BLOOD DIAMONDS By Vinay Krishna Medishetty

BLOOD DIAMONDSBy Vinay Krishna Medishetty

OVER VIEWBlood diamonds are also known as conflict diamonds 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 labor to mine the diamonds.

The diamonds are used to purchase arms and fund their military actions.

Through out the entire operation violence, threats, torture and slavery are practiced hence the name BLOOD DIAMONDS.

The flow of conflict diamonds originated mainly from West Africa in places like Sierra Leone, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia and Ivory Coast.

HISTORY

First Diamond was found by a young boy named Stephanus in South Africa, gave it to his neighbor named Niekerk, he gives it to traveling salesmanand later displayed at World Fair in Paris in 1867, & declared to be a diamond and named Eureka.More diamonds were found during the time & this was the start of the history of bloodshed in Africa. Mining became a big time activity Realizing worth & preciousness of diamonds, local people began competing each other , and started War among themselves.

..contdMajor profits are used by rebels & Warlords Forced labor, Child labor, Killing, Beatings, Smuggling, and Corruption Burning of houses and live stock have arisen with a high rate There is no law enforcement to restrict. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRzb0AxO3CY

Blood diamonds costed more than 50,000 people dead !Half Million of Refugee's and thousands of amputees. Major source of hard currency was Diamond MiningIn 1991 - A rebel group entered the country & took control of its mining cities.Rebels attempted to overthrow the government, & an illegal diamond trade was conducted openly.

Kimberley Process of Certification Scheme Established in 2003 to prevent conflict Blood Diamonds from entering the mainstream market.The KPCS was introduced by United Nations General Assembly. The process was set up "to ensure that diamond purchases were not financing violence by rebel movements and their allies seeking to undermine legitimate governments.

DE BEERSFounded in 1888, active in every kind of diamondmining across the world.It sells about 35% of the worlds rough diamondproduction.It initially followed the Kimberly process to conveythat they no longer trade blood diamonds.Put pressure on Botswana government to evacuatepeople to leave the central Kalahari Reserve.Other people and organizations have also beenclaimed to involve in Blood diamond trade.