Bling Bang! Exploring The Blood Diamond Trade
March 15, 2011 by Arash Mazinani
Filed under All Content, Editorial, Ladies
I watched the film ‘Blood Diamond’ at the weekend which actually inspired this post. It’s something that I had a vague idea about but the film shed light on the subject and lead me to go on a little researching mission. I thought I’d write this post mainly to shed awareness on a subject that a lot of people are totally unaware of. I know my girlfriend hadn’t heard of the term ‘blood diamond’ before and I’m sure a lot of readers will probably be in the same boat. Well, I guess I hope to change that in this post. So leading on from my post how ethical are you when it comes to fashion? I’m going to explain what the deal is with blood diamonds.
What is a blood diamond?
Blood diamonds are also known as “conflict diamonds” and are usually produced in areas controlled by rebel forces that are opposed to governments. The rebels use violence to force men, women and children into slave labour to mine the diamonds. They then use the diamonds to purchase arms and fund their military actions. Through out the entire operation violence, threats and bribes are used hence the term ‘blood diamond’.
The diamonds are smuggled onto the international diamond trade and then sold as legitimate stones. The flow of conflict diamonds originated mainly from West Africa in places like Sierra Leone, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia and Ivory Coast.
You may have recently remembered Naomi Campbell was in the News as it was alleged she accepted ‘blood diamonds’ from the former Liberian warlord Charles Taylor.
What’s being done?
Eight years ago an international body, backed by the UN, was founded to make sure traders and consumers could identify blood diamonds and prevent them being traded. This was known as The Kimberley Process. The Kimberley Process requires each nation to prove their diamond exports are produced legitimately. The diamonds also have to be accompanied by a certificate to certify that they are not blood diamonds. Any nation that is part of The Kimberley Process cannot trade with non members. This process has helped to dramatically cut down on the number of blood diamonds finding their way onto the international market.
Conflict Diamonds on the Market
As I mentioned The Kimberley Process has helped cut down on conflict diamonds in the international market, however there are still some issues. Zimbabwe has no ban on the sale of their stones even though they are mined under serious human rights abuses. The Kimberley Process regards blood diamonds as those mined by oppressive rebel groups, not governments. So diamonds from Zimbabwe are accompanied with a “conflict free” certificate even though they have funded murders, oppressive labour and rape.
In addition there are still African countries like Cote d’Ivoire and The Democratic Republic of Congo that are either too hard to monitor due to unrest or still have active rebel groups that are involved in diamond mining. In 2008 Venezuela withdrew from The Kimberley Process for not complying. However, it still has an active mining industry even though it can’t officially export them meaning they have been smuggled out illegally.
So it’s evident that although The Kimberley Process has done a lot to curb the exporting and trading of conflict diamonds they are still finding their way onto the market. So if you’re buying diamonds it’s crucial to make sure you get some sort of documentation that the diamond your buying originated from a conflict free source.
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The good thing about recycling and a love for vintage is that more and more people are going for vintage jewelery, rings, necklaces, etc. However, I wonder if on these cases one can actually trace the history of the stones used to before their first owner. I wonder if buying vintage means buying responsibly and avoiding the blood trade.
A very informative post Arash
I’m guessing not it depends when the stones were originally mined. Thanks for commenting
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This was my mindset until I stalked to a friend about it. She said buying vintage still places demand for more diamonds, which is at the heart of the problem.
Excellent post, and wonderful use of your power of blogger- to keep us wisely, and intelligently informed. I am fortunate enough to be aware of conflict diamonds. One reason why I’m not about diamonds at the moment. I am committed to not be part of the oppression of my fellow humans, no matter how luxurious the prize- no coffee, chocolate, clothes or jewels have any beauty to me if it’s at the expensive of my fellow brothers and sisters freedom. Thank you so much for posting this!
PS: I am looking forward in seeing the beautiful, blood-free gem you select for your lucky girlfriend! : )
-Bella Q
the Citizen Rosebud
Ha Ha that might be a while yet before she gets one of those. But again thanks for your lovely comment.
excellent insight on a gem that most women (including myself) love. I have seen only parts of the movie because I find it too depressing
although I wonder, by restricting the market of blood diamonds and making it harder for rebels to sell these diamonds in the international market, will this increase violence and threats due to frustration of not being able to sell as freely as before?
