Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post

Macheath · 06-23-2003, 11:38 PM

I agree this is a good topic to discuss and the best way to discuss it is to stop thinking of Africa as one single "cause" that should be thrown in the "too hard" basket.

You've listed a few different factors that could be pulled apart and looked at in a wider economic and historical context. We can break these issues down and see how they relate to each other and the whole Africa problem; make this thread a clearinghouse for our links and ideas.

Here's a start, Conflict diamonds:

<A HREF="http://www.stanford.edu/class/e297c/war_peace/africa_struggles_with_slavery_colonialism_and_hiv_aids/lcrenshaw.html">In the context of the world diamond market and the DeBeers monopoly.</A>
----------
<A HREF="http://www.commondreams.org/views/061200-102.htm">Does the west buy conflict diamonds?</A>
-----------
<A HREF="http://www.professionaljeweler.com/archives/news/2001/110601story.html">Conflict diamonds linked to Al Quaeda</A>
-----------
<A HREF="http://freedom.house.gov/news/statements/d50-diamond.asp">'Clean Diamond Act' languishes in Congress</A>
------------
<A HREF="http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/c7ca0eaf6c79faae852567af003c69ca/74ff3abc22a0a4ed85256d1600584c5a?OpenDocument">Act signed into law on April 25, 2003.</A>
------------
<A HREF="http://www.worlddiamondcouncil.com/clean_diamond_trade_act.htm">The Clean Diamond Trade Act (HR 2722)</A>

This is just a brief outline of sources on the web for one single issue but it gives me a sense that the only solution to think of the things that can be done rather than what can't be done.

In this case it was suspected that the nature of the global diamond market was a big factor in the issue of 'conflict diamonds'. The US Government (America buys 65% of all retail diamonds) was in a position to pass legislation, just had been done against the South African apartheid regime. This legislation has now been passed and we will see what comes of it.

06-23-2003, 11:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
Macheath Junkie Location: Sydney, Australia	I agree this is a good topic to discuss and the best way to discuss it is to stop thinking of Africa as one single "cause" that should be thrown in the "too hard" basket. You've listed a few different factors that could be pulled apart and looked at in a wider economic and historical context. We can break these issues down and see how they relate to each other and the whole Africa problem; make this thread a clearinghouse for our links and ideas. Here's a start, Conflict diamonds: <A HREF="http://www.stanford.edu/class/e297c/war_peace/africa_struggles_with_slavery_colonialism_and_hiv_aids/lcrenshaw.html">In the context of the world diamond market and the DeBeers monopoly.</A> ---------- <A HREF="http://www.commondreams.org/views/061200-102.htm">Does the west buy conflict diamonds?</A> ----------- <A HREF="http://www.professionaljeweler.com/archives/news/2001/110601story.html">Conflict diamonds linked to Al Quaeda</A> ----------- <A HREF="http://freedom.house.gov/news/statements/d50-diamond.asp">'Clean Diamond Act' languishes in Congress</A> ------------ <A HREF="http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/c7ca0eaf6c79faae852567af003c69ca/74ff3abc22a0a4ed85256d1600584c5a?OpenDocument">Act signed into law on April 25, 2003.</A> ------------ <A HREF="http://www.worlddiamondcouncil.com/clean_diamond_trade_act.htm">The Clean Diamond Trade Act (HR 2722)</A> This is just a brief outline of sources on the web for one single issue but it gives me a sense that the only solution to think of the things that can be done rather than what can't be done. In this case it was suspected that the nature of the global diamond market was a big factor in the issue of 'conflict diamonds'. The US Government (America buys 65% of all retail diamonds) was in a position to pass legislation, just had been done against the South African apartheid regime. This legislation has now been passed and we will see what comes of it. Last edited by Macheath; 06-23-2003 at 11:46 PM..