Conflict Diamonds
Diamonds - Those shimmering stones that adds beauty to the pendant that adorns a girl's neck; those rarest of all the gemstones that smile at you almost invariably everyday as something that crowns ones ring finger; those that convey the timeless qualities of love and affection; those that are in the constant process of being formed after millions of years of evolution miles down the earth and the possibility of which, reaching the surface is as rare as the stones themselves, are truly a girl's best friend. Or so they say!
Some facts about diamonds:
1. An estimated 5 million people have access to appropriate healthcare globally thanks to revenues from diamonds.
2. Diamond revenues enable every child in Botswana to receive free education up to the age of 13.
3. An estimated 10 million people globally are directly or indirectly supported by the diamond industry.
4. The charity Jewelers for Children funds a community based care program for orphaned children in South Africa.
5. The diamond mining industry generates over 40% of Namibia's annual export earnings.
6. The Diamond Development Initiative was established to improve the working conditions of artisanal miners.
7. Approximately one million people are employed by the diamond industry in India.
8. Approximately $8.4 billion worth of diamonds a year come from African countries.
9. The revenue from diamonds is instrumental in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
10. An estimated 65% of the world's diamonds come from African countries.
Fact 8 is exactly where problems lay as long back as 1990 and early 1990's when the revenues generated by exporting diamonds from certain African countries were used in illegally purchasing arms and ammunitions to fuel the already war-torn regions. Thus the name CONFLICT DIAMONDS or BLOOD DIAMONDS. About 4% of diamonds sold all over the world during this period were blood diamonds.
UN defines blood diamonds as "diamonds that originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments, and are used to fund military action in opposition to those governments, or in contravention of the decisions of the Security Council."
Today the flow of these diamonds have been reduced to 1%, thanks to the cooperation of about 71 governments, certain NGOs and the diamond industry. A system named 'Kimberley process' was set in place. The transfer route of diamonds right from the point they are mined to the point they are sold to a retailer were monitored.
However, there are still 3 countries which do not comply with the Kimberley process - Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo and Liberia. They are in the process of stabilizing their social living.
For further information on blood diamonds, refer www.diamondfacts.org
Coincidentally, I have plans of watching the movie 'Blood diamond' tonight. I heard it is a nice one to watch.
Adios.
Some facts about diamonds:
1. An estimated 5 million people have access to appropriate healthcare globally thanks to revenues from diamonds.
2. Diamond revenues enable every child in Botswana to receive free education up to the age of 13.
3. An estimated 10 million people globally are directly or indirectly supported by the diamond industry.
4. The charity Jewelers for Children funds a community based care program for orphaned children in South Africa.
5. The diamond mining industry generates over 40% of Namibia's annual export earnings.
6. The Diamond Development Initiative was established to improve the working conditions of artisanal miners.
7. Approximately one million people are employed by the diamond industry in India.
8. Approximately $8.4 billion worth of diamonds a year come from African countries.
9. The revenue from diamonds is instrumental in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
10. An estimated 65% of the world's diamonds come from African countries.
Fact 8 is exactly where problems lay as long back as 1990 and early 1990's when the revenues generated by exporting diamonds from certain African countries were used in illegally purchasing arms and ammunitions to fuel the already war-torn regions. Thus the name CONFLICT DIAMONDS or BLOOD DIAMONDS. About 4% of diamonds sold all over the world during this period were blood diamonds.
UN defines blood diamonds as "diamonds that originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments, and are used to fund military action in opposition to those governments, or in contravention of the decisions of the Security Council."
Today the flow of these diamonds have been reduced to 1%, thanks to the cooperation of about 71 governments, certain NGOs and the diamond industry. A system named 'Kimberley process' was set in place. The transfer route of diamonds right from the point they are mined to the point they are sold to a retailer were monitored.
However, there are still 3 countries which do not comply with the Kimberley process - Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo and Liberia. They are in the process of stabilizing their social living.
For further information on blood diamonds, refer www.diamondfacts.org
Coincidentally, I have plans of watching the movie 'Blood diamond' tonight. I heard it is a nice one to watch.
Adios.
posted by Balaji Varadharajan at 6:31 PM
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