Forum #18: Conflict Diamonds - Mr. E's Forum: 2006-2007

Date: May 31, 2007

RE: Forum #18: Conflict Diamonds

Date: May 31, 2007

Assignment #1: Before "Blood Diamond" was even released, the World Diamond Council spent millions of dollars on a public relations campaign arguing that conflict diamonds are a problem of the past. The success, and thereby the price, of diamonds depend largely on their reputation, and the World Diamond Council, De Beers, and other industry leaders are worried that consumers who see the film may boycott the diamond industry. 1) Brainstorm how diamonds have traditionally been portrayed in American culture in magazines, advertisements, movies, songs, music videos and popular ideology by viewing the gallery at http://americanradioworks.publicradio.org/features/diamonds. 2) Consider how advertising affects consumer purchasing decisions and answer the following question: Do you think the movie will change the way consumers think about diamonds? Will it make some people stop buying diamond jewelry? Why or why not?

Diamonds have been portrayed as something that every woman or high class individual should have. Its been stated over and over again that it is a rarity and therefore, should be purchased with at least 1 months salary. This rarity would soon become a necessity in showing that one truly cares for another deeply enough that they would buy them something so distinct to prove it, that being a diamond. The rich and the wealthy advertise diamonds through songs, music videos, and magazines. Its been repeatedly shoved upon society that they themselves soon come to think that they would like be like these rich people and encompass themselves with tons if diamonds.
I think the movie will change the way consumers think about purchasing diamonds but itll only just be a thought and nothing more. The ones who are most disgusted and wish to do something about it will come together to do something but the ones who just feel that the situation is horrible will only just think and still probably purchase diamonds. Not everyone who sees this movie would stop buying diamond jewelry altogether because like I said before, theres those who see this and do something about it while the others are just giving probably a moments thought about the situation with the blood diamonds and come purchase them anyways.

Assignment #2: Read the NewsHour Extra article Movie Sparks Debate over Diamond Trade. Answer the following questions:

1. What is a conflict diamond?
A conflict diamond is a diamond mined that goes towards funds for illegal activity and rebel groups.
2. What is the movie Blood Diamond about?
The movie Blood Diamond is about Sierra Leone in the 1990s when rebels were reigning over the diamond findings there. The movie shows of child soldiers and how they turned normal civilians into slaves to mine diamonds in order to fund their weapons and ammo.
3. According to human rights groups, are conflict diamonds still a problem today?
Yes, according to human rights groups, conflict diamonds are still being mined today in countries like Liberia and Cote DIvoire.
4. What actions did the World Diamond Council take before the movie's release?
The actions that the World Diamond Council took before this movies release was to create a multi-million dollar public relations campaign that made sure to lessen the impact of conflict diamonds on the public. They made points such as how diamond trades were benefiting America and the industries and such so that conflict diamonds wouldnt be seen as more than a horrible thing thats happening at that time.
5. Which country purchases the greatest amount of diamonds and which continent produces the most?
The country that purchases the greatest amount of diamonds is the United States at 65%. The continent that produces the most the diamonds is Africa at 60%.
6. What is the Kimberley Process?
The Kimberly Process is something put into effect that requires all diamonds to come with a certificate stating that those diamonds werent mined in a country at war.
7. Why is it hard to determine how successful the Kimberley Process is?
It is hard to determine how successful the Kimberly Process because some companies might just let the illegal mix in with the legal ones and no one would be able to tell a difference. The thing about the world today is that people are corrupt no matter what their profession is. The people that check the diamonds for legality could probably become corrupt when they realize what they could possibly gain and so its hard to monitor.
8. What does the director of Blood Diamond hope the movie will do?
The director of Blood Diamond wants people to become aware and conscious of the fact of blood diamonds. He wants them to make a more informed purchase rather than be clueless when it comes to the origin of the diamonds.Assignment #4:

1. The provisions that I think would make the Kimberley Process more effective is that there should be stricter enforcement of the process and that instead of making it a voluntary one, it should be mandatory.
2. Governments could better implement and enforce the Kimberley Process by providing the ones who get caught with a harsh punishment.
3. I dont think the diamond industry should be self-regulated because it would be the same as having it as if it wasnt due to corrupt officials and people in those businesses.
4. The diamond industry could better implement and enforce the system of warranties by having, once again, brutal punishment to those who get caught with unequal sales and inventory of diamonds.
5. Activists and consumers could ensure that the Kimberley Process is working by contacting the right people for facts and figures concerning the diamond industries and such or just watch out for news related to it through websites and the actual televised news.

