It rests in a perfect box, it comes in various shiny shapes and sizes; it is a gem which is adored by many men and women throughout the world. It dazzles itself with pride. “Diamonds – Forever now†is a slogan De Beers created for the perfect diamond engagement ring.
Imagine, the pressure the average man must feel to purchase the most expensive, perfectly cut diamond for his loving bride – it must be overwhelming. Perhaps, we should rephrase the slogan to “De Beers – Death, Poverty, and Despair,†which may ring true for many men preparing to march down the aisle.
But it is also an unbearable truth many countries face each day as war and destruction are caused by internal feuding over diamond mines. Sierra Leone was once a country that thrived off a strong agricultural economy, was one of the most highly educated countries in the world, and had an abundance of diamonds which were traded legally.
For over 70 years, Sierra Leone had been one of Africa’s top diamond producers. Recently, it has also become a nation of one of the lowest GNP rates in the world due to the onslaught of a corrupt government, and greedy mining companies, which all have played a part in Sierra Leone’s upheaval.
The history of Sierra Leone is a horrific story of government corruption, murder, and poverty. The country slowly began to unravel in the 1930s when these high-quality gems were discovered, and mining began through De Beers. It was also quickly discovered by that these precious diamonds were easy to smuggle illegally out of the country.
Since that early revelation, diamond smuggling has become a rampant source of despair for a once prosperous country. In 1968, Siaka Stevens became Prime Minister, bringing the country one party rule, but by this time diamond smuggling had already begun to get out of control. Under Stevens, legitimate diamond trading dropped from more than 2 million carats in 1970 to 48,000 in 1988.
It had become so corrupt that De Beers sold its mining rights and the Precious Metal Mining Company. Stevens resigned from parliament, and the government transformed itself into a multi-party system.
In 1991, it was noted that the country was being run by a corrupt and immoral government which openly accepted illicit diamond trading, and was suffering from an inequitable economy. Sierra Leone had become a exposed and attractive site for armed rebellion. On March 23, a civil war began when the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), a group of 100 fighters from Sierra Leone and Liberia, invaded east Sierra Leone.
Foday Sankoh, an ex-army sergeant led the RUF representing “The Urban dispossessed†and “promising impoverished peasants a greater share in the mineral wealth misused by the corrupt government.†However, Sankoh used brutal tactics, such as mutilation and amputation, against these same peasants to allegedly expose the government’s inability to protect its citizens.
Sankoh believed that the mutilation and amputation of too many of these impoverished people would prevent them from working in the mines, and make them powerless to fight back against his rebel army. His primary focus was not to help the people of Sierra Leone, but to ravish their countryside and gain complete access to their abundant sources of diamonds.
He was zealously aware that if he could take over the major diamond fields than he could effortlessly afford to support his brutal rebellion, mining more funds into soldiers and military weapons. This onslaught placed Sierra Leone in complete isolation. The country could no longer even trust its own soldiers as they were known to be “rebels by day†and “soldiers by night.â€
A UN expert panel report published in December 2000 estimated that the RUF diamond trade moved from $25 million to $125 million in diamonds per year in the late 1990s. Also in this decade-long battle over diamonds, it has left over 50,000 dead, half a million refugees, and a thousand amputees attempting to rebuild their lives.
The people of Sierra Leone have suffered an ongoing nightmare that no person could truly comprehend or understand. They have been beaten, raped, and mutilated by these rebel forces. Yet, they still have the strength to attempt to rebuild an impoverished country that has been beaten to the core, over a shiny, senseless rock which is precious to so many people in Western countries.
Since the onslaught of the civil war, Sierra Leone has attempted to rebuild its country. With the U.N. ban on Sierra Leone’s diamond exports and De Beers’ promise to help the country learn to peacefully profit from its resources, the government again has a chance to regain power over legitimate mining and thereby the nation.
Until the 1980s, De Beers was directly involved in Sierra Leone but its involvement has since become indirect. It maintains a diamond trading company in Liberia and a buying office in Conakry, Guinea.
Interesting, that DeBeers would pull itself out of Sierra Leone during a time of struggle, and position itself in Liberia, were most diamonds would be smuggled out to be resold.
DeBeers is one of the largest mining companies in the world and sets the price for rough cut diamonds on the global market. It is also has the ability to manipulate the supply and demand of diamonds based out of its Central Selling Organization headquarters in London.
