Diamonds of Africa

1088 Words3 Pages

Free diamonds, acquire at your own risk! Countries around the world are possessed with the most valued stones on the planet! A conflict diamond is when a rough diamond is mined in an area controlled by insurgent forces whose sale is used to finance anti- government military action.This multibillion dollar industry mines and sells these jewels to customers that can afford them. Sierra Leone, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo are countries that are the main producers for the diamond industry and are the prime locations of “conflict” or “blood” diamonds. The term conflict diamond occurred when it came to the media during the late 1990s. Mainly in Africa, this prized natural resource is wanted by everyone because of its value. When mining these gems, the conditions and labor capability truly is affected, just to excavate the precious stones. Locals who work in the business such as men, women and children are extremely affected since they are endangering their lives to make a few bucks. Blood diamonds are immensely valuable and profitable, but the process of extracting these expensive gems are dangerous and costly. The country of Sierra Leone, located on the western coast of Africa is one of the main producers and exporters of the diamond industry today. The effect that “conflict” diamonds have on society in Sierra Leone has suffered horrible social and economic costs as a result from its civil war and fight over diamond control in the region. When the civil war was occurring within Sierra Leone, tons of money and was constantly being sent to the war. However when the war ended , Sierra Leone was left crippled. 1 Sin... ... middle of paper ... ... the DRC. It is great that funding these conflicts have seized. Last year, officials stated that diamond exports from the Congo grew $2 billion, nearly one fifth of the country’s gross domestic product. With this export growing larger, the diamond industry will also mature greatly here as well as across the world. Although “conflict” diamonds are still being committed throughout the world and mainly in Africa, the diamond industry still is growing and thriving stronger than ever before. The methods of extracting the prized gems everyone desires for maybe not fully safe proof, but it works and allows us to mine the most exquisite and profound jewels ever made by our planet. With the history of this industry traveling back for years, we can depend that it will enlighten us not just on the value or carat of a stone, but also the price of a life that gets you the stone.

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