Good question, I’d imagine however with out the money from the diamonds themselves their funds to buy arms would eventually dry up. Thanks for commenting
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Since diamonds are a bit out of my price range this is not something that I need to be concerned about (in a way of being worried that I would own a blood diamond, not in the way of not caring that this is happening). I was aware of this before, and I’ve seen the movie, it’s truly horrible. Yet another example how money can turn people into monsters.
brunetteblogging.com
Thanks for commenting Kim
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Thank you so much for this! I’ve been wondering what exactly ‘blood diamonds’ are & what’s going on to stop them. I commend you for doing the research and sharing it with us. I submitted this post to Beautifully Invisible’s Link Love.
Aww thanks for the submission I really appreciate it. I hope it answered your questions about blood diamonds.
I have not watched this movie because a) I am afraid that it will give me nightmares; and b) I am afraid that it will lead me to not enjoy diamonds as much and/or feel guilty when wearing them.
I’m not on board with either of these reasons, so I prefer to live in ignorance.
http://glamkittenslitterbox.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @GlamKitten88
It’s a really good movie I thought, you should definitely check it out, it’s not scary lol
Saw you at Kristy Elena’s blog.I am glad i visited you as well. What an informative great post.there is so much bad going on in this world!! thats the reason i am not wearing diamonds and i have no desire to own any. thanks so much for your hard work to bring us this post.
Aww thank you for commenting Carol I hope to see you again, glad you enjoyed the post.
Arash, thank you for shedding light on this topic. I’ve been aware of the diamond industry for years and although I acknowledge their beauty, diamonds have never held any appeal to me for that reason. When I designed my engagement ring I chose a “man-made” diamond. I wear my little fake with pride knowing it reflects what I stand for. My lifestyle choices are not perfect by any means but I do believe in making changes based on the knowledge that comes my way, even if it’s one baby step at a time.
Thanks for your comment that’s really great to know Fabienne, it’s just really about raising awareness so more people ask the question where has this diamond come from?
This entire situation really saddens me. To think that something that is deemed a luxury causes so much corruption and turmoil is really sad and says something about our culture when we continue to crave these ill-gotten jewels. This is not to say people shouldn’t wear diamonds, but your post is a first step in being informed about these “little luxuries”. I have never been a big diamond wearer and this is even greater cause to not start.
Thanks for such a moving post.
Thanks for your comment. As I mentioned in the post it’s just about making more people aware so that if they do end up buying a diamond they know what they need to ask.
I think it is great that you are opening the discussion fashion blogs about what is ethical. I am Liberian and I can say it the war truly tore our country apart. This is a conversation that needs to happen more often in the fashion world. Hopefully more companies will strive to make sure they are using conflict free diamonds as more consumers become more informed…
Great post.
FashionBrew
http://www.thefashionbrewery.com/
Thanks for your comment, I really appreciate it.
As a jeweler, I only buy diamonds from wholesalers who commit in writing to selling only non-conflict diamonds. Meanwhile, there’s something people outside the jewelry business seem to be unaware of — that diamonds aren’t the only natural resources sold by strife-torn countries. The profits from less sexy minerals like tantalum, tungsten and tin are often used to fuel barbaric practices as are cocoa and timber. The issue is a part of your life even if you never wear a diamond, ever: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/27/opinion/27kristof.html
What a great discussion! It’s hard because I think unless the demand goes down for diamonds, there will always be conflict diamonds. It seems like the Kimberly Process is one way to start to change things. I think people buying diamonds definitely have to be aware of these issues.
Thanks for your comment, funny you should mention about demand. I don’t know how true this is as I didn’t see it mentioned in any of the research but in the film they did talk about diamond sellers intentionally holding onto surplus diamonds to keep the demand/cost of diamonds high.
Thank you for this post! I did know about blood diamonds before, but I didn’t know the details. That the official term of “conflict diamonds” requires a “conflict” and the presence of “rebels”… And if there’s no conflict and the government simply does it, it is not seen as a “conflict” or blood diamond. Makes sense from a categorial point of view, but is absolutely cynical concerning human rights. Now, I’m far from buying a diamond for myself of anyone, or getting one, but if I was to buy a diamond, I would most certainly check that it wasn’t a blood/conflict diamond and I would educate myself more on the matter beforehand. Because how could I adore a piece of jewellery to commemorate something special to my heart if someone had to die making it??
Relatable Style
You have a point about it not being a conflict diamond if it’s down to the government, but if people are still being slaughtered then it’s just as bad.
Yeah I know. That is why it’s so cynical to distinguish like that, concerning human rights. And that’s why it’s so cynical to only call rebel diamonds “conflict” diamonds and therefore blood diamonds. I do wonder though, where do fair diamonds come from?