property rights and the price of diamonds

(poster from Amnesty International)

I often like to use this blog to display pretty things. But some pretty things are being used to finance ugly, horrific conflicts and keep people enslaved and oppressed. Diamonds for us may be associated with engagements and romance, but for the millions of refugees in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Angola, the DRC, and other African nations, a very different picture emerges.

A friend of mine, as a child, worked in a diamond mine in Liberia. Those diamonds cost him his family and turned him into a child soldier, then again, he used diamonds to bribe other soldiers and escape the country. His life story is inseparable from the politics of conflict diamonds.

I was reminded of his story today when reading the newest issue of USAID Frontlines. In 2007, along with the State Department. USAID began the Property Rights and Artisanal Diamond Development (PRADD) in  order to for diamond farmers to establish clear property rights, diamond licenses, and training in how to valuate their products. For example, in the article, mine owner Madeleine Wekombo said: "Before this project, we didn't know that much about diamonds. We didn't know the real value of our diamonds and usually we sold them at a very undervalued price." Projects like these are important for preventing farmers from being exploited and worse, having diamonds fund conflicts. 

So, obviously as consumers we have the responsibility to demand conflict-free products. But even to those who have never bought a diamond (like myself), it's worth it to know that this project is under the 2003 Clean Diamond Trade Act. It's nice to be reminded that as constituents, we can still affect change.  

To learn more, check out the Kimberly Process.