...Analyze the economic situation of the movie: The movie “Blood Diamond” is directed by Edward Zwick. This movie is considered as one of the great movies because the diamonds mined at Africa are traded in exchange for firearms and other weapons which are used in civil wars, coups and cruel military dictatorships, and what makes the story interesting is that, which side is worse? Is it the government or the rebels? So the first thing we see in this story if we will relate it to economic situation is that, people face tradeoffs. RUFs mine diamonds and sell to those people who will give them firearms in exchange for diamonds. Back to the story, this story takes place in 1999 in Sierra Leone, which during that time, is at civil war. The story stars Leonardo DiCapprio, played the role as Danny Archer, who is a diamond smuggler who needs money to leave Africa for good. There, he meets Solomon Vandy. His life changed when the Revolutionary United Front or RUF invaded their village, killed many people, and kidnapped most children and men. His family escaped, and he is sent to the forced labor camp to mine diamond. During that time, diamonds have really high value because they are traded for arms and is sold for a very high price. When Solomon is sifting sand on a river bank, he saw a 100 karat pink diamond which he initially hides then later buries. No less than a minute, it happened that there was government raid, he captured and he was sent in jail. There he meets Danny, who made...
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...the Jemme Tribe of northern Sierra Leone. He attended primary and secondary school in Magburaka, Tonkolili District and afterwards worked numerous jobs in Magburaka. Moving forward to 1956, he joined the Royal West African Forces where he became a wireless operator and cameraman, in which he served till he made junior rank of corporal. After Sierra Leone received its independence in 1961, the country began to fill with plenty of government corruption and poverty. In 1970 Sankho served seven years in prison for participating in an abortive coup against Siaka Stevens. When Sankho was released from prison, he moved to Sierra Leone second largest city called Bo. The city Bo was well known as the homeland for diamond dealers of Lebanese. This is where he would use the knowledge of his training in the military as a video cameraman and wedding photographer. His job was a disguise to better learn the village, the people of the village and to come in contact with the political college students at the local college. This disguise allowed him to also set up his first plan to murder two gem dealers and use the money to finance the beginning of his rebel movement. He then moved to Libya with a group of students expelled from the university. He eventually started a group called the Revolutionary United Front also known as RUF. This group was believed to be 15,000 members strong. In the beginning Sankho intentions were to idealistically rid Sierra Leone of its military-backed corrupted...
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...Poverty in Sierra Leone Cassandra Jones Professor Tiffani Davis Sociology 300 September 1, 2012 Sierra Leone Sierra Leone is located on the West Coast of Africa near Guinea, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau and Gambia. Sierra Leone was founded in 1462, by a Portuguese explorer Pedro da Cintra sailing the West African coast. While there Pedo observed the mountains and thunderstorm that sounded like a lion’s roam in the distance. He therefore name Sierra Leone in his native language Sierra Leoa. The name was later changed in 1787 while under British rule Sierra Leone by English Jack Tars. The country is comprised over six million people of different ethnic backgrounds and religions that primarily speak English which is the official language. Many tribal languages are also used and in Freetown which is the capital of Sierra Leone, Krio is the second language spoken. It is a form of pigeon English encompassing tribal words. Sierra Leone also known as the Republic of Sierra Leone maintains a constitutional democracy which is composed of a President Ernest Bai KOROMA and legislative, judicial and executive branch. A constitutional democracy is a system of government based on popular sovereignty in which the structures, powers, and limits of government are set forth in a constitution. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/constitutional+democracy. Sierra Leon is also one of the poorest countries in the world with the shortest life expectancy. To understand why Sierra Leone is the...
