Are blood diamonds mined by slaves?

Many workers are actually slaves, taken for the purpose of harvesting blood diamonds. Those who came to work willingly are underpaid, mistreated, abused and working under backbreaking conditions.

Are diamonds mined by child slaves?

Because children are considered an easy source of cheap labor, they are regularly employed in the diamond mining industry.

Who mined blood diamonds?

But Congolese mining officials say diamonds are a vital source of income—if not the only source—for an estimated 1 million small-scale, or artisanal, miners in Congo who dig by hand for the crystals that will one day adorn the engagement ring of a bride- or groom-to-be.

Where do African blood diamonds come from?

Diamonds mined during the 20th–21st century civil wars in Angola, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau have been given the label.

Who is used as slaves to extract diamonds?

Apart from the innocent people caught up in the conflicts that the trade fuels, thousands of men, women and children in countries such as Sierra Leone are used as slaves to extract diamonds.

Special report : Inside the Congo cobalt mines that exploit children

Are all diamonds from Africa blood diamonds?

All diamonds are conflict diamonds. The brutal Western imperial proxy wars in West Africa over diamond mines have been horrific. These wars, however, are only another chapter in the last hundred years of colonial terror as it has been represented by the diamond trade, controlled by the DeBeers cartel.

Why do they cut off hands in blood diamond?

Seizing the right arms of their chosen victims, the young pair bring their blades crashing down, severing hands as a warning to the whole village not to challenge their authority. Such horrifying scenes were once common during Sierra Leone's 11-year civil war.

Are blood diamonds still being mined?

In the last decade, blood diamonds have been virtually eliminated from the global marketplace. Stricter regulation, as well as a renewed commitment from diamond manufacturers and retailers to work only with ethical suppliers, has transformed the global diamond industry for the better.

Why are blood diamonds a problem in Africa?

Diamonds intensify civil wars by financing militaries and rebel militias. diamond wealth. Rival groups also fight with each other to control diamond-rich territory. The tragic result is bloodshed, loss of life, and shocking human rights abuses – from rape to the use of child soldiers.

Why does Africa have so many diamonds?

Diamonds in Africa were formed somewhere between 600 million and 3 billion years ago when titanic-force pressure and heat caused carbon 1,200 miles (1,931 km) below the Earth's surface to crystallize. As recently as a million years ago, erupting molten rock brought the diamonds closer to the Earth's surface.

Where do most blood diamonds come from?

The flow of Conflict Diamonds has originated mainly from Sierra Leone, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, and Ivory Coast. The United Nations and other groups are working to block the entry of conflict diamonds into the worldwide diamond trade.

Does Tiffany use blood diamonds?

Tiffany & Co. only offers conflict-free diamonds. We have taken rigorous steps to assure that conflict diamonds do not enter our inventory. As global leaders in sustainable luxury, Tiffany & Co. is committed to sourcing natural and precious materials in an ethical and sustainable manner.

Are blood diamonds sold in the US?

Why? Countries around the world go to great lengths to ensure that blood diamonds are not sold. Many countries, including the U.S., closely monitor diamonds from the time that they are mined until they end up in a retailer's inventory to make sure that the diamond is not being sold to fund war or terrorism.

Why are diamonds unethical?

While diamonds have long been associated with some of the happiest days of one's life, they can also be the source of so much suffering for others. From human rights abuses and blood diamonds to habitat destruction and water pollution, the truth is that diamond mining is a messy business.

Are there ethically sourced diamonds?

There are only a few reliable sources for truly Conflict Free Diamonds or Ethically Sourced Diamonds. Australia, Canada and Botswana Africa are the most well known and prolific. The Australian Mines are the Argyle Mine owned by The Rio Tinto Mining Company, and the Ellendale owned by Goodrich Resources.

Does De Beers sell blood diamonds?

Since 2000, some independent diamond dealers have not only claimed to sell diamond bunches that they bought from rebel groups to De Beers, but also that De Beers was aware of the origin of the diamonds. Currently on their website, De Beers boasts that 100% of their diamonds are conflict free.

Why do they call them blood diamonds?

blood diamond, also called conflict diamond, as defined by the United Nations (UN), any diamond that is mined in areas controlled by forces opposed to the legitimate, internationally recognized government of a country and that is sold to fund military action against that government.

What country in Africa is most popular for blood diamonds?

Democratic Republic of Congo

Unfortunately, corruption, political turmoil and genocide have cost Congo its wealth, with the diamonds mined here often called “conflict diamonds” or “blood diamonds”. Most of the mines are situated deep within rebel lands, where owners often disregard human rights and labour laws.

Are all diamonds unethical?

Diamonds should represent memories and promises, but unfortunately many diamonds were mined in unsafe conditions or conflict zones. It can be very difficult to make sure your diamond is in fact ethical and conflict-free.

Does Cartier use blood diamonds?

Tiffany & Co. and Cartier are just the two most recent jewelers to publicly boycott blood diamonds from Zimbabwe.

Are there still blood diamonds in Sierra Leone?

However, during the brutal civil war that raged between 1991 and 2002, the mine fell into the hands of South African mercenaries and has been operated as a private enterprise ever since. Once the centre of the “blood diamond” trade, today the mine is operated by Koidu Limited.

Is Blood Diamond historically accurate?

Though Blood Diamond revolves around fictional characters, the events are based on real experiences of individuals in Sierra Leone during the civil war. The film depicts village attacks by rebel groups, the enslavement of Sierra Leoneans, the use of child soldiers, and illicit markets that are often ignored.

Is the Kimberley Process working?

The Kimberley Process has done a great job in bringing down the crime rates and lowering the amount of money and supplies that rebel groups in Angola and Sierra Leone are receiving. But the values and morals that the Kimberley Process stands for have shifted over time.

How many diamonds can you make from a person?

According to wikipedia, humans are 18% carbon by mass. So a 70 kg human is made up of roughly 16 kg carbon. Assuming a lossless process where every atom of carbon is used in the resulting diamond this would result with a 4500 cm^3 diamond.