Would you still think diamonds were beautiful if you knew where they came from? Although it is not likely, there is still a chance that the diamond-studded earrings you’re wearing is considered to be a blood diamond. Blood diamonds, defined by the United Nations are “Diamonds that originate from areas controlled by forced or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments”. Sierra Leone’s has plenty of diamonds, plenty of people to work for the mines, and some profit to pay the workers, but this process is being organized by military control.
Sierra Leone has all sorts of resources like gold, bauxite, iron, rutile and most importantly, diamonds. “In 2009 the government recorded exports of 400,480 carats (80,096 g) of diamonds, this included 143,620 carats (28,724 g) of industrial diamonds and 256,860 (51,372 g) of gem diamonds” (Wikipedia) Sierra Leone has plenty of natural resources different countries would pay money for. Sierra Leone should have been one of the richest countries. In 2005, Sierra Leone exported $141…show more content… A large portion of Sierra Leone's diamonds are mined by hand from alluvial deposits, so anyone with a shovel, bucket and sieve can go into the mining business; in a country with few formal jobs, at least 150,000 people work as diggers(new york times). For example, diamond mines and people running them seem to run off of the desperation of the poorest people. However, most Sierra Leoneans don’t have running water or access to electricity in their homes, that is if they even have a home. Even so, profits from mining these diamonds have ended up in the hands of private companies and corrupt officials rather than the country's government and people (mining in sierra leone). Of course the miners finding the diamonds earn less than a dollar a day. The people would work hard if they got paid more or even at all. All this money and power was put into the wrong hands for this