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...The proxy war began on Saturday, March 23, 1991 under the reign of Joseph Momoh. After the death of prime minister Sir Milton, the politics in the country were distinguished by its corruption and electoral violence. Political confrontation had a undeviating impact on Sierra Leone’s economy. The alluvial diamond mines of South Eastern Sierra Leone invited for the unequal benefits of the diamond trade and resulted in self aggrandizement. The Revolutionary United Front, a guerrilla unit engineered by Foday Sankoh, sought to overthrow the government and head of executive, as well as take part in the illicit conflict (or otherwise known “blood”) diamond trade. The country's education system quickly collapsed and citizens of the country were forced...
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...Sierra Leone Civil War The Sierra Leone civil war which lasted about 11 years from 1991 to 2001 has resulted about 50, 000 of death followed by numerous accounts of rape, murder, displaced, destruction properties as well as other crimes that are absolutely against the humanity (Shah, 2001). It began on March 23, 1991 when the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), a rebel army led by Foday Sankoh which was supported by the special forces from the Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Front of Libera (NPFL) of Liberia, had intervened the Sierra Leone with intent to overthrow and change the Sierra Leone’s government which led by Joseph Momoh (Friedman-Rudovsky, 2013). The major cause that contributed to the bloody civil war in Sierra Leone is merely...
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...SIERRA LEONE CIVIL WAR: POWER OF SUCCESSFUL INTERVENTIONS The history of Sierra Leone from 1991 to 2002 is written with continuous suffering of its people. Although many literatures argue that opportunities of economic profit in the diamond mining industry is the motivation of the conflict, long history of poor institutional building with a consequence of malnutrition in Sierra Leone’s capacity in face of political instability also led to the long-lasting of war. The absence and insufficient ability of the civil government prohibited the state’s normal provision of fundamental functions, namely rule of law, security, and economic development. Tensions between the authority and the anti-government armed forces grew at a fast pace, brutal violations of humanity was commonly seen everywhere. Series of military interventions with a goal to restore stability and provide humanitarian aid ended in vain, only brought more destructions to the nation. The conflict in Sierra Leone consists of a complex mixture of key stakeholders, including domestic and neighboring countries’ politicians, local and cross-border militia, mercenary troops, diamond companies, regional and international organizations. The complex interactions between each player contributed to the decade-long civil war in this West African country. Unlike many countries...
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...1. What are conflict diamonds? What groups benefited from the trade in conflict diamonds? What groups were hurt by it? As defined in the case study, conflict diamonds are gemstones that are mined or stolen by rebels fighting internationally recognized governments. Any of the anti-government/rebel forces/guerrilla troops/or other nonconformist groups within the areas of question or which could fall into this category or situation. The case study points out two groups who benefited the most under this circumstance; the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) (specific to the Sierra Leone region in West Africa) and the UNITA rebels (specific to the Angola region). These rebels inflicted physical pain on the villages which they took over in order to harvest and sell the diamonds. In their efforts to strong-arm villages, they terrorized men, women, and children by amputating their bodies. The mutilation count in the Sierra Leone region was estimated to be somewhere in the 20,000 count. Not only was immediate physical pain inflicted by these rebel organizations, but the money from diamond sales in these regions went to funding their anti-government and civil wars. This produced a continuous circle of effects. 2. What three sectors were concerned with the problem of conflict diamonds? What was the interest of each, and in what way did their interests converge? The (1-Business Sector) diamond industry, (2-Government Sector) the United Nations, several governments (no doubt those producing...
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...s4rsa - Sierra Leone Private Security Companies http://s4rsa.wikispaces.com/Sierra+Leone+Private+Security+... Welcome. Learn more about what Wikispaces has to offer. guest | Edit 0 0 Sierra Leone Private Security Companies 10 … Private Security Companies Likely To Increase Activities In Sierra Leone Over Next Three To Five Years Executive Summary Wiki Home Extractive mineral and diamond mining, and timber industries especially are almost certain to Recent rely on the expertise of private security companies to defend physical assets and personnel Changes working in areas of the country currently lacking traditional police forces. Pages and Files Due to of an improving business environment, persistent ineffective governance, and insufficient funding for public security forces, private security companies are likely to increase their current role in the Sierra Leone security sector over the next three to five years. Members Private security companies (PSCs) and private military companies (PMCs) have a long history Manage and corporate principals. It is likely PSCs and PMCs will continue to play a key role in security Wiki in Sierra Leone stretching back to the country's founding as protectors of industrial operations Discussion sector reform in the country. The modern history of private security forces in Sierra Leone, particularly PMCs, began in 1995 when the government hired the British company Gurkah Search Wiki Security Guards (GSG) to fight the...
