Blood diamond
148635
225366197
2008-07-13T08:57:01Z
Rjwilmsi
203434
no 'of' between a month and a year per [[Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style_%28dates_and_numbers%29#Longer_periods|MOS]] using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]]
{{two other uses||the film|Blood Diamond (film)|the 2006 TV documentary about the blood diamond trade|Blood Diamonds (TV show)}}
[[Image:Hands ondiamonds 350.jpg|thumb|Panning for diamonds in [[Sierra Leone]].]]
In relation to diamond trading, '''blood diamond''' (also called a '''converted diamond''', '''conflict diamond''', '''hot diamond''' or a '''war diamond''') refers to a [[diamond]] mined in a [[war]] zone and sold, in order to finance an insurgency, invading army's war efforts, or supporting a warlord's activity, usually in [[Africa]].<ref>[http://www.un.org/peace/africa/Diamond.html Conflict Diamonds] United Nations Department of Public Information, March 21, 2001, accessed online December 26, 2006</ref>
==History==
{{Main|Angolan Civil War#Diamonds|2000s in Angola#2007}}
In 1998, the [[United Nations]] (UN) placed [[Angola]] under [[sanctions]] forbidding countries from buying diamonds from them.<ref name=UN1173>{{cite book|title=[http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N98/166/52/PDF/N9816652.pdf Security Council Resolution 1173]|publisher=United Nations|year=1998}}</ref> This was the first resolution of the UN which specifically mentioned diamonds in the context of funding the war. Reports estimated that as much as 20% of total production in the 1990s were being sold for illegal purposes, and 15% were specifically ''conflict'' in nature.<ref name=PACWEB>[http://blooddiamond.pacweb.org/kimberlyprocess/ The Kimberley Controls: How Effective?] Partnership Africa Canada Website accessed January 8, 2007</ref> By 1999, the illegal diamond trade was estimated by the [[World Diamond Council]] to have been reduced to 3.06% of the world's diamond production.<ref>[http://www.worlddiamondcouncil.com/estimate.shtml Diamond Production Estimates - 1999] World Diamond Council website, accessed November 5, 2006</ref><ref name=DFORGConflictdiamonds>[http://www.diamondfacts.org/conflict/index.html Conflict diamonds] World Diamond Council website - DiamondFacts.org, accessed November 5, 2006</ref> The [[World Diamond Council]] reported that by 2004 this percentage had fallen to approximately 1%.<ref name=DFORGConflictdiamonds>[http://www.diamondfacts.org/conflict/index.html Conflict diamonds] World Diamond Council website - DiamondFacts.org, accessed November 5, 2006</ref><ref name=PACWEB/>
Angola, formerly a [[Portuguese Empire|colony of Portugal]], gained [[Angolan War of Independence|independence]] on [[November 11]], [[1975]]. Although independent, the [[Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola]] (MPLA), the [[National Union for the Total Independence of Angola]] (UNITA), and the [[National Liberation Front of Angola]] (FNLA) fought in [[Angolan Civil War|civil war]] from 1975 to 2002. UNITA sold diamonds abroad in violation of the [[Bicesse Accords]] of 1994 to finance its war with the government.<ref name=DFORGConflictbackground/> The UN recognized the role that diamonds played in funding the UNITA rebels, and in [[1998]] banned countries from buying diamonds from Angola.<ref name=UN1173/><ref name=DFORGConflictbackground>[http://www.diamondfacts.org/conflict/background.html Conflict diamonds] World Diamond Council website - DiamondFacts.org, accessed November 5, 2006</ref>
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Mining boy without hands.jpg|thumb|upright|War victim in [[Sierra Leone]]]] -->
===Liberia===
From 1989 to 2003 [[Liberia]] was engaged in a [[civil war]]. In 2000, the UN accused Liberian president [[Charles G. Taylor]] of supporting the RUF insurgency in Sierra Leone with weapons and training in exchange for diamonds. In 2001 the UN applied sanctions on the Liberian diamond trade. In August 2003 Taylor stepped down as president, and after being exiled to [[Nigeria]], now faces trial in [[The Hague]]. On [[July 21]], [[2006]] he pleaded not guilty to [[Crime against humanity|crimes against humanity]] and [[War Crime|war crimes]].<ref name=DFORGConflictbackground/>
Around the time of the [[1998 United States embassy bombings]], [[al-Qaeda]] allegedly bought gems from Liberia as some of its other financial assets were frozen.<ref name="BBCal">Lucy Jones , [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2775763.stm Al-Qaeda 'traded blood diamonds'], 20 February, 2003, BBC News Online, Retrieved on 30 October 2007.</ref>
Liberia today is at peace and is attempting to construct a legitimate diamond mining industry, and the UN has lifted sanctions and Liberia is now a member of the Kimberley process.<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/04/27/blood.diamond.ap/index.html</ref>
===Côte d'Ivoire===
