Diamond Mines: The Truth Behind Where Your Wedding Ring Came From
Diamond mines for a long time have been a place where some of the world's worst atrocities have been committed. These have largely gone unnoticed by the general population because of the extreme profitability of their contents. Diamond mines today have come a long way, but you the consumer should be informed as to what goes on there.
Diamond Mines: Why You Should Give That Ring Back
Diamond mines and mining are one of the most profitable businesses in the known world. The reason for this is simple, diamonds themselves cost nothing to produce, and by using slave labor are freely taken from the ground and sold for an immeasurable markup. In addition, because of this diamond mines around the world have become the center for civil conflict and wars leading to the deaths of millions of innocent people.
With the deplorable conditions in diamond mines, the first casualties are most certainly to be women and children forced into labor by oppressive governments. How is it that one of the most profitable, largest income earning, and steady sources of revenue has the absolutely poorest of workers? Sierra Leone, one of the most diamond rich countries in the world, continually ranks as on of the poorest in terms of quality of life by the UN.
People in these countries will and have done just about anything to gain control of the diamond mines. This history can not be changed, and will not change unless something is done about it. The surest way to curb the violence is to stop supporting the economy that drives it. Without a market for diamonds, the mines will be of little value and the quality of life can finally improve.
Diamonds are not required to manufacture any finished goods, they are merely ornamental. The greed of western civilization drives the poor of East Africa deeper into despair as the there is no way to end the viscous cycle. Progress in this area will never be made until the local governments are stabilized.
The only way to do that is to take away control of the diamond mines, or at the very least diminish their value. Corporations need to stop profiting on what amounts to slavery. The only way to make that happen is for consumers to dictate movement in the marketplace, to stop the flow of money to these dictators, and finally end slavery once and for all.
