Blood diamond history banning the trade in african blood conflict diamonds the trade in the conflict or blood diamonds of africa, including those from sierra leone, was curbed by the world diamond council on january 17 18 2001 when the the kimberley process certification scheme kpcs was created to. Five years ago i made the film blood diamond a story of the illicit diamond trade and its funding of the bloody civil war in sierra leone. While it does good work by bringing the lingering problem of african conflict diamonds back into the news, the movie itself is ungainly and retro, using white characters to illuminate the problem while also simplifying it. Diamonds that are illegally mined in a region in africa, which is facing a situation of prolonged rebellion, military unrest or guerrilla activities are called blood diamonds as the primary purpose of their mining is to fund such activities in order to procure arms and ammunition. First, 24 of our sos children appeared as extras in the film pictured right with leonardo. The conference resulted in the kimberley process certification scheme, a system now used by diamond traders to certify the origin of diamonds, in order. Conflict diamond, hot diamond, blood diamond, war diamond, converted diamond. One such unfortunate is fisherman solomon vandy djimon hounsou, from shenge. Sierra leone feels sucker punched by blood diamond. This economic problem is fueled by three main concepts. Fittingly diamonds are made of pure carbon, and diamonds are the hardest natural substance known to man. A fisherman, a smuggler, and a syndicate of businessmen match wits over the possession of a priceless diamond.
At brilliant earth, we believe it is important to end all violence related to diamond mining, regardless of the circumstances. You are probably all familiar with the popular 2006 film blood diamond. A blood diamond, or conflict diamonds, are used in the illegal trading of diamonds to finance conflict, civil wars and human rights abuses in different african countries. Conflict diamonds facts about blood diamonds with video.
Rebel factions such as the revolutionary united front frequently terrorize the open countryside, intimidating mende locals and enslaving many to harvest diamonds, which fund their increasingly successful war effort. Very quickly, people became aware of the social issues involved in diamond mining and this created an international uproar against the industry. Blood diamonds refers to those gems acquired through conflict. From 19912002, the revolutionary united front ruf waged an insurrection that ravaged the tiny west african nation of sierra leone. As well as brilliant acting, blood diamond has a superbly written script. That diamond changed and ended many lives, and the story of that stone carries a strong social message. The movie blood diamond traces the path of a large pink diamond found in sierra leone in the 1990s by a fisherman working as a slave in a rebelcontrolled diamond mine. Taylor was the liberian president who was accused by united nation in 2000. Leonardo dicaprio plays danny archer, an african mercenary who has made his living by trading diamonds for arms in conflict torn africa. Dec 08, 2006 the makers of blood diamond, an exceptionally foolish thriller starring a most excellent leonardo dicaprio, want you to know there may be blood on your hands, specifically your wedding finger. Mar 28, 2009 this feature is not available right now. Blood diamond tells the story of the nineyear civil war in sierra leone during the 1990s that displaced 2 million people, killed tens of thousands, and wounded thousands more.
Separated from his family, solomon is enslaved to work in the diamond fields under the command of captain poison david harewood while his son dia is. This coupled with exciting action scenes, creates an edgeofyourseat thriller from start to finish, building up to a moving ending. Blood diamond is a hollywood thriller, starring leonardo dicaprio, about the illegal gem trade. Ayer to basically create demand for diamonds, which they did admirably, thanks to a copywriter named mary frances gerety. Conflict diamonds facts about blood diamonds with video in 2006, the movie blood diamonds which starred leonardo dicaprio, depicted the human costs of conflict diamonds to a global audience. Rentals include 30 days to start watching this video and 48 hours to finish once started. Many of the worlds diamonds are harvested using practices that exploit workers, children, and communities. Scorsese, the departed 2006, and blood diamond 2006. Apr 25, 2017 civil war in sierra leone and the role of blood diamonds the civil war in sierra leone has been one of the most grotesque ones in history, and the nations rich diamond reserves have driven much of the violence. The setting of the blood diamond movie is sierra leone in africa during the civil war of the 1990s.
Film education is not responsible for the content of external sites. The makers of blood diamond, an exceptionally foolish thriller starring a most excellent leonardo dicaprio, want you to know there may be blood on your hands, specifically your wedding finger. Please subscribe to my channel if you like this documentary. Blood diamond is a 2006 political war thriller film coproduced and directed by edward zwick and starring leonardo dicaprio, jennifer connelly, and djimon hounsou.
