How did blood diamonds start?

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. RUF leaders were very aware that whoever controls the diamond mines controls Sierra Leone, and profits from smuggled diamonds funded its attack.

Thereof, where do blood diamonds come from?

In just the past two decades, seven African countries have endured brutal civil conflicts fueled by diamonds: Sierra Leone, Liberia, Angola, the Republic of Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Diamonds intensify civil wars by financing militaries and rebel militias.

Secondly, how are blood diamonds smuggled? Conflict diamonds under the Kimberley Process are defined as gemstones sold to fund a rebel movement attempting to overthrow the state—and only that. Many of those diamonds are likely being smuggled across the border to Congo, where they are given Kimberley Process certificates before being traded internationally.

Regarding this, when did blood diamond mining start?

1990s

Are blood diamonds real diamonds?

Blood diamonds are stones that are mined, usually by slave labor, in war-torn countries. The diamonds are illegally traded to fund the cost of the war for insurgents who oppose internationally recognized governments.

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Are Blood Diamonds still an issue?

According to a U.N. panel of experts conflict diamonds are still being smuggled out of the CAR, with an estimated value of $24 million, that's approximately 140,000 carats of conflict diamonds flooding the market despite the ban.

How many people have died because of blood diamonds?

All in all, roughly 20,000 innocent people suffered bodily mutilation, 75,000 were killed and 2 million fled Sierra Leone altogether [source: PBS Online NewsHour]. According to National Geographic News, all of these conflicts combined have displaced millions and resulted in the deaths of more than 4 million people.

How much is the diamond worth in Blood Diamond?

If everything goes extremely well, you end up with something like this, which sold for $25.8 million at auction. It's 16.08 carats, making it the largest pink diamond of its kind to be sold at auction. My guess is that the mythical movie diamond wouldn't get close to that.

Are Blood Diamonds red?

Blood diamonds (also called conflict diamonds, brown diamonds, hot diamonds, or red diamonds) are diamonds mined in a war zone and sold to finance an insurgency, an invading army's war efforts, or a warlord's activity. The term conflict resource refers to analogous situations involving other natural resources.

How do you know if you have a blood diamond?

How can you tell if a diamond is a blood diamond? You really can't tell just by looking at the stone itself. “Blood diamonds” (aka “conflict diamonds”) are so named not because of their color or any physical characteristic, but because they were mined using slave labor and are sold/traded to finance terrorism.

How much do blood diamonds cost?

The trade in 1999, at the height of the conflict, was estimated by the World bank to have been potentially worth $138 million a year. Instead of helping Sierra Leone, the world's poorest country, the diamonds were siphoned off to arm and supply the rebels that left 120,000 people dead and millions homeless.

Can you buy blood diamonds?

You should only buy diamonds from retailers that have a written policy that describes their commitment to selling conflict-free diamonds. If the diamond comes from one of these areas, it may be a blood diamond. Some of the countries that are known for ethical diamond mining are Canada, Namibia, and Botswana.

Are blood diamonds rare?

The rare also known as pink Blood Diamond can be mostlyfound in Sierra Leone. All of the desert and rock in Africa, there is sure enough to be all kinds of Diamonds there and in Sierra Leone the rare Blood Diamond, the diamond so small it can be known as just a pebble.

Why do they cut off hands in blood diamond?

Seizing the right arms of their chosen victims, the young pair bring their blades crashing down, severing hands as a warning to the whole village not to challenge their authority. Such horrifying scenes were once common during Sierra Leone's 11-year civil war.

Do Diamond Miners steal?

Still, the most common methods of stealing diamonds often go unnoticed. However, unscrupulous jewelers can't steal anywhere near the number of diamonds as people working in diamond mines can. All along the South African coast, workers regularly walk off with millions of dollars in rough (uncut) stones.

Why did the RUF cut off hands?

The RUF indicated that the reason for these actions was that amputees could no longer mine diamonds, which might be used to support government troops. The election slogan at that time was that the people 'had power in their hands', so the RUF would hack the hands off to prevent voting.

Why are blood diamonds so valuable?

Diamonds were formed billions of years ago and are extremely rare because so few are able to survive the difficult journey from the pits of the earth to reach the earth's surface. From the diamonds that are being mined today, only about 50 percent are thought to be high enough quality to be sold on the diamond market.

How many diamonds are blood diamonds?

The diamond industry estimates that conflict diamonds represent 4 percent of the total trade in rough diamonds. Others have estimated that conflict diamonds could amount to as high as 15 percent of the total trade.

How common are blood diamonds?

How Common Are Blood Diamonds? Based on historical production numbers, we can estimate that roughly 450 million carats of diamonds – the equivalent of $33.7 billion, based on 2015 prices – have been bloodied in recorded history. Blood diamonds have ebbed and flowed into the market over the years, however.

Is diamond mining bad?

Environmental Impact:

Reckless diamond mining has caused soil erosion, led to deforestation and forced populations to relocate. Mines have also re-routed rivers and exposed riverbeds for mining, which has had catastrophic effects on local wildlife.

What is a conflict free diamond?

What is a Conflict Free Diamond? A conflict free diamond is a diamond that's mined and shipped without connection to rebel or terror groups. Procedures and agreements like The Kimberley Process are in place to guarantee that diamonds are mined and shipped according to certain ethical standards.

Are Tiffany diamonds blood diamonds?

Tiffany & Co. is one of the leading jewelers to spearhead the use of conflict free diamonds. They work diligently to ensure their diamonds are ethically sourced, from the beginning to the end. From blood diamonds to wars, there has been much neglect to these daily occurring issues.