I'm reading a book called "Blood Diamonds" by Greg Cambell right now. It's incredible. I started the book Sunday evening and got all torn up inside. It's a weighty matter to be sure and it sent me into something of an introspective and poignant mood that demanded a response but left me at a loss in knowing what I really should or could do about the whole matter.
This is one of the most aggravating moods to be in by the way.
While I'm debating on whether or not to quote some of the book here I'll go ahead and assert that you really need to read the book. Inform yourself on the subject of conflict goods. The diamond industry influences most of us in light of the fact that at some point you're probably going to either receive a diamond or purchase one for someone else.
I'm going to hold off on quoting the book. While I could probably shock and horrify by telling you some of the stories Cambell came across first hand as he trekked through Sierra Leone, it would be more important for you to understand the context of the situation. Suffice it to say that even if one was to purchase a "conflict free diamond" you really have no idea where it came from as the whole identification system of a diamond's point of origin is a running joke.
One thing the book will do is paint a completely frustrating picture of how thorough and far reaching corruption can be as the victimized can quickly become the victimizer in such an arrantly corrupt and broken down state many of the African countries currently find themselves in.
Related Topics:
Boycotts
1 comment:
So glad you're reading this.
It somehow paints such a through picture of the situation that it's nearly impossible not to find yourself in tears as your heart becomes intertwined with something half way across the world.
It's somewhat counter-cultural in America to actually care and learn and 'suffer with', but it's so vital.
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