United We Shall Stand

On December 1, 2000, the United Nations General Assembly adopted, collectively, a resolution on the role of diamonds in fuelling conflict, breaking the link between the illegal transaction of rough diamonds and armed conflict. In taking up this agenda item, the General Assembly recognized that conflict diamonds are a crucial factor in extending brutal wars in parts of Africa, and highlighted that legitimate diamonds contribute to wealth and development elsewhere on the continent. In Angola and Sierra Leone, conflict diamonds continue to fund the rebel groups, the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), both of which are acting in breaking of the international community's objectives of restoring peace in the two countries (http://www.un.org/peace/africa/Diamond.html).

The tragic conflicts in Angola and Sierra Leone, caused by illegal diamond smuggling, have already led to action by the Security Council. Under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, targeted sanctions have been applied against UNITA in Angola and the Sierra Leone rebels, including a ban on their main source of funding illegal diamonds. Diamond sanctions have also been applied against Liberia but are not yet in effect. The United Nations also sent a peacekeeping army of 75,000 troops to end the conflict. The United Nations also established Human rights Laws that protected the native people of Sierra Leone, Angola, and Liberia. The United Nations actions on stopping the conflict diamond trade system however, fell under much criticism. Human Rights Watch, for example criticized the United Nations on this peace deal because it would abuse the rebels rights as well(http://www.un.org/peace/africa/Diamond.html).

Although peace agreements have been established, Human Rights Watch reported that abuses were still continuing towards the end of 1999. Some Sierra Leone rebels suggested that they would reject the United Nations peacekeeping forces if they were certified to use force in order to disarm different sections of Africa.

Since then, the United Nations tried to disarm the rebels near different conflict diamond areas that they controlled. The rebels began to attack and additional UN troops were needed for. For a long time, a number of United Nation peacekeepers were also held by rebels, but then released.
The United Nations is asking more countries to get involved in this process to end this conflict once and for all. If each country contributes to bring and end to this conflict, then maybe Sierra Leone, Angola, and other parts of Africa will finally receive peace.

Blood Diamond: The Movie

The movie “Blood Diamond” is the best movie of 2007. It is the perfect visual example of what happens in Sierra Leone and how people are mistreated for diamonds. I recommend everyone to see the movie. This movie changed my view on what is important in life. Most people worry about material things. However, I see now that people should be grateful to be alive. During the holidays everyone rushes to the jewelry stores to buy diamonds for their loved ones. The people in Sierra Leone rush to other countries to save their lives. A lot of people do not like to see these kinds of movies because they say its not normal. However, this movie helps educate people by showing them how life is at other parts of the world. This is a brief overview of the movie.

Set against the backdrop of civil war and chaos in 1990’s Sierra Leone, Blood Diamond is the story of Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio), a South African mercenary, and Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou), a Mende fisherman. Both men are African, but their histories as different as any can be, until their fates become joined in a common quest to recover a rare pink diamond that can transform their lives.

Solomon's family is stripped from him and his son is captured by the rebels and brainwashed. While in prison for smuggling, Archer learns that Solomon, who was taken from his family and forced to work in the diamond fields, has found and hidden a fascinating rough stone. With the help of Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly), an American journalist whose idea of the conflict diamond system is tempered by a deepening connection with Archer, the two men embark on a path through rebel territory, a journey that could save Solomon’s family and give Archer the second the diamond that would make him rich.

This is a must see movie. While watching this movie, put yourself in the shoes of these native people. This will help appreciate what you have much more. This movie mad me more humble and grateful for what I have here in the United States. Hopefully, this movie will encourage more people to make a difference and support the United Nations to end diamond trading. Go see it!!!!!

Blood Diamonds: Tracing the Deadly Path of the World's Most Precious Stones by: Greg Campbell

This is a book written by Greg Campbell about blood diamonds in Africa. The diamonds of Sierra Leone have supported one of the most savage rebel campaigns in modern history. These "blood diamonds" are smuggled out of West Africa and sold to legal diamond merchants in London, Antwerp, and New York, often with the involvement of the international diamond industry. Eventually, these very diamonds find their way into the rings and necklaces of brides all over the world.

”Blood Diamonds” is the fascinating story of how diamond smuggling works and how the rebel war has effectively destroyed Sierra Leone and its people. Greg Campbell traces the deadly trail of these diamonds and the consequences felt far beyond the poor and war-ridden country of Sierra Leone. This book helps people understand how significant this system is. The conflict diamond system has caused many people to loose their homes, families, and most of their lives.

This book is very useful to those people who are not aware of the mistreatment in Africa. Hopefully this book will encourage people to help the United Nations stop the diamond trade.

While we sit and enjoy wearing diamond necklaces and earrings, there are people who are unable to enjoy life and are still being stripped of their freedom. There are children who have grown older and have no idea where their parents are. There have been innocent people killed and forced into slavery. All these tragedies have occurred for no other purpose but to satisfy greedy individuals. I hope that more people will become educated about the conflict diamond industry. Furthermore, I hope that diamond consumers support the United Nations in preventing these tragedies from happening in the future.

The Kimberley Process

The Kimberley Process is a joint government, international diamond industry scheme to stop the flow of conflict diamonds which are used by rebel organizations to finance wars against legitimate governments. The trade in these illegal stones has contributed to disturbing conflicts in countries such as Angola, Cote d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sierra Leone.

