Bloody diamonds

Reality behind Africa’s bloody diamonds trade.

World of diamonds is not only full of brightness, nobility and honour. It is also world of blood, poverty, hunger and disease.

Most of the world’s production of diamonds comes from Africa, poor African states are forced to export raw diamonds to other contry where diamonds are cut, because diamond trade and diamond cutting is strictly limited to a few locations, and a single company—De Beers—controls a significant proportion of the trade in diamonds.

The De Beers company, as the world’s largest diamond miner holds a clearly dominant position in the industry, and has done so since soon after its founding in 1888 by the British imperialist Cecil Rhodes. De Beers used its monopoly position to establish strict price controls, and market diamonds directly to consumers in world markets.

So african states, chief exporters of diamonds get a less share on diamonds profit than expected. Bloody diamonds (also called a conflict diamond, dirty diamond or a war diamond) are diamonds which are traded by rebel groups during conflict to fund their war efforts.

Although the United Nations first identified the conflict diamond issue in 1998 as a source of funding for war, it was the diamond industry that took steps to address the conflict diamond issue by convening a meeting to plan a method by which the trade in conflict diamonds could be halted, and buyers of diamonds could be assured that their diamonds have not contributed to violence.

Conflict free diamonds

A conflict-free diamond is a diamond whose profits aren’t used to fund any wars and they are produced and mined under ethical conditions.

Only diamonds that are certified and can be traced from the mine to the consumer are conflict-free diamonds. Conflict diamonds are still being sold today into the international diamond market as clean diamonds.

When you’re looking to buy a diamond consider a situation not only in your wallet, but be aware of situation if Africa, where thousands of innocent children are forced to digg diamonds in terrific condition.

Buying a diamond is not only beauty, but it’s also a way to change the world.

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