A Conflict Diamond is defined by US as the sorts of diamonds that are generated from remote areas which are ruled or controlled forces that are opposed to internationally recognized legal nationalist governments. This is the class of diamonds that are sold to help the rebel groups or forces in terms of finance, in their armed struggle. The most affected areas out of such phenomenon are Angola, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Congo. By the latter half of the year 1990, a four percent of total diamond production of the world was of conflict diamond that funded tremendous atrocities globally. Considering the fact that the very purpose of conflicts diamond production is destruction, its impact on global peace system and its manipulation of the general citizens of the world should be considered, and measures should be taken to stop the process of its production.
Based on realistic evidence and the very purpose of conflict diamonds, its production was condemned by UN. The scope of death in the civil was in Sierra Leone alone was estimated to be more than a million within a decade, the complete finance of which was funded by conflict diamonds. There can be no greater evidence of how tremendous human suffering and loss this illegal production of diamonds is causing. And unfortunately, as goods, it is the only purpose it is serving in the economy. The civil wars and rebel movements across the globe are waging for many decades now, and have been causing enormous scale of loss of lives and resources. Considering the role that goods play in the market, it can be safely claimed that conflicts diamonds have no such beneficial purpose to serve in the economy system in general. Based on different ideology, the rebel groups across the globe may have their own rationale behind their struggle, and if delved deeper it may also seem that their demands or vindictiveness may have valid grounds on a humane or even diplomatic scores, but the ultimate truth of such clashes against established system and authorities is essentially bloody loss of human lives and resources alone across generations. There are many methods of transmitting a rebel thought or different revolutionary idea that conflicts with the ongoing system of a national authority besides bloody struggles and bloodshed. Even on an effective social awareness campaign, a lot of changes can be brought about through the consistency over a period of a decade, instead of the decade- long bloody struggle as in Sierra Leone. Any force that determines the fate of such a struggle to such detrimental direction should be nothing but condemned. The production of goods like conflicts diamond with such sole propose of destruction should be banned with immediate effect.
The production of conflict diamonds creates a secretive and parallel economy in the market with implications underlying the general aspects of the market. The consumer, who intends to respect wedlock through a diamond ring for the first time, starting a new life, does not know for certain whether what he is paying for will go to the government as TAX or fund any blood feud in Angola. Illegally traded through various other products, such diamonds and the route of such diamond trade become almost impossible. So difficult becomes to recognize and control such import of diamonds by the traders. On the other hand, the areas where such diamonds are mined out and processed are mostly African territories, which are in need of every kind of development and infrastructural and all other sorts of establishments. The production of such diamonds wage conflicts in the local order and economy which hampers even the painstakingly paved way to such developments. It gives rise to an illegal and armed thread of illegal employment in an economy where people are looking for livelihood for their families at any cost. Consequently, a line of illegal employment is primarily created the only future prospect which is left to join the rebel groups in the local regions. Eventually, a complete armed force is waged against the local authority or government. Any chance of any general development is simply halted. Considering both the local and global impact, it is evident that production of such conflict diamonds is potentially harmful even on the very region where they are mined.
Once the production of such diamonds started, the initial purpose was to support the rebellion but, alarmingly enough, it continues still. A new line of illegal trader was created in the economy that puts the development of the global one at stake now. And the rush of the global economy does not allow it to explore the route of such illegal diamond trade and it is being ignored now which is potentially harmful for the world economy on the long run. To get their illegal gems mixed with the legal ones in the diamond market, traders of conflict diamonds are bypassing the measurements of the global market. This one step completely unleashes a thread of smuggling that still thrives in good health and stealth. It is already harming overall development of the world economy and peace, and if not stopped, its impact would be much greater and more detrimental than ever.
Work Cited
- Dalton, E.(2013).Economic Impact. Retrieved from http://www.diamondfacts.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=132&Itemid=169&lang=en
- Hulmes, S.(2013).The Effect of Conflict and Blood Diamonds.Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/list_7326216_effects-conflict-blood-diamonds.html
- Economic Impact. Retrieved from http://www.diamondfacts.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=132&Itemid=169&lang=en
- Environment. Retrieved from http://www.brilliantearth.com/blood-diamond-environmental-impact
