The document discusses "blood diamonds" which refers to diamonds mined in war zones and sold to fund violence and oppressive regimes. Specifically, it notes that in Sierra Leone in the 1990s, rebel groups took control of diamond mining cities and committed atrocities like amputating limbs and killing over 50,000 people to gain control over the diamond trade. The document explores how "blood diamonds" have negatively impacted parts of Africa through widespread death, refugee crises, and human rights abuses like child labor in mines.

1. Blood Diamonds By: Erin Gallagher

2. Why I Chose This Topic I chose this topic because I don’t understand how they can justify killing people for diamonds. Also, they probably force their kids to mine, which I can’t imagine doing.

3. What I Already Know Before researching, I know that people in Africa kill each other for diamonds. I also know that diamonds are an important source of money for some African economies.

4. My Essential Question: Where did the nickname “ blood diamonds ” come from?

5. What are “ blood diamonds ”? Blood Diamonds are diamonds that people come to have and sell in violent matters. These abuses include amputation , murder , and child labor .

6. Sierra Leone I believe that Sierra Leone had the most violence. In 1991, a rebel group entered the country and took control of it’s mining cities. The group cut off thousands of hands and feet to show their power. They even cut off the hands of children and infants.

7. Sierra Leone contd. The rebel group killed people on their path to find and sell diamonds. 10 years after the war for diamonds started, other countries stepped in to help. These countries helped stop the violence. Upwards of 50,000 people were killed.

8. The worth of blood diamonds A total of 300,000 carats of diamonds are currently being mined annually. All of the above diamonds are being mined by slaves on the Ivory Coast. Approximately 8.5 billion dollars worth of diamonds come from Africa annually.

9. How did “blood diamonds” affect Africa? “ Blood diamonds” left more than 50,000 people dead. They left more than half a million refugees. They left thousands of amputees.

10. Important Facts I learned that the Kimberley Process is helping stop blood diamonds from being sold. I also learned that Sierra Leone was the main country for wars over diamonds. Another thing I learned was that international assistance was necessary in many African countries.

11. Shocking Details I was really shocked to learn what people would do for diamonds. I found the fact that they cut off the hands and feet of people disgusting. I don’t understand how people could possibly justify cutting off the hands of children and infants.

12. Questions I Still Have Who designed the Kimberley Process ? Do any countries still have “ blood diamonds ?”

13. Bibliography http://www.worldpress.org/africa/2193.cfm http://www.diamondsforafricafund.org/realdiamondfacts/conflict.htm http://www.stopblooddiamonds.org/sierra-leone-conflict-diamonds.asp http://www.kimberleyprocess.com http://www.blackstate.com/diamond.html