Blood Diamonds:A documentary about conflict diamonds in Africa

[RBG Street Scholar]

A blood diamond (also called a conflict diamond, dirty diamond or a war diamond) is a diamond mined in a war zone and sold, usually clandestinely, in order to finance an insurgency, invading army's war efforts, or supporting a warlord's activity. Blood Diamonds is a made-for-TV documentary, originally broadcast on the History Channel, that looks into the trade of diamonds which fund rebellions and wars in many African nations. The program focuses primarily on the nation of Sierra Leone. Diamonds which are traded for this purpose are known as blood diamonds. As with many History Channel specials, its original airdate coincides with a mainstream period film, in this case, Blood Diamond. The episode follows typical documentary format, hopping from topic to topic between commercial breaks.



The topics discussed are as follows:

* A brief history of Sierra Leone's civil war, and the group which funds this war through blood diamonds, the Revolutionary United Front. (RUF)
* Interviews with victims, most prominently civilian amputee victims, of the blood diamond trade.
* A brief history of the De Beers Group, their connection to the trade and their response to more recent public criticism.
* The experience of one man, Usman Conteh, and the personal strife that the conflict brought him.
* Interviews with civilians forced to work for the RUF, often forced to steal from, harass, and even kill their neighbors and, occasionally, their own family members.
* Interviews with warlords involved with the conflict.
* The United Nations' slow response to the atrocities.
* The fall of the RUF.




Further Reading:
http://www.un.org/peace/africa/Diamond.html

[RBG Street Scholar]

Lesson #1 Freetown vs Cash Money Lesson # 2 Lupe Fiasco-Conflict Diamonds / Praylu Lesson # 3 Bling: Consequences and Repercussions tackles the issues behind Hip Hop's obsession with diamonds and the continued illegal diamond trade in Africa. Directed by : Kareem Edouard Produced by : Ashley Queen Narrated By Chuck D BLING: Consequences and Repercussions RBG Street Scholars Recommended Companion Reading: Bling Bling Into Oblivion: Hip-Hop, Globalization, and Third World Oppression RBG4Lif

[BlackQueen]

I saw the movie Blood Diamond,and I think that more movies and documentaries must be made so people around the world can see the suffering our people endure for an expensive bauble.

[Nefertiti]

Its good to be reminded of these modern day atrocities we should keep these people in mind, perhaps be involved in speaking out on it, or do what you can do about it

[RBG Street Scholar]

Originally Posted by Nefertiti

Its good to be reminded of these modern day atrocities we should keep these people in mind, perhaps be involved in speaking out on it, or do what you can do about it

Yes I agree Nefertiti, Each One Teach One