Samantha's+Draft

Blood Diamonds: How are the "Hollywood" stars and pop-culture being crossed with the issue of blood diamonds in Western Africa?  Blood diamonds, better known as conflict diamonds, are diamonds that are sold to fund the unlawful and illegal operation of rebel, military and terrorist groups. The areas in which blood diamonds are found are controlled by forces which oppose legitimate and internationally recognized governments. Sierra Leone, Angola, Liberia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo are the countries that have been most affected by blood diamonds. Unfortunately, each of these countries has contributed to the ruthless terrorizing, mutilating, and killing of their own citizens, due to the local diamond trade issue (Conflict Diamonds). Blood diamond trade is what funds the rebel forces in supplying them with arms, as well as, helping support all of their callous, illegal activities. The most obvious controversy, which has led to war, is caused from the terrorizing, mutilating, and killing of citizens in order to make money off of these, almost impossible to find, blood diamonds. Other countries are used as trading grounds and transit areas for such illegal diamonds. Cleverly, the African Countries have no paper work behind each blood diamond; therefore, it is challenging to decipher and track the origin of these diamonds once they are brought to the market. After being brought to the market, the diamonds get polished and can no longer be identified as blood diamonds (UN Conflict Diamonds). Sierra Leone is one of the more well known African countries that uncover blood diamonds in consequence of human civil rights. After eight years of war and civil conflict, the Government of Sierra Leone and the Revolutionary United Front (rebels) have negotiated and signed the Lome Peace Agreement in July 1999. The Lome Peace Agreement is an effort to reduce the inhumane acts happening between the rebels and African citizens. This particular agreement is “under which the parties agreed to the cessation of hostilities, disarmament of all combatants and the formation of a government of national unity” (UN Conflict Diamonds). In October 1999, the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) was established by the Security Council to enforce the agreement. As of March 2001, the UNAMSIL was noted as the largest peacekeeping force deployed by the United Nations. Sierra Leone’s blood diamond issue has been brought to the United States of America through meetings, the United Nations, and the Security Council. Following the peacekeeping force, the Security Council has gone further and adopted a resolution to ban the direct or indirect import of rough diamonds from Sierra Leone which are not controlled through the Sierra Leone Government and a Certificate of Origin regime (UN Conflict Diamonds). An exploratory public hearing was acquired in New York to expose “the link between the trade in illicit Sierra Leone diamonds and trade in arms and related materiel” (UN Conflict Diamonds). Luckily, after the 4264th meeting the report on West Africa violating the arms embargo and its direct link between trade in diamonds and trade in arms has been presented to the panel of experts. But has anything really stopped the brutality in African countries like Sierra Leone and the trading of blood diamonds with other countries; including, the United States of America? How is the blood diamond issue portrayed in movies and more specifically, how does the press present this issue as it pertains to the involvement of Hollywood stars?  //Blood Diamond// was created in 2006, but is set to take place during the Sierra Leone Civil War in 1999. The film depicts a country torn apart, physically and emotionally, from the struggle between the rebel forces and the Sierra Leone Government. The film reveals the mayhem of that war, the atrocities that the rebels forced upon its citizens, and the pure reality of what it takes to find blood diamonds. The Internet Movie Database discloses a summary of the Blood Diamond film. The movie combines the story of a fisherman, his son a RUF soldier, an ex-mercenary, and an American Journalist during the civil war to portray the story behind blood diamonds. The story of the fisherman, Solomon Vandy, and his journey after he was captured by the rebels, builds the audience emotions and support for Sierra Leone refugees.  Among the invasion of a small village in Sierra Leone and the capturing of Solomon, the rebels also take his son; Dia. Solomon becomes enslaved to work in the diamond fields, while his son gets trained to be a hardened killer and serve in the rebel forces. Throughout the movie we see the struggles Solomon goes through and the hard labor he must endure, while abiding by the rules put in place by the rebels. We also see how disgusting the rebels are. They brainwash their soldiers to believe killing is the right thing to do. The rebel forces invade villages, with the command of an officer, and just start shooting and killing anyone they see. Dia and Solomon get reconnected towards the end of the movie and Dia does not even acknowledge his father. With a lot of coercing, Solomon is able to convince Dia to come with him and leave Sierra Leone.  