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No Conflict Diamonds | Reading about blood diamonds in the worldpress

June 17, 2006, 8:00 pm

Earlier today, I remembered an online article I’d read from about five months ago, which was written by Pervenia Brown, on world press. And the part that struck me the most was a quote that was in there about a report by the Partnership Africa Canada. It said that “upwards of 50,000 have been killed, half the population displaced, and more than two-thirds of its already severely limited infrastructure destroyed.” And that meanwhile, the underground trade of illicit diamonds is thriving. As conflict diamonds are valued “between 4 percent and 15 percent of the world total” and generate annual trade revenues of $7.5 billion.”

Which to be true in this day and age, just as a possibility, is staggering. So please
read the rest of the Blood Diamonds in Sierra Leone article. And make sure to be aware of your bling’s certificate of origin. As we try to ensure legitimate governance under international law, always.

    • —B | no comments
    (posted in the diamond, diamonds, conflict diamonds, conflict diamonds africa, sierra leone diamond conflict, diamond conflict in sierra leone category)

    Blood Diamond: The Movie

    June 8, 2006, 12:54 pm

    I was reading up on this movie, in production now, called Blood Diamond. It’s directed by Edward Zwick, who also directed The Last Samurai and Courage Under Fire, and will film on location in Port Edward, South Africa; Maputo, Mozambique and Cape Town, South Africa.

    The synopsis is based around the horrific civil war in Sierra Leone, circa 1999, revolving primarily with ‘blood diamonds,” also known as ‘’conflict diamonds”. Which are the precious stones used to finance rebellions, privateers, and terrorists. Told through the story of Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio), a South African mercenary, and Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou), a Mende fisherman. Both men are African, but their varied histories as such must come together in a common quest. As Archer, in prison for smuggling, finds out that Solomon – who was taken from his family and forced to work in the diamond fields – has found and hidden the extraordinary rough stone. With the help of Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly), an American journalist, the two men embark on a trek through rebel territory. A journey that could save Solomon’s family and give Archer the second chance he thought he would never have, all as they attempt to thwart the syndicate that controls the local diamond mining industry.

    Thus far, a release date is idealized for late in this year.

    But it made me start wondering, will this story actually bring attention to the fundamentals of the issue, through the use of the star power at its disposal? Or will it just become an idealistic voyage of fanfare by those who have no real grasp of what dangerous ground they toil upon?

    • —B | no comments
    (posted in the diamond, diamonds, conflict diamonds, conflict diamonds africa, sierra leone diamond conflict, what are conflict diamonds, diamond conflict in sierra leone, conflict diamond mining, what is a conflict diamond category)

    No Conflict Diamonds | Bling: Consequences and Repercussions

    June 4, 2006, 4:07 pm

    So, I was reading this interview on Soundslam with Kareem Edouard, who directed the short film - Bling: Consequences and Repercussions. Which tackles the issues behind Hip Hop’s obsession with diamonds and the continued illegal diamond trade in Africa, widely considered blood or conflict diamonds. It’s narrated by the infamous Chuck D of Public Enemy acclaim. And can in fact, be viewed at http://wghfilms.com/bling.htm by pc, mac, ipod, and psp. So check that out.

    But what also brought me to posting this today, was something Kareem said in the aforementioned interview:

    “I came across one rapper a couple of weeks ago, I won’t mention names, who said to me that he wouldn’t wear a diamond unless an arm got cut off for it. I never thought that I would hear that from another human, but they never cease to amaze/ disappoint me.”

    And it got me to thinking, how can the situation really be truly resolved, if those who are idolized in our society and held up as mentors … perpetuate such ignorance and devastation themselves? What will the bling revolution leave as its legacy, when the blood let, is finally sown down the line of its toils?

    • —B | no comments
    (posted in the diamond, diamonds, conflict diamonds, conflict diamonds africa category)


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