How many people were affected by blood diamonds?

The Revolutionary Front (RUF) started a lot of the wars over conflict diamonds in Sierra Leone. This conflict lasted over 10 years and lead to over 50,000 deaths and the displacement of over 2 million people and many whom were injured.

How many people are affected by blood diamonds?

An estimated 3.7 million people have died in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Liberia, and Sierra Leone in conflicts fuelled by diamonds.

How did blood diamonds affect people?

The tragic result is bloodshed, loss of life, and shocking human rights abuses – from rape to the use of child soldiers. Diamonds that fuel civil wars are often called "blood" or "conflict" diamonds. Although many diamond-fueled wars have now ended, conflict diamonds remain a serious problem.

How common are blood diamonds?

Blood diamond trade is still active. An estimated 1 in 4 diamonds on the international diamond market have been mined under horrific conditions. Remember as a conscious consumer, you hold the power!

Who suffers from blood diamonds?

Diamonds have funded brutal wars in countries such as Angola, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, resulting in the death and displacement of millions of people. There is a reason they are dubbed 'Blood Diamonds'.

Blood Diamonds: Funding African Civil Wars for a Century

Are blood diamonds still common?

With 81 member countries, the Kimberly Process has drastically reduced the prevalence of conflict diamonds: Today, 99.8% of retail diamonds come from conflict-free zones. Participating countries must: Set up legislation, national institutions and import/export controls aimed at stopping the flow of conflict diamonds.

What human rights did blood diamonds violate?

Violence. 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.

When did blood diamonds become a problem?

By 1991, Sierra Leone had a corrupt government and openly illicit diamond trading and was a vulnerable and attractive site for armed rebellion. On March 23, a civil war began when the Revolutionary United Front, a group of 100 fighters from Sierra Leone and Liberia, invaded east Sierra Leone.

How much are blood diamonds worth?

Worth about 80,000$, a natural one would have been estimated at over $15m.

How many people died due to blood diamonds?

In Sierra Leone, the conflict of Blood Diamonds was getting more serious each day. The Revolutionary Front (RUF) started a lot of the wars over conflict diamonds in Sierra Leone. This conflict lasted over 10 years and lead to over 50,000 deaths and the displacement of over 2 million people and many whom were injured.

Do blood diamonds still exist 2022?

Do blood diamond rings still exist in 2022? Blood diamond rings will continue to be alive and well in 2022 and will stay that way until we stop digging the ground for them. Then, they can be produced in a lab using the same techniques on earth for a far lower price.

Is selling blood diamonds illegal?

Conflict or “blood” diamonds are illegally traded to fund conflict in war-torn areas, particularly in central and western Africa, according to the World Diamond council, which represents the commercial diamond trade. The United Nations defines conflict diamonds as “…

Is Tiffany Blood Diamond?

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 Blood Diamond violent?

It's extremely violent, with frequent scenes of war and abusive labor practices (villagers' hands are chopped off and mineworkers are shot dead for disobeying orders).

What has been done to stop blood diamonds?

The Kimberley Process

This process was designed to turn blood diamonds into conflict free gems, and entailed certification of place of origin, how it was mined, where it was cut, who was involved in all processes and the intended destination of export.

Are blood diamonds legal?

The Clean Diamond Trade Act was signed into law on July 29, 2003, and prohibits the "importation into, or exportation from, the U.S. of any rough diamond, from whatever source, unless the rough diamond has been controlled through the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS)." Rough diamonds, also known as conflict ...

Why did blood diamonds start?

What Are "Conflict Diamonds"? Blood Diamonds, also known as "Conflict Diamonds," are stones that are produced in areas controlled by rebel forces that are opposed to internationally recognized governments. The rebels sell these diamonds, and the money is used to purchase arms or to fund their military actions.

What caused blood diamonds?

It is an industry that was supposed to be cleaned up, after the turn-of-the-millennium notoriety surrounding so-called blood or conflict diamonds—precious stones mined in African war zones, often by forced labor, and used to fund armed rebel movements.

When did blood diamonds end?

To curtail the illegal trade, the nation stopped all diamond mining and the UN Security Council banned all exports of diamonds from Ivory Coast in December 2005. This ban lasted about ten years but it was later lifted in April 2014 when members of the UN council voted to suspend the sanction.

Why do they cut off hands in blood diamond?

Set during the Sierra Leone Civil War of 1991–2002, the film depicts a country torn apart by the struggle between government loyalists and insurgent forces. It also portrays many of the atrocities of that war, including the rebels' amputation of civilians' hands to discourage them from voting in upcoming elections.

How many diamonds are left in the earth?

A new study by an interdisciplinary team of researchers used seismic technology (the same kind used to measure earthquakes) to estimate that a quadrillion tons of diamonds lie deep below the Earth's surface. That's 1,000,000,000,000,000 --- or one thousand times more than one trillion.

Who owns the largest diamond in the world?

The magnificent Cullinan Diamond – the largest diamond ever found- is incorporated into the Crown Jewels. The stone was discovered near Pretoria in South Africa in 1905, and is named after the chairman of the mining company, Thomas Cullinan.

What is rarest diamond?

Red diamonds are the rarest of the colored diamonds, with only 20-30 existing in the entire world. They get their beautiful red color from a rare process during their formation, which changes the crystal structure of the diamond and causes light to pass through it differently than colorless diamonds.

Is blood diamond true to life?

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.

What age is Blood Diamond?

Okay for mature 16+.