The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme is innovative, voluntary system that forces wide requirements on participants to certify that the shipments of rough diamonds are free from conflict diamonds. The Kimberley Process is composed of 52 participants. Kimberley Process Participants account for approximately 99.8% of the global production of rough diamonds. 52 governments approved and adopted the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, which was established in August 2003.

Countries that participate must pass legislation to enforce the Kimberley Process. They must also set up control systems for the import and export of rough diamonds. Participants are only allowed to trade rough diamonds with other participants. The purpose is to prevent blood diamonds from entering the Kimberley Process system. The Kimberley Process governments and observers meet once a year to discuss the scheme.

Although the Kimberley Process has been established, blood diamonds still exist. Although the scheme makes it more difficult for diamonds from rebel controlled areas to reach international markets, there are still significant weaknesses in the scheme that undermine its effectiveness and allow the trade in blood diamonds to continue. A United Nations Group of Experts in Cote d'Ivoire has recently found that poor controls are allowing significant volumes of blood diamonds to enter the trade through Ghana, where they are being certified as conflict free stones. Hopefully this more countries will support this system and stop conflict diamonds from being trade throughout the world (http://www.globalwitness.org/pages/en/the_kimberley_process.html).

Stop the Violence

In the movie "Bowling for Columbine", Micheal Moore describes how issuing guns is bad for American citizens. The documentary shows how easy it is for Americans to posses guns in the country. For instance, in the state of Michigan, some banks issue rifles to people who join their bank. Teenagers who hunt are also getting easy access to guns by buying them from local stores. Stores such as K-Mart and Wal-Mart issue guns to people who hunt. Micheal Moore also talks about the National Rifle Association (NRA) and how Charlton Heston encourages Americans to get guns.

Micheal Moore also feels that America is sending the wrong message by issuing the second amendment stating that Americans have the right to bear arms. Micheal Moore also states that violence in America will go down if America would stop making violent movies. The governments in other countries have a control on what movies are shown to the public. For instance, in Canada a lot of movies are not allowed to be shown because they have too much violence in them. Micheal Moore makes an attempt to prove his point by going to Canada to visit residence. Micheal Moore shows that in Canada, most residence leave their doors unlocked or wide open during the day. Unlike Americans, who leave their doors locked most of the day.

The documentary also goes into the tragic event that happened in Columbine High School. Micheal Moore states that if the teenagers did not have easy access to guns and armor in K-Mart then maybe the Columbine shoootings could have been prevented.

Micheal Moore's purpose of this film is to get the American people to see that the NRA and Charlton Heston are affecting the American society. Micheal Moore wants to out and end to the easy access to guns and hopefully bring American to peace. I think that if the American government can get control over the easy access of guns, then maybe there will be less violence that happens in America.

The Patriot Act

The website www.lifeandliberty.gov is a site that talks about the purpose of the Patriot Act. This website is a good for visitors who want to learn about the bill. The Patriot Act is a an act that allows the U.S. government to spy on the U.S. citizens personal life by tapping phoone lines across the country. The website also gives statements from President George W. Bush and Attorney Alberto R. Gonzales. Both Gonzales and President Bush defend the Patriot Act. They both state that the Patriot Act protects the american people from terrorist attacks. This act was immediately established after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Alberto R. Gonzales stated,"On Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists inspired by hatred murdered nearly 3,000 innocent Americans. In response Congress overwhelmingly passed the USA Patriot Act. Now, before it adjourns for the year, Congress must act again to reauthorize this critical piece of legislation. Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations are at work: Their stated goal is to kill Americans, cripple our economy and demoralize our people.The bill to be considered this week is a good one. It equips law enforcement with the tools needed to fight terrorists, and it also includes new civil liberties protections. Members of Congress should put aside the rhetoric and focus on the facts surrounding this vital legislation".

President Bush stated,"I applaud the Senate for voting to renew the Patriot Act and overcoming the partisan attempts to block its passage. The terrorists have not lost the will or the ability to attack us. The Patriot Act is vital to the war on terror and defending our citizens against a ruthless enemy. This bill will allow our law enforcement officials to continue to use the same tools against terrorists that are already used against drug dealers and other criminals, while safeguarding the civil liberties of the American people."

Hopefully this bill will bring peace to America and protect our American people from being attacked again by terrorist.

Meaningless Speeches

Speeches are given to inform a group of people about an important issue or a position that the speaker stands for. The speech is also suppose to be communicated effectively and the word choice should make sense. However, if the main focus of the speech is false information then there is no purpose of speaking. If your wondering what I am talking about, lets look at President Georg W. Bush's speech on the weapons of mass destruction.

In this speech the President talks about the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Although this topic is suppose to be one of the reasons we are at war, its funny how these weapons are yet to be discovered. President Bush also uses words that are unnecessary in his speech. For instance, in this part of his speech he states: " Many Americans have raised legitimate questions: about the nature of the threat; about the urgency of action -- why be concerned now; about the link between Iraq developing weapons of terror, and the wider war on terror. These are all issues we've discussed broadly and fully within my administration. And tonight, I want to share those discussions with you".

First of all, I think that President Bush should have been certain that there were weapons of mass desruction in Iraq. Second, it is unclear to me what President Bush meant by the "nature" of the threat. I also do not understand what a "wider" war is. I honestly think that some people do a little bit too much when they communicate with their audience. What is wrong with just saying, "the threat of terror" or "the war on terror". I think if speakers or writers use words like these than they should back them up with a definition or a sentence to explain what they mean. I hope that by reading this, people would just directly write what they mean instead of trying to sound very educated. Maybe the "wider" world can change the "nature" of writing.