So … we are almost through two thirds of the movies. While we recognize that this is a movie, it also is a statement about many social and cultural issues both in developing countries as well as developed - like the US or Belgium or France.
Your task is to do this: Answer the following question regarding the movie at this point. Second, post a question you have about the movie related to conflict diamonds, the diamond market, child soldiers, the role of the world media in terms of what is 'reported' through the media outlets, etc. Make sure that it is a question that has 'merit' and demonstrates a clear line of thinking and analysis on your part about what is happening here in the movie.
Here is the question:
1. What human rights issues were illustrated in the film? What international laws are in place to stop or prevent those abuses?
2. Ask a question that you have regarding the above.
1. A lot of social and political issues are touched upon in the movie: lack of education, brainwashing of children to turn them into ruthless soldiers, relatively unmonitored diamond trade, and violent uprisings claiming to bring bright futures through revolution. Several governments now, including the US, work to prevent the trade of conflict diamonds via the Kimberly Process Certification System. Although the Geneva Conventions are in place for international war, I don't believe there are any concerning civil war unless genocide is at risk.
ReplyDelete2. What exactly is the reasoning behind the prisoners hiding the diamonds they find? Do they have the intention of selling them on their own or maybe keeping more diamonds from fueling the rebellion that imprisoned them to begin with?
There are plenty of human rights issues present in this film. There are two that stuck the most in my mind. The first was the training of child soldiers. Innocent children were being trained wield weapons, and forced to kill people. The other incident that stuck out to me was the blatant murders of innocent civilians during the "uprising". There are currently international efforts being made to prevent child soldiers in a multitude of countries.
ReplyDeleteHas the United States done anything in attempt to prevent the training of child soldiers or the selling of conflict diamonds?
1. Some of the social and political issues we have seen are: young children being trained to be solders and manipulated to kill innocent people, a mass killing of people over a resource that is not being regulated.
ReplyDelete2. I was wondering about if any, the local government. Are they making any attempt to fight back against the uprising? It seems that things are being controlled by the rebels.
1. There are many human rights issues displayed in this film. One of the most prominent issue was the child soldiers. Many of these children were kidnapped from their villages and forced to fight and kill with the rebels. Along with this issue, there were many ruthless killings in villages and pretty much where ever the rebel force went. It didn't matter who they were, they would end up dead or forced to fight with them.
ReplyDelete2. Was there any countries that went into Africa to help the issue?
1. The main human rights issues shown in this movie include: conflict minerals, child soldiers, and large refugee camps. United Nation members have agreed to not buy or support conflict diamonds, but these diamonds are still smuggled out of Africa. Certain organizations are in place to help child soldiers come back to the life they had before killing.
ReplyDelete2. Why does the US news not address these issues, and when is it appropriate for them to tell people what is going on around the world?
1. Child soldiers, slavery, and murder are the human rights issues displayed through the film. The rebel army rapes, pillages, and murders innocent villages while at the same time gathering child soldiers and workers or slaves. These people are being forced to look for diamonds without pay while being mistreated. There are already international laws against slavery, and efforts are being made to stop senseless killing and recruitment of child soldiers.
ReplyDelete2. What has the U.S. done to help the situation in Africa, specifically concerning child soldiers, senseless murder, and blood diamonds?
1. Many human right issues were shown throughout Blood Diamond, two examples being child soldiers, and conflict minerals. We saw young, innocent children being taken away from their families and their homes with out any say. These kids were brainwashed and trained to do terrible things like participate in mass killings. There are many current efforts and committees working to prevent child soldiers. The international human rights law sets 18 as the minimum age for direct participation in hostilities and for recruitment by state armed forces Conflict minerals cause many problems in countries such as mass killings. These minerals, in this case, diamonds, are being smuggled across countries. Conflict minerals are still a problem today and efforts are being made to stop these acts.
ReplyDelete2. Why didn't the U.S army get involved in the war in Sierra Leone when it was going on? Many killings were going on daily that needed to be addressed faster than it was.
Arising from conflict diamonds, many social and political problems occur. A few of them include child soldiers, rape, torture, slavery, and crime resulting in incarceration. All of these were seen in the movie Blood Diamond. Currently, efforts are in effect in efforts to restrict the trade of blood diamonds. The Kimberley Process is a joint initiative between governments, industry, and civil society to cut off the flow of conflict diamonds.
ReplyDeleteA question I have regarding the previous question is why has there not been efforts to prohibit society from buying diamonds without exact proof of where they came from?
1.The main human rights issues shown in the movie are child soldiers, conflict minerals. The RUF would chop off peoples hands after stating, "the future is in your hands". By cutting off the hands off people it shows that their future is now in the hands of the rebels. Currently nations across the world are trying to restrict the trade of blood diamonds and other conflict materials. The Kimberly process was also put into place to crack down on the trading and flow of conflict diamonds across the boarder.
ReplyDelete2.My question would be how can we, as consumers, be sure we are not promoting blood diamonds by purchasing them unknowingly?