If you have ever bought a diamond or searched any diamond website, you must have seen the terms conflict diamond and blood diamond. There is no physical difference between a conflict diamond and a conflict-free diamond; however, morals and ethics prevent us from buying conflict diamonds.
Today, we will have an in-depth look at blood diamonds, their effect, history, preventive measures, and why you should not buy them. We will also see the benefits of buying conflict-free diamonds. Even if you are confused about whether to buy a conflict diamond or not, you will get your answer in this article.
Note: Conflict diamonds and blood diamonds mean the same thing. They are just two different names for the same purpose.
Have you ever thought about how civil wars are funded? Who gives money to buy arms and continue the rebellion for years and decades? There must be a funding source behind the civil wars and rebellions. One of the major funding sources in diamond-rich countries is conflict diamonds or blood diamonds.
For decades, diamonds are illegally mined and used to fund civil wars and rebellions against the governments. The diamonds found in conflict or war-zone areas are mined by the rebels, and then they are sold to gather money for the rebellion. The civil wars are actually funded by conflict diamonds in many countries, especially in central and western Africa. This results in bloodshed and violence. With the money, rebels gather deadly weapons and arms to stand against the government.
Now, you might have a clear idea of why these diamonds are called conflict diamonds and blood diamonds. These come from conflict areas and result in the bloodshed of innocent people.
The diamond-rich areas are captured by the rebels. They understand the value of diamonds for funding. Then, these areas are mined by the locals. This is not like hiring people for mining, but it is exactly equal to slavery.
The miners are considered slaves, and they are forced to mine and collect the diamonds. Thousands of men, women, and children work as slaves and paid nothing. Even they lose their lives if they stand against injustice. There have been over four million deaths reported because of forced mining and slavery.
After the mining of diamonds, they are traded illegally. The smugglers used to buy such diamonds at cheap rates; however, the cost is paid through the lives of innocent people. These diamonds are in rough forms, and the buyers cut them and give them a nice and appealing look. No doubt, these diamonds look the same as other diamonds, but there is bloodshed behind that appealing look.
Due to the illegal trading and smuggling of such diamonds, there is a huge sum of money that is used to fund wars and operations against governments. According to reports, around 4% of the world’s diamonds were conflict diamonds during the civil war in Angola. The other countries and states that contributed to blood diamonds are Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
When people got to know about the illegal trade of diamonds and how it funds the bloodshed and civil war, they started to buy only conflict-free diamonds. Diamonds are bought to share and express love, and when there is bloodshed behind them, no one would like to be a part of it. This created a serious issue in the diamond market because the buyers cannot completely eradicate the illegal trade. Therefore, in May 2000, South African states tried to track everything and put an end to it. This resulted in Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS). There were 74 countries, the UN, the EU, and some organizations in the agreement.
According to KPCS, the members must keep complete track of the diamonds’ origin and how they are mined. Obviously, the conflict diamonds cannot be differentiated from their physical appearance, so there must be a background check to ensure everything. The members need to make sure there is no bloodshed or violation of human rights for obtaining the diamonds. This certification is to ensure that every process of diamond making and its sale to be conflict-free. Moreover, the members can only trade with other members.
KPCS was an effective step to eradicate the conflict diamonds. It has reduced the trade of blood diamonds a lot, and most of the diamonds in the market are now conflict-free. This shows KPCS has played a major role in controlling everything. The shipments have certificates of KPCS, so the diamonds are recognized because of the authentic proof. However, when you are buying diamonds, you need to make sure the seller is selling conflict-free diamonds because there are still blood diamonds revolving in the industry. You need to ask the seller and do every possible research to ensure you are buying from the right vendor.
We already have a complete background of blood diamonds. It is clear that we should not buy such diamonds, and instead, we should go for conflict-free diamonds. People look for conflict-free diamonds, and you will find conflict-free diamonds in every showroom and reputable online store. Let’s have a look at the benefits of conflict-free diamonds.
The mining methods that are used in conflict-free diamonds are 100% safe. Everything is according to the international standards while considering the safety of the workers. The industries use modern methods of mining that save the time of miners and offer them ease.
The workers also get proper medical attention and facilities. Everything they need is provided to them to carry out the mining without any problem. Due to safe methods, there are fewer accident rates. The lives of miners are safe and sound. When we buy conflict-free diamonds, we support and encourage standard, safe, and modern mining methods.
Conflict-free diamonds open the doors of many opportunities and jobs. This makes the economy better and offers better wages to the workers that work in the mines. The workers get better facilities and an excellent work environment. They are financially stable because of better wages or salaries.
Conflict-free diamonds also create more opportunities for businessmen. They can sell diamonds hassle-free, and customers buy them with confidence. This creates prosperity in the business and flourishes trade and commerce.
The legal trade must be promoted because it has everything fair at the backend. Everything is checked, and people are working to make the trade of diamonds conflict-free. Their efforts should be paid off. If we prevent buying blood diamonds and buy conflict-free diamonds, it will not only reduce the illegal trade, but it will also help people who are working hard to make a difference.
The legal trade of diamonds has always been promoted by governments and reliable vendors. Now, you will find only conflict-free diamonds in all reputable online stores and physical showrooms.
While mining conflict-free diamonds, environmental safety is the main concern. The natural resources and environment are not harmed in any way. There is a control on everything; therefore, the mining industries only work in the allotted areas. The forests and lands remain safe and sound because they are not harmed for mining. Moreover, the wildlife is also preserved. Thus, conflict-free diamonds do not disturb the ecosystem.
The authorities keep a check on the processes and make sure that they are not polluting the environment. They ensure no one is harmed because of the pollution and adverse effects of mining methods. The waste is handled properly according to the health and safety standards. There is a standard for mining practices to save the environment, wildlife, and nearby natural resources. So, environmental safety is a major benefit of conflict-free diamonds.
There is no question about avoiding and preventing the sale and trade of conflict diamonds. It funds evils that harm humanity and innocent people. Diamonds are to spread love, care, and respect. They become a part of important moments in everyone’s life. So, there is no way a person would like to have a conflict diamond that has gone through a heart-wrenching story. Many organizations and governments are working to stop it completely; however, the buyer should also inspect everything before buying.
We have discussed the complete background of blood/conflict diamonds, its history, and how it affects people and nations. The buyers should say “NO” to such diamonds and buy only conflict-free diamonds from reputable stores. Conflict-free diamonds are available in almost all online stores and reputable showrooms.