The Kimberly process and its effect on ‘Blood’ diamonds

Conflict diamonds, also known as ‘blood’ diamonds, are rough diamonds used by rebel movements or their allies to finance armed conflicts aimed at undermining legitimate governments (http://www.kimberleyprocess.com).

The 2006 movie ‘blood diamonds’ talks about the use of diamonds by rebel movements in underdeveloped African countries to fund violence and crime. The Kimberly Process was initiated in 2002 to reduce these ‘blood’ diamonds back when in the 1990’s ‘blood’ diamonds accounted for about 15% of the global diamond production. Currently through the enforcement of 49 members throughout 75 countries, 99.8% of the global diamond production is regarded as ‘conflict-free’.

The united countries under the Kimberly process have been able to control ‘blood’ diamonds by imposing extensive requirements on their members to ensure the origin of diamonds to be ‘conflict-free’. With this certification it has become increasingly difficult to export diamonds out of Africa to move them out of the ‘black’ market. Earlier without this requirement diamonds could have been easily exported out. Diamonds therefore drove a large financial incentive for people and groups to exchange interests with diamonds.

A small piece of diamond weight a few grams could be worth thousands of dollars. Small rebel groups could gain power by enslaving people, mining diamonds, selling these diamonds, purchasing more arms and in turn gaining more power. In a way, diamonds and drugs could be used to spread cruelty amongst countries that didn’t have the financial strength to fight such rebel groups.

Currently, diamond mining companies and local government are working together. Both parties are have mutual interest to stop ‘conflict-diamonds’. ‘Conflict-diamonds’ create unstable pricing and theft at diamond mining sites. Local governments need to stop the use of diamonds as a means for rebel groups to quickly gain power.

Rest assure that everyone is trying to prevent the use of diamonds in war and crime. You don’t have to worry that the engagement ring that you got had caused the death of innocent people. If that were the case, everyone should stop drinking water as well.

Actually the diamond business has created a lot of jobs and financial stability for many people that would be without. Tomorrow I would like to talk about beneficiation and the good the diamond business has brought to these impoverished African countries.

Additional information about the Kimberly Process is available at their website: http://www.kimberleyprocess.com/.

Smuggling of diamonds

After the movie “Blood Diamonds” the social, media, and moral awareness of “conflict” diamonds has become a topic of casual conversation. Now when I meet new people, I try to avoid the question of “what do you?”. I usually lie when I know I’ll never see that person again. I’ve told people I’m an accountant, a school teacher, a student, unemployed, and even a belly dancer once. I’m afraid that if I tell them I’m in the jewelry industry, they will follow up with a quirky question like: “Do you sell Blood diamonds?” Obviously, I get annoyed. And “No, I don’t sell blood diamonds” and no it’s not funny.

There’s much more to the smuggling of diamonds that wasn’t covered in this mainstream Hollywood movie. In the next few days I want to scratch the surface of this elusive topic. I will talk about beneficiation, the Kimberly process, human carriers, politics, ethics, drugs, “black” money, tax evasion and how all this relates to the smuggling of diamonds.

I hope I will help to clear some of the misconceptions associated with diamond dealers being of morally questionable standards.