[[Côte d'Ivoire]] began to develop a fledgling diamond mining industry in the 1990s. A [[Coup d'état|coup]] overthrew the government in 1999, starting a civil war. The country became a route for exporting diamonds from Liberia and war torn Sierra Leone.<ref name=DFORGConflictbackground/><ref name=heartmatter>[http://www.sierra-leone.org/heartmatter.html The Heart Of The Matter Sierra Leone, Diamonds & Human Security] Partnership Africa Canada (PAC), accessed November 5, 2006</ref> Foreign investment began to withdraw from the Ivory Coast. To curtail the illegal trade, the nation stopped all diamond mining, and the [[UN Security Council]] banned all exports of diamonds from Côte d'Ivoire in December 2005.<ref name=DFORGConflictbackground/>
===The Democratic Republic of the Congo===
The [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] (formerly [[Zaire]]) has suffered numerous civil wars in the 1990s, but has become a member of the Kimberley Process and now exports about 8% of the world's diamonds.<ref name=DFORGConflictbackground/> One of [[De Beers]]' most celebrated and priceless diamonds, the flawless D-colour 200-carat [[Millennium Star]] was discovered in the DRC and sold to [[De Beers]] during the height of the Civil War that took place in the early to mid-nineties.
===The Republic of Congo===
The [[Republic of Congo]] (Congo-Brazzaville) faced UN sanctions in 2004 because despite having no official diamond mining industry, the country was [[export]]ing large quantities of diamonds, the origin of which it could not detail.<ref name=DFORGConflictbackground/>
==Kimberley Process Certification Scheme==
{{main|Kimberley Process Certification Scheme}}
Although the United Nations first identified the conflict diamond issue in 1998 as a source of funding for war,<ref name=UN1173 /> it was the diamond industry that took steps to address the conflict diamond issue by convening a meeting to plan a process by which diamond origin could be certified. In May 2000, diamond producing countries of southern Africa met in [[Kimberley, South Africa|Kimberley]], [[South Africa]] to plan a method by which the trade in conflict diamonds could be halted, and buyers of diamonds could be assured that their diamonds have not contributed to violence.<ref name=KimberleyProcessbackground>[http://www.kimberleyprocess.com:8080/site/?name=background&PHPSESSID=52c197e677d1d117682b95a45d309ccf Background] Kimberley Process website, accessed December 8, 2006</ref><ref>{{PDFlink|[http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N00/396/56/PDF/N0039656.pdf Resolution 1295 (2000)]}} UN Security Council, 18 April 2000. In this resolution the Security Council wrote: ''Welcomes the proposal that a meeting of experts be convened for the purpose of devising a system of controls to facilitate the implementation of the measures contained in resolution 1173 (1998), including arrangements that would allow for increased transparency and accountability in the control of diamonds from their point of origin to the bourses, emphasizes that it is important that, in devising such controls, every effort be made to avoid inflicting collateral damage on the legitimate diamond trade, and welcomes the intention of the Republic of South Africa to host a relevant conference this year''</ref>
On [[July 19]], [[2000]], the [[World Diamond Congress]] adopted at [[Antwerp (city)|Antwerp]] a resolution to strengthen the diamond industry's ability to block sales of conflict diamonds.<ref name=wdcongress2000>[http://www.diamondfacts.org/facts/fact_06.html Fact#6] World Diamond Council website - DiamondFacts.org, accessed December 8 2006</ref><ref name=CNNJuly2000>[http://archives.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/europe/07/19/africa.diamonds.01.reut/index.html Diamond leaders in pact to ban 'conflict gems' funding African wars] CNN.com, July 19, 2000, accessed online December 9, 2006</ref> The resolution called for an international certification system on the export and import of diamonds, legislation in all countries to accept only officially sealed packages of diamonds, for countries to impose criminal charges on anyone trafficking in conflict diamonds, and instituted a ban on any individual found trading in conflict diamonds from the [[Diamond Bourse|diamond bourses]] of the [[World Federation of Diamond Bourses]].<ref name=CNNJuly2000/>
On January 17 - 18 of 2001, diamond industry figures convened and formed the new organization, the [[World Diamond Council]]. This new body set out to draft a new process, whereby all diamond rough could be certified as coming from a non-conflict source.<ref>Eli Izhakoff, [http://www.worlddiamondcouncil.com/chairmansreportforlondon.shtml Chairman's Report of the World Diamond Council 1st Annual Meeting] World Diamond Council Website, accessed November 6, 2006</ref>
The KPCS was given approval by the UN on [[March 13]], [[2002]],<ref>{{PDFlink|[http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N01/497/66/PDF/N0149766.pdf UN Resolution 56/263 - The role of diamonds in fueling conflict: breaking the link between the illicit transaction of rough diamonds and armed conflict as a contribution to prevention and settlement of conflicts]}} UN 96th plenary meeting, 13 March 2002, accessed online November 6, 2006</ref> and in November, after two years of negotiation between governments, diamond producers, and Non-Government organizations, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) was created.
