Jahde Smith
Conflict Diamonds in
Liberia
Conflict Diamonds in Liberia
Diamonds are a natural resource very commonly found in parts of South
Africa, such as Angola and the Mano River Union states of Liberia, Sierra
Leone and Guinea. They are very famous because of their history dating back
to India between the 9th, and the 18th century from India was from alluvial
deposits along river banks. It wasn’t until the beginning of the 19th
century that India’s alluvial diamond deposits were depleted and South
Africa began to mine them from inside the earth. Today diamonds are mostly
mined from deep within the earth, but they used to be carried along the
river beds and streams of India. After the consistent exploitation of the
alluvial deposits in India over a few hundred years, this country is no
longer in abundant in diamonds resources because of all the alluvial
Deposits.
http://www.un.org/peace/africa/Diamond.html>
Conflict Diamonds in Liberia
In the last couple of decades conflict levels has risen to drastic levels.
They have been countless heinous crimes. Liberia has been a tool and vector
point for the illegal diamond trade since the 1950s, and the concept of
"blood diamonds" was partially a Liberian creation. Blood Diamonds is a term
that is Blood Diamonds, also known as “Conflict Diamonds” are stones that
are produced in areas controlled by rebel forces that are opposed to
internationally recognized governments. The rebels sell these diamonds, and
the money is used to purchase arms or to fund their military actions. Blood
Diamonds are often produced through the forced labor of men, women and
children. They are also stolen during shipment or seized by the military.
<http://www.un.org/peace/africa/Diamond.html>
Conflict Diamonds in Liberia
Blood Diamonds are very dangerous because of the fact that they put so many
lives in danger. Children and women are the most affected by this diamond
conflict because they are forced to work for no pay. Children are stopped
for school Conflict diamonds have fueled devastating conflicts in Liberia
and other African countries that
have resulted in the death and displacement of millions of people.
<http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/afrec/vol15no4/154diam.html>
Conflict Diamonds in Liberia
From the discovery of diamonds in Liberia and Sierra Leone's Mano River
basin in the 1930s, regional diamond production has been limited to
small-scale artisanal operations, taking place within alluvial
diamond-bearing rocks and gravels located in drainage basins, or along the
banks of Liberia's many rivers and tributaries. Although most all of western
Liberia's rivers carry diamonds, the Mano River has been Liberia's most
significant source. The Mano River basin is part of the geological formation
known as the "Mano Craton of West Africa"
<http://www.allaboutgemstones.com/conflict-diamonds_liberia.html>.
Conflict Diamonds in Liberia
This UNITA soldier, here awaiting
demobilization, was recruited at
age 11.
Vila Nova, Angola, 1998. UNICEF
/ HQ96-008 /
Giacomo Pirozzi
Conflict Diamonds in Liberia
This seventeen-yearold lost both hands to rebels’
machetes. Waterloo camp, Sierra
Leone, 1998. UNICEF / HQ960566 / Giacomo Pirozzi
Works Cited
”Conflict Diamonds." United Nations Department of Public Information, UnitedNations,
March 2001. Web. 4 Nov 2009. http://www.un.org/peace/africa/Diamond.html>
21
"Conflict Diamonds: Liberia." Liberian Conflicts. AllAboutGemstones. Web. 12 Nov. 2009.
<http://www.allaboutgemstones.com/conflict-diamonds_liberia.html>.
"General Assembly adopts resolution on "conflict diamonds." CONFLICT DIAMONDS. United
Nations Department of Public Information, 21 Mar. 2001. Web. 13 Nov. 2009.
<http://www.un.org/peace/africa/Diamond.html>
Fleshman, Michael. "'Conflict diamonds' evade UN sanctions." Africa Recovery. United Nations, 4
Dec. 2001. Web. 16 Nov. 2009.
<http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/afrec/vol15no4/154diam.html>.
Shopov, Yavor. "Diamond." The Gale Encyclopedia of Science. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda
Wilmoth Lerner. Vol. 2. 3rd ed. Detroit: Gale, 2004. 1219-1221. Gale Virtual Reference Library.
Gale. Maine Township High School East. 17 Nov. 2009
<http://go.galegroup.com/ps/start.do?p=GVRL&u=park17792>.