Did you know that there are over 27,000,000 men, women, and children enslaved throughout the world today? (CNN). Almost ¾ of all slaves are property of conflict diamonds mines all around the world. Conflict diamonds are mined and the revenue from the diamonds is used to fund the wars that the country is fighting. Mining conflict diamonds causes controversy all over the world, especially in central and western Africa. The topics being discussed are The Life of A Miner, the process, sale, and regulation of conflict diamonds. Marketing the Diamonds
In the past few years, the percentage of diamonds mined has dropped drastically. In fact, in the past 12 years, the percentage has gone down 20-25% (Time). In 2003, the United Nations enacted the …show more content…
For instance, if a miner steals a large diamond and then the general figures out, the whole group will be forced to tell who it was, or else they will all be shot and killed. In 2008 in Zimbabwe, Africa, over 1,500 soldiers marched into a small town called Mutare. Mines were encircled and men opened fire into them, killing over 100 innocent civilians (BBC). The purpose for this attack was to clear out all freelance diamond diggers who were taking advantage of the open, unsupervised mines and fields. This event caused an uprising against all conflict diamond related actions.
Affects
Governments in conflict areas benefit from these mines also. Money from the mines go from the go to the governments, and the governments can use the money to fund wars, but they also keep some of the profit from the minerals. Corrupt governments like this know about the mines, but they make so much profit off of them, that they turn a blind eye to the operation. Children in Africa depend on mines to help themselves and their family. They believe that the mines aren't bad, nor good, it's just an opportunity to make money and better themselves and eventually get an education to free themselves from the mines
In the past few years, the percentage of diamonds mined has dropped drastically. In fact, in the past 12 years, the percentage has gone down 20-25% (Time). In 2003, the United Nations enacted the …show more content…
For instance, if a miner steals a large diamond and then the general figures out, the whole group will be forced to tell who it was, or else they will all be shot and killed. In 2008 in Zimbabwe, Africa, over 1,500 soldiers marched into a small town called Mutare. Mines were encircled and men opened fire into them, killing over 100 innocent civilians (BBC). The purpose for this attack was to clear out all freelance diamond diggers who were taking advantage of the open, unsupervised mines and fields. This event caused an uprising against all conflict diamond related actions.
Affects
Governments in conflict areas benefit from these mines also. Money from the mines go from the go to the governments, and the governments can use the money to fund wars, but they also keep some of the profit from the minerals. Corrupt governments like this know about the mines, but they make so much profit off of them, that they turn a blind eye to the operation. Children in Africa depend on mines to help themselves and their family. They believe that the mines aren't bad, nor good, it's just an opportunity to make money and better themselves and eventually get an education to free themselves from the mines