==Monitoring the Kimberley Process==
The biggest weakness of the [[Kimberley Process]] is how it is monitored. Any country can become a member of the Kimberley Process just by sending a letter to the organization's president, currently, the [[European Commission]]. Whether or not the country meets the standards of the Kimberley Process, it can still become a member.<ref name="fatal">[http://www.fataltransactions.org/natres/kimberly/ Fatal Transactions - Diamonds: The Kimberley Process<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> This means that many conflict diamonds are still getting past the Kimberly Certification Scheme because some countries don't meet the requirements of the Kimberley Process. However, as of 2007, it is estimated that its share in total trade of rough diamond has come down to only USD 10.2 million.
==Transparency==
The Kimberley system increases governments' [[Transparency (market)|transparency]] by forcing them to keep records of the diamonds they are exporting and importing and how much they are worth. This shows the governments their finances so that they can be held accountable for how much they are spending for the benefit of the countries population.<ref name="fatal"/>
==U.S. policy==
On [[January 18]], [[2001]], former president [[Bill Clinton]] issued [[Executive Order 13194]] which prohibited the importation of rough diamonds from Sierra Leone into the United States in accordance with the UN resolutions.<ref>Clinton, William {{PDFlink|1=[http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2001_register&docid=fr23ja01-143.pdf FR Doc. 01–2140 - Executive Order 13194 of January 18, 2001 - Prohibiting the Importation of Rough Diamonds From Sierra Leone]}} The White House, January 18, 2001, accessed online December 24, 2006</ref> President Bush on [[May 22]], [[2001]] issued [[Executive Order 13213]] which banned rough diamond importation from Liberia into the United States. Liberia had been recognized by the United Nations as acting as a pipeline for conflict diamonds from Sierra Leone.<ref>Bush, George W. {{PDFlink|1=[http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2001_register&docid=fr24my01-113.pdf FR Doc. 01–13381 - Executive Order 13213—Additional Measures With Respect To Prohibiting the Importation of Rough Diamonds From Sierra Leone]}} The White House, May 22, 2001, accessed online December 24, 2006</ref>
[[United States]] enacted the [[Clean Diamond Trade Act]] (CDTA) on [[April 25]], [[2003]],<ref name=CDTA>{{PDFlink|[http://www.fas.org/asmp/resources/govern/108th/pl_108_19.pdf Public Law 108–19 - An Act To implement effective measures to stop trade in conflict diamonds, and for other purposes. Apr. 25, 2003]|42.1 [[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 43126 bytes -->}} 108th Congress of the United States, April 25, 2003, accessed online December 24, 2006</ref> and implemented on [[July 29]], [[2003]] by [[Executive Order 13312]].<ref>Bush, George W {{PDFlink|[http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/pdf/03-19676.pdf FR Doc. 03–19676 - Executive Order 13312 of July 29, 2003 - Implementing the Clean Diamond Trade Act]|26.3 [[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 27032 bytes -->}} The White House, July 29, 2003, accessed online December 24, 2006</ref><ref>[http://www.gao.gov/htext/d06978.html Conflict Diamonds: Agency Actions Needed to Enhance Implementation of the Clean Diamond Trade Act, September 2006] United States Government Accountability Office website, accessed online December 8, 2006</ref> The CDTA installed the legislation to implement the KPCS in law in the United States. The implementation of this legislation was key to the success of the KPCS, as the United States is the largest consumer of diamonds. The CDTA states: 'As the consumer of a majority of the world’s supply of diamonds, the United States has an obligation to help sever the link between diamonds and conflict and press for implementation of an effective solution.<ref name=CDTA/>
==Canadian policy==
During the 1990s diamond rich areas were discovered in Northern Canada. [[Canada]] is one of the key players in the diamond industry. Canada has been involved in many activities that have been helping to mitigate the poverty and suffering in Africa even before diamonds were discovered in Canada. [[Partnership Africa Canada]] was created in 1986 to help with the crisis in Africa. This organization is also part of the Diamond Development Initiative. The Diamond Development Initiative helps improve and regulate the legal diamond industry.
