Blood Diamond
The movie blood diamond is a movie about the harsh reality of the diamonds that are imported into the US all the time. In the movie, families are destroyed and innocent people are exploited for the retrieval of diamonds. Throughout the movie the truth about the diamond business and becomes apparent. Also, the US government is basically giving the okay for the whole corrupt procedure. The process goes like this, there are rebels who control and capture locals and make them work to retrieve diamonds. Then there is a middle man who comes to collect the diamonds, he then brings them to the US in great numbers. Then the US government puts them in confinement and does not tell the public about the surpluss so they can charge massive amounts for diamonds because people think that they are rare. Thus, the US controls the economy through scandalous and unjust opperations.
This movie relates directly to class topics in many ways. First of all it addresses racial inequalities around the world. Also, directly supporting income inequalities around the world. Those people collecting the diamnds do not make anything in comparison with the big bussinesses in the US controlling the markets and economy.
How should we go about trying to fix corrupt companies and imports like this from continuing to make a profit? I can only think of one way, and that would be a nationwide refusal to buy diamonds.
Comments
I totally agree with your feelings on the exploitations of people in developing nations by diamond based monopolies. However, as far as my knowledge went, the business is much more active in European countries especially UK, and the illegal diamonds are often mixed with other legitimately obtained diamonds in order to make the whole process more and more complex to break down. Unfortunately these diamonds along with other precious stones are sent back to some of the other developing nations for processing and polishing after which they are sold at insanely high prices all over the world.
Even though the conditions in the movie have been highlighted mainly for the diamond company, a friend from Tanzania tells me about very similar conditions in gold mines near her village where people often go to earn money and often never return. It is interesting to see the fact that the diamonds and mined mainly in African nations, stored for market shifts in developed nations, sent back for processing to other developing nations such as China and India and then brought back for branding and packing by the big diamond companies and then finally sold all over. It is the human desire to own rare materials that is ruining the lives of thousands of humans.
Posted by: Priyesh | May 6, 2007 7:42 PM
Though I haven't seen the movie, I know that many people talk about buying diamonds from countries that don't have exploitation problems. I think that is the first step. For example, there are a number of countries outside of Africa, like Australia and Russia, that already export a sizable percentage of the worlds diamonds. Also, Canada is just beginning to utilize their sizable diamond reserves. Maybe more exciting, a recent study by the Minnesota Geological Survey has even found the possibility of a diamond source somewhere south or south-east of Duluth.
Posted by: E. Stewart | May 7, 2007 12:47 AM
If you haven't seen this movie- go and see it.
It gives a horrific, but I think accurate, depiction the kind of genocide taking place in other countries. It’s quite easy to feel comfortable in this often-blind nation of ours, and actually seeing what happens when young children are stripped of their humanity is a hard reality we must realize if we wish to cause any change. In the film, the young boys, who are captured and turned into killing machines, are being formatted in every human way to forget what their life was, and enter a life of hatred, drugs, crime, and ruthless killing. These poor, innocent, children are being socialized for a very painful life, and its something we must bring to the public's attention. This isn't just happening in Africa, its happening in nations all over the world and we must call attention to it if we wish any change to come.
Posted by: Grant H | May 7, 2007 5:49 PM
I actually just saw this movie yesterday, and was devistated by the inhuman activites that were taking place. It is horrible that innocent families, especially children are being forced into this unpleasant lifestyle of killing, and illegal opperation. I am outragged at the fact that while us American's walk around with our latte's and drive our fancy cars, that this is what is going on in other areas. These innocent people should not be forced into such a cruel lifestyle only to satisfy our pleasure with diamonds and profit.
Posted by: Rita | May 11, 2007 1:28 PM