The perception we have with diamonds is that it is, solely, to beautify oneself. Diamonds since from long ago have been an item symbolising wealth and the bigger they are, the higher the sum they’ll fetch for you if you ever consider selling your precious diamond. But… considering their immense value, do you think they’re purpose ends here? If your answer was no, then you’re right.

For the movie savvy or fans of Leonardo Dicaprio, you must have heard of the acclaimed movie titled “Blood Diamond”. Blood diamond isn’t a metaphor but it actually refers to the diamonds mined in war zones that are used to fund rebel groups. Blood diamonds or conflict diamonds have caused much disaster for the people of Africa particularly in Sierra Leone, Angola, Liberia and the Ivory Coast.

Africa is one place that most know as a poverty stricken country but their land also happens to be rich in diamonds. There are hundreds of diamond mines there with the British diamond company De Beers owning many of them. There are a few mines though those are used by rebel groups to source themselves to buy weapons for war.

One such example is the rebel group called the “Revolutionary United Front” (RUF). In early 1992, the RUF seized control of Kono, the diamond mining capital of Sierra Leone. In an effort to stabilize and restore democratic civilian rule, the National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC) had engaged in war with RUF rebels.

Their efforts, unfortunately, were unsuccessful in stopping the rebels. In turn, the rebels viciously attacked civilians during the Sierra Leonean 1996 elections by chopping off their hands and feet just to maintain authority over the diamond mines. The victims of their ruthlessness even included teens, children and infants.

It is certainly an eye opener to realize that those perfectly cut diamonds of your mother’s you secretly want harbours a sad and vicious tale. This ‘dark side’ of diamonds isn’t very much known by many people and while we, people who have better lives than those in Africa go on our daily lives buying as many diamonds as we want in a nonchalant manner, those affected are trying to save their lives from the brutality caused by them.

Life certainly isn’t fair.