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Blood diamonds? Ìý | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The allure of diamonds is unquestionable but their beauty and value has also made them the source of conflict and misery. The film Blood Diamond, which premieres in London in January, is set during Sierra Leone's diamond-fuelled civil war. The diamond industry feared the movie's effect on business. So de Beers, which controls about 40% of the global diamond market, linked up with various celebrities, including US Hip Hop stars. Among them were Russell Simmons, the founder of Def Jam records and Dr Benjamin Chavis of the Hip Hop summit action Network which fights for freedom, justice and equality.
They travelled to Botswana and South Africa, to see the diamond industry for themselves. The World Today spoke to Benjamin Chavis and Jonathan Mazower of Survival International. Dr Chavis began by telling us what he'd seen in Botswana: First broadcast 23rd January 2007 Ìý | Ìý | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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ÌýWe wanted to go to the place where is done the best and then encourage other governments and players in the diamond industry to follow the good example Botswana is setting.
Click to hear the diamond discussion
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