What Are "Conflict Diamonds"?
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 attacking the mining operations of legitimate producers. These attacks can be on the scale of a large military operation. The stones are then smuggled into the international diamond trade and sold as legitimate gems. These diamonds are often the main source of funding for the rebels, however, arms merchants, smugglers and dishonest diamond traders enable their actions. Enormous amounts of money are at stake and bribes, threats, torture, and murder are modes of operation. This is why the term "blood diamonds" is used.
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 attacking the mining operations of legitimate producers. These attacks can be on the scale of a large military operation. The stones are then smuggled into the international diamond trade and sold as legitimate gems. These diamonds are often the main source of funding for the rebels, however, arms merchants, smugglers and dishonest diamond traders enable their actions. Enormous amounts of money are at stake and bribes, threats, torture, and murder are modes of operation. This is why the term "blood diamonds" is used.
Yellow countries are where conflict diamonds have originated.Sierra Leone
Flag colour represents: Green – agriculture, natural wealth & mountains White – justice & unity Blue – Atlantic Ocean
Sierra leone
Capital: Freetown
Independence: 27 April 1961 from British
President: Ernest Bai Koroma*Early inhabitants were the Sherbo, Temne, Limba, Tyra and later the Mende people.
*In 1462 visited by Portuguese explorer Pedro da Cinta and called it’ Serra de Leão-‘Lion Mountains, later called Sierra Leone by Italians.
***The country was a hub of the transatlantic slave trade. In 1747, a plan was implemented to settle some of London’s black and white poor in Sierra leone (what was called Province of freedom), many of the black poor were African Americans, who had been promised their freedom for joining the British Army during the American Revolution but also included other African & Asian Inhabitants of London.
Reproduction of a handbill advertising a slave auction in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1769.
*Bai Bureh(Temre Chief Leader) of 1898 rebellion against British Rule (Hut Tax War). He was captured and sent to exile in Gold Coast now called Ghana.
*Civil was from 1991-2000 (In 1991 Civil war broke out, mainly due to government corruption and mismanagement of diamond resources. The RUF (Revoluntionary United Front), led by Foday Sankoh (former Sierra Leone army corporal) and backed by Charles Taylor (former President of Liberia), launched first attack in villages in Kailahun District in eastern Sierra Leone from Liberia on 23 march 1991. They forced recruitment of child soldiers as their early feature of rebel strategy. Most were used for attacks on villages and on guard duty at diamond fields.
*It is reported that Simon Yelnik an Israeli arms dealer supplied rebel forces in Sierra leone with weapons, also linked to the ‘blood diamonds’ is retired Israeli forces colonel Yair Klein and Israeli business man Simon Rosenblum.
* Sierra leone is slowly emerging from civil war and is showing signs of successful transition.Main Resources: diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite
Liberia
LiberiaCapital: Monrovia (land of peace)
Independence: 26 July 1847
President: Ellen Johnson-Sir Leaf
*Founded as a colony in 1822 by freed slaves from the USA.
*Was called ‘Costa da pimeta) by the Portuguese meaning ‘Grain Coast@
*3 largest rivers leading into the Atlantic – St Paul near Monrovia, St John at Buchanan & Cestos Rover
*Longest River is Cavalla
*Highest point – Mount Wuteve
*They had 2 civil wars – 1st (1989-1996) & 2nd (1999-2003)
*Liberia’s wartime economy featured the exploitation of the region’s diamond wealth with the country acting as a major trader in Liberian, Sierra leonian & Angolan ‘blood diamonds’.
DRC (Belgian Congo/Congo Freestate/Zaire)
Mountain Gorilla
Bonobo Chimp.
Okapi
DRC (Belgian Congo/Congo Freestate/Zaire)
Capital:Kinshasa
Independence: 30 June 1960 from Belgium
*By 1996 tensions from neighbouring Rwanda War and genocide had spilled over to Zaire.
*Much of the conflict was focused on gaining control of natural resources – diamonds, copper, zinc & coltan, aftermath of war gutted the country.
*Laurent Kabila (former president) assassinated in 2007 succeeded by his son Joseph Kabila.
Attractions: Bakongo Rover, Mt Nyiragongo, rainforests contain great biodiversity, rare & both species of chimpanzee (common & bonobo (pygmy chimp)), mountain gorilla, okapi, white rhino.
*National Parks – Garumba, Kahuzi-Beiga, salonga, Virunga National Park & Okapi Wildlife Reserve.
*Civil War & resultant poor economics conditions have endangered much of this biodiversity.
*All 5 listed by UNESCO as World Heritage In Danger.
Independence: 30 June 1960 from Belgium
*By 1996 tensions from neighbouring Rwanda War and genocide had spilled over to Zaire.
*Much of the conflict was focused on gaining control of natural resources – diamonds, copper, zinc & coltan, aftermath of war gutted the country.
*Laurent Kabila (former president) assassinated in 2007 succeeded by his son Joseph Kabila.
Attractions: Bakongo Rover, Mt Nyiragongo, rainforests contain great biodiversity, rare & both species of chimpanzee (common & bonobo (pygmy chimp)), mountain gorilla, okapi, white rhino.
*National Parks – Garumba, Kahuzi-Beiga, salonga, Virunga National Park & Okapi Wildlife Reserve.
*Civil War & resultant poor economics conditions have endangered much of this biodiversity.
*All 5 listed by UNESCO as World Heritage In Danger.
Angola
Serra da Leba, Sá da Bandeira (Lubango)
AngolaCapital:Luanda
Independence: 11 November 1975 from Portugal
*Early migration inhabitants – Khoisan hunter/gatherers & Bantu People.
*Portuguese explorer Paulo Dias de Novais founded Luanda in 1575 as "São Paulo de Loanda".
*Benguela port/bay was the epicentre for slave trade of slaves to Brazil & Cuba to work in agricultural plantations.
*Civil War (1975-2002), Angola's civil war caused a half million deaths and some 100,000 maimings (injure or wound seriously and leave permanent disfiguration or mutilation). Rebels from the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) generated almost $4 billion from blood diamonds between 1992 and 1999.
*Resources: Petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium, enormous reserves of oil, gas and diamonds, as well as considerable hydroelectric potential, varied agricultural land, good rainfall and considerable marine resources.
Brazil / Samba
Brazil African Renaissance
1 comment:
А! معلومات رهيبة ، شكرا جزيلا لكاتب المقال. انها مفهومة بالنسبة لي الآن ، وفعالية وأهمية هو المحير. أشكركم مرة أخرى وحظا سعيدا!
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