[[The Kimberley Process]] was initiated in May 2000 by [[South Africa]]. Canada was a major supporter of passing this. Canada has passed several laws that help stop the trade of conflict diamonds. The laws deal with the export and import of rough diamonds, and also how they are transferred. In December 2002 the [[Export and Import of Rough Diamonds Act]] was passed by the Canadian government. This act acts as a system that helps control the importing, exporting and transporting of rough diamonds through Canada. The Export and Import of Rough Diamonds also states that the Kimberley Process is the minimum requirement of certifying rough diamonds and a certificate is also required for all shipments of diamonds. This certificate is called the [[Canadian Certificate]], it gives permission for an officer to seize any shipment of diamonds that don't meet the requirements of the Export and Import of Rough Diamonds Act.<ref name="stop">[http://www.stopblooddiamonds.org/Canadian-Policy-Laws.asp Stop Blood Diamonds - Creating a Conflict Free Diamond World<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
One major US Wholesaler and manufacturer who is now engaged in selling Canadian diamonds is Tri-Star Worldwide, LLC. located in New York City. Under the brand name "CANADIA", Tri-Star offers 100% conflict free diamonds sourced directly from Canadian diamond producers (miners) such as BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto. Tri-Star is a member of the [http://canadiandiamondcodeofconduct.ca Canadian Diamond Code of Conduct] and offers only Canadian diamonds to its retail clients.{{Fact|date=June 2008}}
BHP Billiton, owners of the Ekati diamond mine, (Canada's first diamond mine) located in the Northwest Territories of Canada, has a unique program called CANADAMARK whereby they take diamonds mined from the Ekati mine in Canada, track them from the moment they leave the earth, through the manufacturing process, to the retailer. The diamonds are laser inscribed and information on each diamond is kept in a database so that every CANADAMARK certified diamond can be tracked back to the mine of origin. CANADAMARK diamonds are purchased by other wholesalers, such as Tri-star and others.
The Government of the Northwest Territories of Canada (GNWT) also has a unique certification program. They offer a Government certificate on all diamonds that are mined, cut, and polished, in the Northwest Territories of Canada. Each diamond is also laser inscribed and recorded in a database. To obtain this certificate one must cut and polish the diamond in the GNWT.
==Conflict-free diamonds==
A [[conflict-free diamond]] is a diamond whose profits aren't used to fund wars and which is produced and mined under ethical conditions. Only diamonds that are certified and can be traced from the mine to the consumer are conflict-free diamonds. Conflict diamonds are still being sold today into the international diamond market as clean diamonds.<ref>[http://www.conflictfreediamonds.org/ Conflict-free Diamonds]</ref>
==Conflict-neutral diamonds==
A recent development in the world of conflict diamonds is the introduction of the [[conflict neutral]] concept. This is where a donation by a consumer or retailer is made to a relevant charity upon sale or purchase of a diamond. An organization named [http://www.conflictneutral.com Conflict Neutral] has begun registering donations with associated transactions and issuing certifications. Of the donations through this scheme, two thirds are equally divided between [[Global Witness]], [[Amnesty International]], and the [[Red Cross]], and the remainder is divided amongst other charities.