De Beers claims that it does not purchase Sierra Leonean diamonds; but with its purchasing companies in West Africa, the company procures diamonds that could have come from virtually anywhere in the world. It is highly unlikely that the company is not purchasing illegally smuggled diamonds from Sierra Leone.
Last year alone, Americans spent over 12 billion dollars in diamonds for every special occasion. “How many diamonds of those 12 billion dollars was are actually legal diamonds that have not been smuggled across the borders of Sierra Leone to Liberia and then resold to billion dollar corporations?
It is estimated in 2002, only $41 million of the $300 million diamonds mined in Sierra Leone were legally exported.
Imagine the capital losses for this country each year when it is trying to rebuild itself, and become prosperous once again – for its children and its people.
Imagine, if De Beers marketed to the bride on her wedding day, the precious truth about the gem resting on her finger. Perhaps, as she gazed down at longingly, she could be reminded that children under the age of ten were sent into mines under appalling conditions each day digging over a period of eight hours making less than 50 cents a day in order to feed their families.
Imagine, if jewelers informed the groom before purchasing this precious gem for his lovely bride to be that whole families were wiped out, and many left behind mutilated and amputated, so they would never be able to work, again.
Do you think diamonds would be as precious to North American consumers if we actually told the truth behind their dazzling story? I wonder what the sale of diamonds would be and how these people would react to discover they were wearing a true symbol of death, the death of childhood, the death of families, the death of culture, and the eternal cycle of poverty.
Several Initiatives have taken the lead in helping rebuild Sierra Leone. The Peace Diamond Alliance and The Kimberly Process are both working to improve the management of Sierra Leone’s diamond resources and its capacity, in order to ensure the profit from diamonds flows back into Sierra Leone’s communities. It is time to build a future for Sierra Leone where corruption and poverty are no longer a part of the future.
References
Snapshot of Sierra Leone and its turbulent history with the exploitation of diamonds
Transition for Sierra Leone as it rebuilds its country and regulates diamond trade through initiatives with USAID and Diamond Alliance Planning Task Force.
Overview of diamond trade and DeBeers link to Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone from The Diamonds and Human Securities Project, examining the past, present, and future of Sierra Leone (pdf).
United Nations focus on Sierra Leone
Snapshot of Sierra Leone economy
Offers valuable insight into Sierra Leone’s trade, and history
Sites several mining fields, and corporations operating in Sierra Leone
Peace Diamond Alliance Website
One Sky Diamond Campaign to end blood diamonds
The Kimberly Process and their initiative with conflict diamonds
Insight into child labor in diamond mines
DeBeers website and Strategic Marketing
“The Rules of the Engagement Ringâ€, a prime example of North America’s obsession with marriage and diamonds.
Involved in mining in Sierra Leone for several years
how come u guys can write about this problem but you can’t fix it……. a mad black woman.
I think writing about it help fixes it, since part of the problem is clearly a lack of information on the origin of diamonds. I think if people knew more about these issues, they would have to think twice about their choices- but they do not have to consider what they do not know or have not been told. they simply cant.
Look at these sites:
http://www.amnestyusa.org/amnestynow/diamonds.html
http://www.onesky.ca/diamonds/
You may have paid the proverbial “arm and a leg” for your diamond, but somewhere, child is missing an arm and a leg because of your diamond.
I agree with seaflow. If no one knows, nothing can be done.
Check out those sites, but be warned, after viewing the Amnesty site, you’ll never want to look at a diamond again.
“Blood diamonds are for never.”
-One Sky
why cant anyone do anything to stop this some people have the power to raise taxes and things like that but they cant stop this its just sick to think people out there are paying for this to happen! people are just greedy!! i hope to god in the future it all changes because people shouldnt be treated that way all for the sake of a diamond! a diamond isnt worth life diamonds do look beautiful but not as much as life is them poor people should be able to see that like we can i wished they had that chance.
why cant anyone do anything to stop this some people have the power to raise taxes and things like that but they cant stop this its just sick to think people out there are paying for this to happen! people are just greedy!! i hope to god in the future it all changes because people shouldnt be treated that way all for the sake of a diamond! a diamond isnt worth life diamonds do look beautiful but not as much as life is them poor people should be able to see that like we can i wished they had that chance.