1. What is the natural resource curse?
The natural resource curse is that an abundance of natural resources and such doesnt help with poverty at all.
2. What are two factors that contribute to the natural resource curse?
Two factors that contribute to the natural resource curse are that corrupt officials misappropriate the income generated from the these natural resources and so dont provide for its people and that conflicts and civil war result from these natural resources due to power and money-hungry people.
3. According to the case study, how has Botswana escaped the effects of the natural resource curse?
According to the case study, Botswana escaped the effects of the natural resource curse through good government policies, strong leadership, and an excellent long-term development plan. Also, anti-corruption laws and high rates of civil engagement have forced representatives to be more transparent in the distribution of wealth.
4. Until 1999, Cote DIvoire was renowned for its political and economic stability. What are the factors that led the country to civil war in 2002?
The factors that le the country to civil war in 2002 were economic disparity, ethnicity, and religious differences in the people. The unequal distribution of wealth and the exploiting of natural resources contributed to the start of the civil war.
5. What role did natural resources play in the development of conflict in Cote DIvoire?
The role that the natural resources played in the development of conflict in Cote DIvoire was that due to the finding of these natural resources, corrupt individuals began to try to harvest as much as they can through any means necessary such as recruiting armies and creating slaves to harvest it for them.
6. Assuming peace agreements are negotiated in Cote DIvoire, what measures do you think the government of Cote DIvoire could take to prevent the effects of the natural resource curse in the future? What policies should the government adopt to achieve a more even distribution of natural resource wealth for all its citizens?
The measures that the government of Cote DIvoire should take to prevent future natural resource curse is to enforce stricter control amongst the nation. The policies would have to include how much of a percentage the citizens would benefit from and such in order to have a set amount set aside for helping its citizens.
7. List two ways that the government of Botswana has worked with the diamond industry to assure that the country benefits from the diamond revenue.
Two ways would be that the Botswana branch of De Beers is owned equally amongst De Beers and the government assuring an equal stable share of profits and Debswana invests in the communities, construction of hospitals, schools, and such from diamond revenue to ensure proper benefits from the selling of diamonds.
8. How do you think the international community could help stop the effects of the natural resource curse in Cote DIvoire and other developing countries?
The international community could help stop the effects of the natural resource curse in Cote DIvoire and other developing countries by helping out the people as much as we can through supplies they would need and the enforcement of the people.

Date: Jun 12, 2007

I did this a month ago and I completely forgot to post it! I'll have the rest of the assignments later.

1) What is a conflict diamond?

A conflict diamond is a diamond that was mined illegally in Africa where the people working in the mines are kidnapped and abused, often killed, and the rebels in charge of the mines often cut off the hands of the workers if they do not reach a certain quota.

2) What is the movie Blood Diamond about?

The movie Blood Diamond is about conflict diamonds that are mined in Africa and are shipped all over the world especially to America. It is about how the people who are forced to work in the mines are abused, mutilated and killed.

3) According to human rights groups, are conflict diamonds still a problem today?

Human rights groups still view conflict diamonds as a major problem, Amnesty International and Global Witness are supporters of the movie because they hope that the movie will raise awareness on the atrocities that take place in Sierra Leone and other parts of Africa because of the diamond trade.

4) What actions did the World Diamond Council take before the movie's release?

The World Diamond Council put full page ads in newspapers, it also created a website in order to tell the public that changes have been made in the diamond industry and that conflict diamonds are a problem of the past. The WDC also asked the director of Blood Diamonds, Edward Zwick to add information into the movie that would tell of changes that have since been made to the diamond industry, including the Kimberley Process, but Zwick refused to include the information.

5) Which country purchases the greatest amount of diamonds and which continent produces the most?

America purchases the greatest amount of diamonds in the world, it is responsible for purchasing about 65% of the worlds diamonds. Africa produces the most diamonds in the world, it produces about 60% of all of the diamonds in the world.

6) What is the Kimberley Process?

The Kimberley Process was put into effect in 2003 and it was a new standard set that required diamond shipments to include a certificate that verifies that the diamonds were not mined in countries that are at war.

7) Why is it hard to determine how successful the Kimberley Process is?

It is hard to determine how successful the Kimberley Process is because many diamonds are still being smuggled across borders.

8) What does the director of Blood Diamond hope the movie will do?

The director of Blood Diamond, Edward Zwick hopes that the movie will leave the audience with a consciousness and will make people look at diamonds in a different way and be more conscious of where they are coming from.

Date: Jun 12, 2007

Jamie Dias wrote:

Assignment # 1
1) Brainstorm how diamonds have traditionally been portrayed in American culture in magazines, advertisements, movies, songs, music videos and popular ideology by viewing the gallery.

Diamonds in America have been portrayed as something you buy for someone you care about or you buy for yourself because there nice. In magazines you see alot of celebraties wearing diamonds alot of diamonds. Diamonds show wealth because diamonds arent cheap even though there easy to get but noone knows where they came from or what people had to do to get them. In songs you hear hip hop artists talking about diamonds to make them seem like they have money because they have diamonds.