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...World order is a term used to describe the balance of power among the nations of the world. It is linked with the political, economic and social framework in the world at a particular time and the effect that this situation has on the relationship between countries. There is an increasing need for world order in the global community due to growing conflict both within and between nations and regions. The increased trade between countries has stimulated the growth of many world order issues such as the access to resources, the inequality in a nation’s distribution of income, crimes against humanity and the growing awareness of human rights globally have also led to an increased need for world order. The importance of world order in promoting peace and harmony can be seen in the dramatic growth and development of international law over the past 60 years. The international responses currently in place include are mainly enforced by the United Nations (UN) and are aimed at the maintenance of world order in the international community. There is an increasing need for World Order in contemporary society than ever before as a high level of interdependence between countries has resulted from the push for globalisation and free trade. This interaction between countries has instigated greater conflict in the world in the form of terrorism, civil unrest and conflict for access to the world’s shrinking resources. Access to resources has been a major source of conflict due...
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...Blood Diamonds, also known as “Conflict Diamonds” are diamonds that originate from areas controlled by forces opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments. They are used to fund military action in opposition to those governments that has resulted in over 4 million deaths and the displacement of millions of people in Angola, Sierra Leone, the DRC, Liberia, and Ivory Coast. Diamonds played a key role in obtaining funds to provide combatants with food, clothing, transportation, and most significantly, weapons. Blood Diamonds are produced through the forced slave labor of men, women and children and both government and rebel soldiers committed atrocities and used brutality such as rape and amputations as a way to coerce and terrorize the countryside. They are also stolen during shipment or seized by attacking the mining operations of legitimate producers. These attacks can be on the scale of a large military operation. The stones are then smuggled into the international diamond trade and sold as legitimate gems. These diamonds are often the main source of funding for the rebels, however, arms merchants, smugglers and dishonest diamond traders enable their actions. Enormous amounts of money are at stake and bribes, threats, torture, and murder are modes of operation. This is why the term “blood diamonds” is used. This would be a good enough reason for the author, Greg Campbell, of “Blood Diamonds” to expose what is really happening. Campbell took me...
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...!"#$%&'#(")*)"(+$"+$,"-..*$/-(+-0$$ Political Risk Analysis !!! May 2012 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !!!!! !!!!! !!!!"#$%&'($!")*+,'&$! !!!!-.($/!0*!-.1! !!!!-.#23#&!4*''#)5! !!!!6&2(2!7185&! !!!!9)&5.&'!:(55&2! TABLE OF CONTENTS I. II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (Dommert)......….……………………………………....4 INTRODUCTION...…………………………………………………………………7 A. PROJECT BACKGROUND (Brockman)…………………………..…………………..7 B. SIERRA LEONE (Chu)…………………….………………….…………………......8 C. IHS POLITICAL RISK RATINGS AND RANKING INDEX (Mittal) ……….......……....10 !" III. IV. Choice of IHS Model …………………..………………………...……......12 !!" Model Improvements …………………………………………...………....13 RISK MAP (Mittal, Gupta)………………………….……………………………...14 RISK ASSESSMENT, EVALUATION, & MANAGEMENT.………..…………17 A. POLITICAL RISK (Brockman) ……………………………………………...……..17 i. Introduction ……………………………………………………...….……17 ii. War and External Threats …………………………………...……………..20 !!!" Civil and Labor Unrest ……………………………………………...…......23 !#" Internal Violence ………………………………………………..……...…27 #" Regime Instability ………………………………………………..…...…..29 B. SOCIO-ECONOMIC RISKS ………………….………………………………...…...33 i. Economic Instability (Gupta) ………………………………………….…..33 ii. Energy Vulnerability (Gupta) …………………………………………..….37 iii. Environmental Activism (Mittal)………………………………………...…42 iv. Ethno-Linguistic Factionalism (Mittal)…………………………….……….45 C. COMMERCIAL PETROLEUM RISKS …………...…………………………...………53 i. Constraints on Foreign Oil Company Investment (Chu)……...…………...…53 ii. External Transfer...