Conflict diamonds captured the worlds attention during the extremely brutal conflict in sierra leone in the late 1990s. The film begins with the capture of solomon vandy djimon hounsou, a mende fisherman, by the revolutionary united front ruf rebels when they invade the small sierra leonian village of shenge. Blood diamonds looks to some of the worlds foremost experts for the facts of the history of the diamond trade, and goes to the heart of the matter, interviewing both the victims and perpetrators of diamondfueled atrocities in countries like sierra leone. Trying to put the best possible spin on things, wdc head eli izhakoff says, im not worried at all by the film as long as people get to know the facts. But if you are asking whether director edward zwick drew on actual events to inspire his film, the answer is yes. The story is interesting fiction, but it is based upon facts. At the end of the film, solomon vandy addresses a conference on blood diamonds in kimberley, south africa, describing his experiences. Estimates of the percentage of diamonds which are blood diamonds range as high as 15%. This conference actually took place in kimberley in 2000. Jan 28, 2007 blood diamond 143 mins, 15 directed by edward zwick.
Facts and trivia about blood diamonds the history of blood diamonds can be traced from the year 1989 when liberia was under the influence of a civil war. The star cast of the movie also included jennifer connelly, djimon hounsou. The blood diamond soundtrack the soundtrack to the blood diamond movie was composed by james newton howard and released in the united states in 2006. However, in the film blood diamond it is made clear that there is an exploitation of the people in sierra leone. With leonardo dicaprio, djimon hounsou, jennifer connelly, kagiso kuypers. The movie tells the story of the brutal african diamond trade and its horrific human toll. Civil war in sierra leone and the role of blood diamonds. Lets find out more facts about blood diamonds below. Last weekend i saw the muchtalked about blood diamond movie with leonardo di caprio, djimon hounsou and jennifer connelly, over which i have mulled before. Sierra leonethe setting for much of the film blood diamondhas improved as well, though the countrys recent ebola outbreak set back some of that progress. Jun 19, 2012 please subscribe to my channel if you like this documentary. During that time, it is estimated that conflict diamonds represented approximately 4% of the worlds diamond production. Blood diamond 2006 movie mistakes, goofs and bloopers. It is 1999 and the troubled west african nation of sierra leone is ravaged by major political unrest.
If you are asking whether the film is a sort of documentary, the answer is no. The star cast of the movie also included jennifer connelly, djimon hounsou, michael sheen arnold vosloo and many more. Blood diamond should have been shot in sierra leone. It doesnt open for another couple of months, but the diamond industry has already launched a. The diamond industrys attempt to fight blood diamonds led to the establishment of the kimberley process, an international diamond certification scheme, in 2003. While doing my research, i discovered that the ngo global witness had been the first to expose the blood diamond trade and call for action. Diamond miners in sierra leone sifting through the sand in search of diamonds. The diamond trade had negative consequence when it was used by the people who lived in a country with conflict to fund the war. It is a film that opens the eyes and moves every bit of the soul, a powerful story that lets the world face what it cannot even look at.
While illicit rough diamonds have been used by rebels to fund conflicts across many african. Jan 25, 2007 last weekend i saw the muchtalked about blood diamond movie with leonardo di caprio, djimon hounsou and jennifer connelly, over which i have mulled before. The themes of the moviewar, violence, amputation, exploitationare. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto int. The biggest mistakes you never noticed in blood diamond 2006. The title refers to blood diamonds, which are diamonds mined in war zones and sold to finance conflicts, and thereby profit warlords and diamond companies across the world. Tweet reddit flipboard email a london jeweler examines a 1. But blood diamond legitimately has the chance to seriously harm a developing countrys economy. The sad truth about the fight against blood diamonds huffpost. Millions of people still live with the traumatic impact of the war. The conference resulted in the kimberley process certification scheme, a system now used by diamond traders to certify the origin of diamonds, in order to curb the trade and sale of conflict diamonds.
Suffice to say that the performances were credible, the plot a little shaky, the scenography superb and the ending ridiculous. Mr bean full episodes mr bean official classic mr bean duration. In blood diamond, the part of ambassador walker, the american official trying to stop the conflict diamond trade, is played by an american actor best known for playing jessica beals father on a. An analysis of the movie, blood diamond essay 1197 words. The blood diamond industry still accounts for roughly 4% of the worlds rough diamond supply. Apparently, some people are upset that blood diamond gave a negative portrayal of sierra leone. Blood diamonds looks to some of the worlds foremost experts for the facts of the history of the diamond trade, and goes to the heart of the matter, interviewing both the victims and perpetrators of diamond fueled atrocities in countries like sierra leone. The 2006 blood diamond movie is a thrilling drama starring leonardo dicaprio. The conflict created over 2 million refugees and completely destroyed much of the countrys infrastructu. The name diamond comes from the greek word, adamas meaning unconquerable. Leonardo dicaprio worked in the movie blood diamond in the year 2006. I think its ridiculous for people to argue over whether or not the movie is positive or negative.
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