Blood Diamonds
Global Relationships
"Now who gives a damn
About the ice on your hand
If it's not too complex
Tell me how many Africans died
For the baguettes on your Rolex"
Ms Dynamite 'It Takes More' (Lyrics: N Mclain-Daley)
About the ice on your hand
If it's not too complex
Tell me how many Africans died
For the baguettes on your Rolex"
Ms Dynamite 'It Takes More' (Lyrics: N Mclain-Daley)
The diamond trade is a truly global trade. there are three main parts to the trade;
Extracting: this involves physically getting the diamond out of the ground
Processing: this involves cleaning and polishing the diamond and getting it ready to be sold. The diamonds are also judged for quality and divided into diamonds to be used in industrial processes or for jewellery and decorative items.
Dealing: this involves selling the diamonds for jewellery in the world's most prestigious jewellery houses
What countries are involved in the diamond trade?
Various people are involved in the diamond trade. A blood diamond is one that is said to have blood on it as a result of where it has come from or how it has been extracted. The negative effects of the trade are:
Extracting: this involves physically getting the diamond out of the ground
Processing: this involves cleaning and polishing the diamond and getting it ready to be sold. The diamonds are also judged for quality and divided into diamonds to be used in industrial processes or for jewellery and decorative items.
Dealing: this involves selling the diamonds for jewellery in the world's most prestigious jewellery houses
What countries are involved in the diamond trade?
Various people are involved in the diamond trade. A blood diamond is one that is said to have blood on it as a result of where it has come from or how it has been extracted. The negative effects of the trade are:
- ‘Conflict’ (or ‘blood’) diamonds are gems mined in war zones.
- Rebel groups use money from selling diamonds to buy guns and other military hardware.
- There are many victims – from diamond miners that work in dangerous conditions to others caught in the crossfire of the conflicts financed by diamond deals.
- Some the world’s poorest countries have paid the price for their diamond supplies, especially in West Africa. Here, about 3.7 million people have died in diamond-fuelled wars. Millions of others have lost their homes and livelihoods.
- Children often die in the mines
- The diamond mines can cause deforestation and cause widespread water pollution