==See also==
* [[Diamonds as an investment]]
==References==
===Notes===
{{reflist|2}}
===Literature===
*Bell, Udy. ''Sierra Leone: Building on a Hard-Won Peace''. 2000, UN Chronicle Online Edition, Issue 4 (Accessed [[May 31]], [[2007]] [http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/2005/issue4/0405p42.html here])
*{{cite book|first=Daniel |last=Bergner |title=In the land of magic soldiers: a story of white and Black in West Africa|publisher=Farrar, Straus and Giroux |location=New York |year=2003 |pages= |isbn=0-374-26653-0 |oclc= |doi=}}
*{{cite book|first=Greg |last=Campbell |title=Blood diamonds: tracing the deadly path of the world's most precious stones|publisher=Westview Press |location=Boulder, Colo |year=2002 |pages= |isbn=0-8133-3939-1 |oclc= |doi=}}
*Cilliers, Jakkie and Christian Dietrich (eds.), ''Angola’s War Economy'' (Pretoria, South Africa: Institute for Security Studies, 2000). Available online at: http://www.iss.co.za/Pubs/BOOKS/ANGOLA.HTML
*{{cite book |first=Edward Jay|last=Epstein|title=The rise and fall of diamonds: the shattering of a brilliant illusion|publisher=Simon and Schuster|location=New York|year=1982|pages=|isbn=0-671-41289-2|oclc=|doi=}}
*{{cite book|first=Philippe Le|last=Billon|title=Fuelling War: Natural Resources and Armed Conflicts|publisher=Routledge|location=London|year=2005|pages=|isbn=0-415-37970-9|oclc=|doi=}}
*{{cite book|first=Arthur V.|last=Levy|title=Diamonds and conflict: problems and solutions|publisher=Hauppauge |location=New York|year=2003|pages=|isbn=1-59033-715-8|oclc=|doi=}}
*Le Billon, Philippe, ''Fatal Transactions: conflict diamonds and the (anti)terrorist consumer'', Antipode, 2006, 38(4): 778-801.
*{{cite book|first=William|last=Reno|title=Corruption and state politics in Sierra Leone |publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge, UK |year=1995|pages=|isbn=0-521-47179-6|oclc=|doi=}}
*{{cite book|first=Ingrid J. |last=Tamm|title=Diamonds In Peace and War: Severing the Conflict Diamond Connection |publisher=World peace foundation|location=Cambridge, Mass|year=2002|pages=|isbn=0-9721033-5-X|oclc=|doi=}}{{PDFlink|[http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/cchrp/Web%20Working%20Papers/WPF-Tamm%20Diamond%20Report.pdf]|673 [[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 690044 bytes -->}}
*{{cite book|first=Tom|last=Zoellner|title=The Heartless Stone: A Journey Through the World of Diamonds, Deceit and Desire|publisher=St. Martin's Press |location=New York|year=|pages=|isbn=0-312-33969-0|oclc=|doi=}}
==External links==
*[http://www.africandiamondcouncil.org African Diamond Council]
*[http://www.un.org/peace/africa/Diamond.html United Nations - Conflict diamonds]
*[http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/diamond/index.htm Diamonds in Conflict - Global Policy Forum]
*[http://pawss.hampshire.edu/topics/conflictdiamonds/index.html PAWSS Conflict Topics - Conflict Diamonds]
*[http://www.diamondfacts.org DiamondFacts.org] - World Diamond Council
*[http://www.realdiamondfacts.org RealDiamondFacts.org] - Non-profit website
*[http://stopblooddiamonds.org Stop Blood Diamonds] - Blood diamonds awareness initiative
*[http://nrd.nationalreview.com/article/?q=OWY4ZjE5ODYwZmFlMjgzNTVlMzMzYjhmMjFmOTNiYzg= Bloody Nonsense: When diamonds are a propagandist's best friend] by Jack Jolis, National Review, November 20, 2006. Subscription required.
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juya0rp9ZOo Kubus & BangBang's Conflict Diamonds musicvideo raising awareness about blooddiamonds.]
*[http://www.israelidiamond.co.il/English/News.aspx?boneId=741&objid=1710 Stopping Blood Diamonds] - The success of the Kimberly Process
*News articles about [http://www.israelidiamond.co.il/English/searchResultsGlobal.aspx?searchStr=conflict+diamonds&Deps=0&x=0&y=0 conflict diamonds] in the Israeli diamond industry official portal
*[http://www.pomeroi.co.uk/jewellery-articles/conflict-diamonds.cfm Diamond trade's effect on the African countries]
[[Category:African politics]]
[[Category:Diamond]]
[[Category:Politics of Angola]]
[[Category:Politics of Liberia]]
[[Category:Politics of Sierra Leone]]
[[Category:Blood diamonds| ]]
[[cy:Deiamyntau gwaed]]
[[de:Blutdiamant]]
[[es:Diamantes de guerra]]
[[fr:Diamants de conflits]]
[[it:Diamante insaguinato]]
[[nl:Bloeddiamant]]
[[ja:紛争ダイヤモンド]]
[[uk:Конфліктні алмази]]
[[zh:血鑽]]