Doesn’t there exist another side of the story? Diamonds are an economic boom to many and create millions of jobs. Wars are fought over religious and monetary reasons always. What about the Gas in your car or textiles on your back? Diamonds could be a great boom to these countries – but Africa is corrupt and near hopeless. African tribal war over nothing is more common than war over diamonds. Diamonds are a commodity. If people pay for such “stupid” diamonds a country rich in diamonds should have a tremendous opportunity. Why can’t they use it? Like Canada or Russia?
-All things considered – there must be 2 sides of this issue.
I agree that there must be two sides to the issue but it all seems so cyclical to me. It all goes back to imperialism when predominantly white nations took over the economies of poor African countries who were made to believe that trade agreements would benefit them. Throughout history we see this pattern perpetuate itself when Africans are made to believe that they cannot support themselves withouth the aid of the white man…the same white man that corrupts and steals…and exploits innocent nations with simple economies who have always been made to think that they are in need of “civilization” (but by whose standards?). And so now after being ravaged and left with a completely deteriorating infrastructure it’s extremely difficult to rebuild and stand on one’s own two feet…much easier said than done. Most curroption in Africa didn’t begin within…Europeans were often the ones that corrupted Africans in power, for their own gain (ie recall the story of Lumumba in the former Congo…) It’s sad but it won’t all end until equality begins.
Greetings, I am a first time viewer of this website and I must say it is very insightful. My purpose of viewing the site is because my students love of “the bling”. I am looking for recent articles on diamond and gold mining.I want them to read,and understand the hardships of the people mining these items just so other socities can “bling an brag”. If you have any articles or documentaries that I can pull up,or order it would really be greatly appreiciated. Thank You.
Warm Regards,
Mrs. Fennell
Is there a source for arguing the other side of this? I’m working on a paper-arguing the side that I believe all of us are one, but i need to know more about what the counter argument is.
After watching the history special on Blood Diamonds…. I sold off every one of my rings and jewelry that had even one diamond chip in it…. I don’t care if I bought these before 1991 –I will NEVER look at a diamond the same……. I suppose I will view it the same way I view a fur coat ——— people who wear them are either uninformed (as I was about the diamond issue) or just too vain and uncaring to give a damn (people who wear fur)
In response to Brandy’s comment (Jan 18, 2006), it’s up to everyone to do something. Who is the “you” you are referring to? Why, in fact it is YOU. And everyone else. People need to stop this obsession with a mere stone that is in fact not even rare. It is only priced that way because women eat up the marketing that somehow the size of the diamond equates to how much they are loved, and for some reason they deserve to wear $10,000 on their finger. It’s simply absurd. Thank you Terre for making your comment. I too wait for the day when we look back and say that we can’t believe we used to pay that much for a measly rock, and avidly financed human suffering and death.
After enhancing my understanding of blood diamonds through various methods of research, I am inspired to sell my diamonds as well… but I have a question… where did you sell them? To someone that will gain another profit off of them? To someone else who will wear them? I am conflicted as to my role in this conflict, and what I can do to end it. Are there any organizations that you can sell diamonds to, in order to ensure the profit will go back to countries that have and are still suffering?
Here’s a site with an alternative. http://www.asgreenasitgets.org/jade.html. Independent Guatemalans mine their own jade and turn it into engagement rings and such. Sure beats the alternatives.
To help fix this problem simply do not buy diamonds. Donate your money that otherwise you would have spend on a diamond to help these people have a better life.
I have long been against diamonds and through talking with friends, making posters, writing essays, and doing a little research many of my friends and acquaintances have refused to by diamonds. So yes talking about it can make a difference, at least 4 of my recently married friends are diamond free because of me.
P.S. I recently got married and bought my wife an antique garnet and she loves it.
I agree! These diamonds can be any bride’s best friend while men’s tungsten wedding bands are men’s best friend!
The Kimberly Process is working on outlawing blood diamonds in Zimbabwe: http://www.newsy.com/videos/watchdog_considers_banning_blood_diamonds
Unfortunately, the Kimberly Process voted to continue to certify Zimbabwe diamonds as “conflict-free” despite the atrocities associated with them.
http://blog.brilliantearth.com/2009/11/09/kimberly-process-chooses-not-to-suspend-zimbabwe/
Stop these practices by demanding the diamonds you purchase are truly ethically sourced. I work at Brilliant Earth – we specialize in ethical origin fine jewelry. We trace the diamonds every step of the way to ensure they are harvested, cut, and polished with fair labor and eco-friendly practices.
tell me more about the pollutions diamonds cause in sierra leone.