From the film, //Blood Diamond//, it is made evident that the rebel forces control the country more so than the Sierra Leone Government does. This clearly is a problem. The blood diamond trade is getting accomplished with little resistance or acknowledgement from the government. The rebel forces have become the center of law and enforcement in Sierra Leone, rather than the lawful, legal government. The National Provisional Ruling Council stepped in to restore civilian rule by implementing “Operation Genesis,” but were very unsuccessful. More anger resided with the rebels after “Operation Genesis,” and before the 1996 election they intimidated potential voters. In order to stay in control of the diamond fields, the rebels pushed further and chopped off the hands and feet of most Sierra Leona citizens. Even after such appalling acts, the rebels were still invited to the 1996 election, which in turn makes the United States and many other countries wonder which side the Sierra Leone Government was really on.  The film also recognizes the side of African citizens that have not been made into refugees and what part they attribute to the blood diamond issue. This brings up the conflict that people do know how harmful blood diamonds are, but they are so selfish they will trade arms for the rough diamond, in order to make a fortune. The ex-mercenary in the film trades arms for diamonds with an RUF commander. This portrayal shows the trade and transit areas that the blood diamond trade connects to. It adds a twist to the movie- we see how people get involved in trading these blood diamonds for the wrong reasons and never think twice about the harm it is causing Sierra Leone’s citizens, until they come in direct encounter with a refugee and learn about their story.  //Blood Diamond// depicts the grim reality of the civil war in Sierra Leone and how forceful and cruel the rebels were, while illustrating the government’s lack of force to stop this brutality. It is a well done movie, because it does reveal the truth about blood diamonds and it shows how much Sierra Leone and other African countries need the diamond market to change.  Using well-known actors in the movie about blood diamonds is one way we affiliate Hollywood stars to the trading of blood diamonds, but more recently, another link has been reported. Press reports and court cases have been able to prove that Naomi Campbell was given blood diamonds from two unknown men when she and other Hollywood stars attended a dinner at Nelson Mandela’s presidential home for his Children’s Fund.  Naomi and Mia Farrow are being continuously questioned about the gift that Campbell received in 1997. Neither star is supporting one another’s statements, they are rather contradicting. Naomi claims the dinner at Nelson Mandela’s was the first time she had ever met Charles Taylor, the former Liberian President, and the “dirty-looking diamonds” were given to her in the middle of the night by two strangers. On the other hand, Mia is testifying that Naomi knew the diamonds came from Charles Taylor and that she received one large diamond, rather than multiple small ones.  This case is still under serious examination; if the diamonds given to Naomi Campbell were in fact from Charles Taylor, he will be charged guilty on 11 accounts. It is being said that Taylor was a connection to the rebels during the war in supplying them with arms in trade of blood diamonds. Taylor “is on trial for rape, mutilation, 11 counts of instigating murder and creating underage soldiers” (National Turk). Looking back at the information found, we can make our own accusations. Knowing that Liberia was a trading and transit place for the blood diamonds, it is pretty clear that the former Liberian President most likely had a part in the illegal trade. Because the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme was not in place until January of 2001, the blood diamonds given to Naomi Campbell have little to no documentation, which in turn makes it difficult to accuse Charles Taylor of handling these diamonds.  Blood diamonds have an effect on everyone. Prior to the KPCS we rarely knew where the world’s diamonds came from. We know have a more secure way to keep the blood diamond trade low, but we have not even begun to fully stop this trade. The rebels have taken over the diamond mining in Sierra Leone more than once. They are willing to kill innocent people to dominate the country. What should be done to stop this? How can we help Sierra Leone become a humane country with guaranteed civil rights? The movie, the press reports, and even more recently a song by Kayne West are all in alliance to bring awareness to the sick reality of blood diamonds. Next time you purchase a diamond insist you see its origin through documentation and the KPCS certificate. Remember, “Little is known of Sierra Leone, and how it connects to the diamonds we own” (Kanye West).  Works Cited <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Conflict Diamonds - Blood Diamonds: <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">What You Can do to Avoid Buying a Conflict Diamond. By <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">[|Carly Wickell] <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">, About.com Guide <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">[] <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">[] <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">[] <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">[] <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">[] <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">[] <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">[] <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">[] <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">[] <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">[] <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">[]