2) Consider how advertising affects consumer purchasing decisions and answer the following question: Do you think the movie will change the way consumers think about diamonds? Will it make some people stop buying diamond jewelry? Why or why not?

I think the movie will change some peoples minds but i think that everyone will still continue to buy diamonds there not going to think that the diamonds they bought people had to die for them even thought they probably did have to.In america each year people spend alot of money on diamonds and i dont think just because of a movie people will stop buying them it might change a little of what they think but they will continue to buy them.Although the movie taught me alot of diamonds and how people die in africa because of them in America noone is going to stop buying them.

i agree with you jamie , people will be worried and aware of the conflict diamonds but they wont stop buying them. its a step forward i guess.

Date: Jun 19, 2007

Brainstorm how diamonds have traditionally been portrayed in American culture in magazines, advertisements, movies, songs, music videos and popular ideology by viewing the gallery at http://americanradioworks.publicradio.org/features/diamonds.

Consider how advertising affects consumer purchasing decisions and answer the following question: Do you think the movie will change the way consumers think about diamonds? Will it make some people stop buying diamond jewelry? Why or why not?

American culture typically looks at diamonds as very important and precious. Magazines and advertisements portray diamonds as important, advertising companies push the idea of buying a diamond for your loved ones if you truly love them, as if that is the most meaningful way for people to say they love someone. Movies and music present diamonds as the way of showing how rich and successful you are. A lot of popular music also talks about all of the diamonds and money they have, showing the diamonds in their music videos in the flashiest ways possible.

Diamond advertisers always try to push the idea of how important diamonds are and a lot of consumers still view them this way also. With the attention that the movie recieved, this could change. I think that it could go in a 50/50 sort of way, there will be the people that see it and say its horrible, but just go on with their lives and when its time to buy jewelry they could just forget about it, but there will also be the people that see it and look more into and when they buy diamonds they will research where they are from and make others aware of it also. I think this is because a lot of American society is just conditioned to look at diamonds as these precious objects, but there are people who are more aware of the world and more concerned with these issues rather than how many material possessions they have.

10 facts about child soldiers
1) In the last ten years hundreds of thousands of children have fought and died in wars and conflicts all over the world
2) The problem is biggest in Africa, parts of Asia, Latin Amertica, Europe and the Middle East.
3) Some of the groups using child soldiers are government backed paramilitary groups, militias, self defense units that operate in conflict zones.
4) Most child soldiers are between 14 and 18 and it is said that many enlist voluntarily, but many of the children feel they ahve no other choice
5) Most of the girls who enlist say they did it to get away from domestic servitude, violence and sexual abuse
6) Sometimes the children used during combat are as young as nine years old
7) There are groups in many countries that work to bring child soldiers back into society with new skills, but these progrmas lack the funding needed to operate.
8) The groups which formed to bring child soldiers back into the community typically exclude girls who are often raped and they are looked down upon when they return home
9) In 2004 as many 100,000 child soldiers were rported to be in combat in Africa
10) The main reasons that children join is to get away from poverty, lack of work or education, or when their family members have been killed by government and armed forces.

3 actions
1) More funding can be put into groups that are trained to take child soldiers out of combat and help put them back into society. These programs would also have to be sensitive to the needs of girl soldiers, despite how their communities view them.
2) If more people were made aware of this and the consequences it has on the children and their families then more people might speak out to ensure that human rights are recognized in the countries where this takes place.
3) Help the children get more opportunites at an education and work so they do not feel obligated to become soldiers

Date: Jun 19, 2007

Catherine wrote:

1) Brainstorm how diamonds have traditionally been portrayed in American culture in magazines, advertisements, movies, songs, music videos and popular ideology
It has been portrayed in so many ways that everyone thinks dimonds are something easy and nice to get I never really knew were dimonds came from till i watched the movie Blood dimonds but movies and magazines and music videos they make dimonds seem so easy to get and they look great but in the other side theres people dieing becouse of them and are selfish needs they advertise it like its nothing because were not the ones working to make dimonds what it is today.

2) Do you think the movie will change the way consumers think about diamonds? Will it make some people stop buying diamond jewelry? Why or why not?
I do think it will change some peoples views and perspectives in dimonds the movie really shows and teaches a lot when i watched the movie I didnt want to get anymore dimonds but there are people out there that doesnt care what it takes as long as they get it thats all that matters some people in this world just care about them selfs and looking good they dont know the after look intill there in that same sittuation. But i think that people are still going to buy them for they need not nowing the pain and misery there bringing to others.

I agree so many people will hear about something that is absolutely terrible but so many are able to go on and just not care, thats the biggest problem so many people are just indifferent to the needs of others and the abuses of human rights that go on all over the world