguez, is about to propose to his long-term boyfriend and is one of the few educated on Blood Diamonds. Although, by purchasing a ring his conscience worries that he is adding fuel to conflicts more significant than a lustrous jewel. Many sources have tried to educate families on this topic hoping one day the public will choose to prevent death and torture over a status symbol. This article will give insight into a perspective many have not seen before, hopefully making people think twice before buying a shiny gift.
The Blood Diamond Illegal African Trade is an institution in which rebel groups (UNITA) take over and extinguish small communities that are rich in diamonds, they then proceed to capture, drug, and abuse those from the villages they feel are “strong enough” to be a part of their workforce. UNITA is still involved in money through diamonds, even today. The leaders of UNITA, a higher-power group running the business, and the smaller terrorist gangs then manipulate and inflict physical and emotional pain so all members think it is an honor to shoot and kill. While the “training” is in place, newfound comrades often kids as young as 4 are taught to shoot anything that resembles a human body with an AK-15, anybody who refuses this order or installs hesitation into their practice is then killed. Most rebel groups get notice of the next place with profit and destroy the homes of innocent civilians, the runners they catch are brought to what they call the chopping block and are often killed with a machete.
After the horrific scene has taken place they dig up the land and transform it into a mining site where their workforce is constantly ill-treated with treacherous conditions, any man who is not working fast enough or tries to save a diamond by putting it in their toe or mouth is then killed. Many workers try to save diamonds as a way to get out and a form of money to live, as they can see it must be extremely valuable if it is causing so much harm in their continent. The gems are then collected and given to the so-called “masters” who handle the smugglers and trading. The masters hand the diamonds off for money to the smugglers, the smugglers transport the diamonds throughout African borders in often goat skin or other suspicious ways, then they can retrieve the hidden diamonds and fly to London with them. In London, there is the headquarters of the world's largest and most famous diamond producer and distributor called De Beers, a South African company. The contrabandista then gives the conflict-induced diamonds to De Beers who then mixes up the “clean” legal diamonds with the “bloody” illegal ones, they do this because it gives them more profit looking past the moral inadequacy and the origin of the gems.
This financially motivated warfare issue has caused many wars and battles including the Civil War in Angola, as well as combat in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Sierra Leone. The black market trade of Blood diamonds, which results in 4 million deaths alone, constantly exceeds, Africa urges you to take action, at least do your research to see if you are buying a material that is taking away someone's life.
This pressing concern was at its height in the 1990s and the UN has taken several steps to try and preserve the humanity of our world and the societal unknowns that live inside of it. In 2003 the UN put in place the Kimberley Process, an international scheme to stop the exchange of dangerous diamonds, there are still many loopholes and faults in the system that still allow Blood Diamonds to be sold. This matter is still extremely relevant and it is important to note that still many are suffering from the trade market value of diamonds, this point needs to be addressed further and no longer swept under the rug.
Help our nations, do the right thing, and don't allow for any more blood to be shed for a Blood Diamond, the name referring to and highlighting the conquests of these glittering objects that inflict death and violations of human rights.