Are diamonds mined by slaves?

After civil war broke out in central and western Africa, diamond profits were used to fund wars, weapons, slavery and anti-government rebellions. Children and families were forced into slavery to mine diamonds, and the gemstone funded extreme violence and war among communities, destroying stability and peace.

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.

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.

How do slaves extract the diamonds?

Thousands of men, women, and children are used as slaves to collect diamonds, and they are forced to use their bare hands to dig in mud along river banks instead of digging with tools.

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 blood diamonds still sold?

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 diamonds in Africa?

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.

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.

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.

Is diamond mining ethical?

Even though many brutal civil wars have now ended, violence in diamond mines remains a serious problem. Many diamonds are still stained by severe human rights abuses such as forced labor, beatings, torture, and murder.

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.

Where do most of the world's diamonds come from?

Are all diamonds ethically sourced?

Issue 2: Most diamonds are not traceable to their origins

From mining to selling, diamonds pass through many hands, not all of them honest. Unless the diamond you purchase is from a Canadian mine or is lab-created (we'll get into these options shortly), there is no guarantee is has been ethically sourced.

How much do African diamond miners get paid?

Miners in the region make only about $12 a week and often enlist child relatives to help because they need the extra income.

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 are they called 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 is Beyoncé blood diamond?

Photographs of the singer Beyoncé becoming the first black woman to wear the 128-carat Tiffany diamond were meant to symbolise a break with the past and hint at a sparkling, inclusive future.

Is Beyoncé wearing a blood diamond?

Another added: 'Not y'all celebrating the fact Beyonce is the first Black woman to wear a Tiffany blood diamond following in the footsteps of Audrey Hepburn and Lady Gaga. 'That rock needs to left alone in a museum explaining its history while paying ongoing reparations, not paraded around. '

What diamond did Beyoncé wear?

What Is the Tiffany Diamond and Why Are People Mad at Beyoncé for Wearing It? The Tiffany Yellow Diamond is one of the largest yellow diamonds ever unearthed, and it has become a huge fashion symbol since its 1878 discovery in South Africa.

Why are diamonds worthless?

Diamonds are intrinsically worthless: Former De Beers chairman (and billionaire) Nicky Oppenheimer once succinctly explained, “diamonds are intrinsically worthless.” Diamonds aren't forever: They actually decay, faster than most rocks. Diamonds can bring injury: Yes, the diamond trade creates jobs.

Who uses blood diamonds?

Human rights organizations have identified several countries that still mine diamonds to fund terror activities, including Zimbabwe, Angola, Liberia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. If the diamond comes from one of these areas, it may be a blood diamond.

Why does Sierra Leone have so many diamonds?

An estimated 9 million carats of high-quality diamonds have been extracted from the small West African nation since rich alluvial deposits were first found by British colonialists in the 1930s, but the country has little to show for it.

Which country found diamond First?

Diamond History

The earliest diamonds were found in India in 4th century BC, although the youngest of these deposits were formed 900 million years ago. A majority of these early stones were transported along the network of trade routes that connected India and China, commonly known as the Silk Road.

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.