Leonardo Di Caprio and Blood Diamonds

Earlier this year, "Blood Diamond,"was released in cinema's world wide.

It was an action packed film, which saw Leonardo Di caprio tackle a South African accent, which some believed he deserved an Oscar for it, whilst others were slightly less than impressed. Though thoroughly enjoyable it was to see Leonardo Di Caprio fighting for his life in the hot African sun, the film went deeper than this, and instead of just sporting a hearthrob across our screens, it educated millions of people on the tragic conflict diamond industry that still exists today.

For those who haven't seen the film, or were too busy watching leo,than listening to the educational content, I shall define exactly what a conflict diamond is.

Conflict Diamonds;

These are diamonds which are sold to fund armed conflict and civil wars. They are sold for billions of dollars, and the money is used to buy various weapons. Amnesty state that the wars so far have cost "an estimated 3.7 million lives!"

They are mined in war torn countrys, such as Africa, by rebels. These rebels abuse human rights, and often murder and enslave populations to mine for these blood diamonds. Many young children are enslaved too, and many are victims of amputation.

These pictures show the extent of abuse that people are put through, all in an attempt to find and sell diamonds.

Even now $23 million of conflict diamonds are entering the legitimate diamond trade.

The film " Blood Diamond," was released in the height of media publicity about the conflict-diamond trade. Kanye West also released a song, titled, " Diamonds From Sierra Leone," and a VH1 documentary, ironically named, " Bling," also came out.

The documentary concentrated on the relationship between blood diamonds and the influences of hip hop music culture.

When looking at hip hop stars today, what seems to be the most important factor when it comes to measuring quality, is not that of their talent, but in fact the amount of " bling" they sport.It appears to resemble a "high school" craze, such as Yo-Yo's, Furbies, Beanie Babies. However these aren't kids, these are adults, and their craze is at the expense of many lives.

De Beers - Diamonds Are Forever

So who is responsible for buying and selling diamonds for large sums of money?



De Beers is a company involved in rough diamond mining and diamond trading. It is responsible for 40% of world diamond production and over the years De Beers has played a huge role in selling conflict diamonds.It was one of the first companies involved in the mining for diamonds in Africa, almost immediately after diamonds were discovered there.


The company , De Beers, has created many successful campaigns, one most effective is that of the engagement/wedding diamond ring. De Beer’s suggests that a diamond is a symbol of love and commitment.













Though De Beers is responsible for bringing happiness to many women and couples across the globe, they are also responsible for the death of 50,000 people, half a million refugees, and a thousand amputees.

In response to such accusations a spokesman for DeBeers, who spoke to CNN, stated, “ Diamonds don’t kill people, people with guns kill, and these guns are supplied from the West.”


In 2003, a scheme was set up, now known as the Kimberley Process Scheme. This was formed in order for the prevention of rebel groups and rivals financing their wars from the sales of diamonds.

Although now it seems as if this scheme was in fact just a PR Stunt.

There have been allegations that $23 million of blood diamonds made the way through the legitimate market from Ivory Coast. However what acts as suspicious is that De Beers doesn’t buy from Ivory Coast.
The Times newspaper featured an article, in 2006 quoting, “Alarm bells have been ringing at De Beers in response to reports of smuggling in conflict diamonds from Ivory Coast, the West African nation in the grip of a civil war.”


This Year, De Beers was accused, (by a charity known as War on Want) of profiting from the abuse of people countries such as Africa.

De Beers is a huge company, with a lot of money behind it. As long as people keep buying diamonds from them, they can carry on killing off millions of people. Though the claim that they dont buy conflict diamonds, there seems to be evidence against this.

And even if what they say is true, they have still killed and tortued far too many people in the past to be a respected company.

There advertising boasts of passion and purity, but what is pure and passionate about buying a
bloodstained diamond for the person you love?

Al Qaeda and Diamonds

"New Detailts are emerging of links between al- Qaeda and illicit trade in so- called " blood diamonds" bought from rebel groups in Africa." - Lucy Jones, BBC.

Reports show that a while before September 11th, al-qaeda converted approximately $10 million into diamonds to clear their debt. This money also enabled them to have enough money to carry out one of the largues terrorist attacks in history!

Members of al-qaeda are thought to have bought conflict diamonds from Liberia and from rebels in Sierra Leone.

Another rebel group known as Hezbollah is also known to have raised funds through conflict diamonds. Liberia of course denys any such activies ever taking place.

The equation is simple;

EQUALS

"Because they failed their mission, when they are retreating, I met with them, six of them. They caught me. They placed me in a mango tree. They chopped both arms with an ax. They said, you'll never vote again,"

Abubakrr Kargbo

Kanye West,Hip Hop, Beyonce, Catherine Zeta Jones

"Ironic that what makes black people feel so empowered was completely
demoralising and destroying other black people."

This quote was taken from Kanye West, who though he is associated with Hip Hop, his single,
"Diamonds from Sierra Leone," discussed the terrible conditions and aimed to educate people about the diamond industry.

Here are a few lyrics taken from his music;

"Though it's thousands of miles away
Sierra Leone connect to what we go through today
Over here,its a drug trade, we die from drugs
Over there, they die from what we buy from drugs
The diamonds,the chains, the bracelets, the charmses
I thought my Jesus Piece was so harmless."

Some of the worlds biggest stars, support such a revolting trade.

Here is Kate Moss at a De Beers Fashion Show - The Company that killed 50, 000 people when obtaining diamonds.

In February this year, at the Academy Awards in the U.S, after the release of Blood diamond, stars such as Beyonce were seen on the red carpet, sporting diamonds. De Beers started a campaign for women, called "Raise your Right Hand," where it asks women to wear big diamonds on their right hand.

Ironically enough, this is also the hand, that if raised gives signal to the RUF (Revolutionary United Front), to chop off hands!

"Call me old fashioned but nothing says ‘I love you’ more than a big rock," Catherine Zeta Jones

Jennifer Lopez currently owns a £3 million pink diamond from her latest husband.