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...Diamond Ethics Blood Diamonds, also referred to as conflict diamonds, are diamonds that derive from areas controlled by forces or sections opposed to lawful and internationally recognized governments, and are used to fund military action in resistance to those governments, or in breach of the decisions of the Security Council. These radicals sell these diamonds, and the money is used to acquire weapons or to fund their military actions, and used to bribe foreign officials. Blood Diamonds are often created through the involuntary strained labor of men, women and children. They are also stolen during delivery or stolen by attacking the mining operations of lawful manufacturers. These assaults can be on the extent of a large military operation. The stones are then smuggled into the international diamond trade and sold as legitimate gems. These diamonds are often the main source of funding for the radicals, however, weapons businesses, smugglers and dishonest diamond traders enable their actions. Vast amounts of money are at stake and kickbacks, intimidation, torment, and murder are methods of maneuver. This is why the term "blood diamonds" is used. That diamond tainted and terminated many lives and the report of that stone bears a strong ethical significance. Angola Angola gained independence from Portugal on November 11, 1975. Although independent, the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), and...
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...specific scenes in which I think Archer starts his transformation into becoming a better person (IMDb.com). Solomon is captured and forced to work in an RUF diamond mine. Soon after, his elementary-school-aged son is also captured. Later he is shown at an RUF camp, being taught with a group of children his age to forget their families, pledge absolute loyalty to the RUF, fire weapons, and to kill without shame. At the mine, Solomon discovers a remarkably large and valuable pink diamond and buries it for safekeeping. The Sierra Leone army launches a deadly air strike against the rebels and the survivors, including Solomon, are arrested and brought to a jail in the capital. Because of a diamond-smuggling deal gone wrong, Danny Archer ends up in the same jail and learns about Solomon's pink diamond. He arranges for Solomon's release, hoping to get the diamond for himself in return for helping Solomon to find his family. Archer then tracks down Maddy Bowen, an American journalist looking to do a story on blood diamonds, and promises to give her damning information about the world's leading diamond corporation if she helps him find Solomon's family. After Archer and Vandy meet in prison, the film depicts Archer’s search for the diamond and Vandy’s pursuit for his family. Thereafter, Blood Diamond paints the bloody portrait of Sierra Leone’s civil war of...
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...are buying or receiving a diamond, probably do not give much thought to where the stone came from. Furthermore, whenever a man purchases a ring for his lady, how often does he think to ask the jeweler where the stone originated? In recent years, there has been a large movement to pressure jewelers, such as Tiffany & Co. to be more socially responsible in ensuring that their diamonds are not blood diamonds. The major issue that Tiffany & Co. faces in regards to these so-called blood diamonds would be classified as an issue of social responsibility. Tiffany & Co. admits openly that it has a responsibility to society to keep from supporting the atrocities that are committed by such groups as the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), who are from Sierra Leone, who act in conflict-stricken countries around the world, who uses the diamond trade to fund their wars, often terrorizing the innocent populations of their own countries. Tiffany & Co. could now use Thorne et. al.’s “Framework for Ethics and Social Accountability” (2008) in order to meet these social responsibilities. However, one major blockade could come in the vicinity of accountability. For example, Michael Kowalski, chairman and CEO of Tiffany & Co. argues that tracking the exact location where a diamond was mined can often be near impossible. If an outright ban on the sale of blood diamonds by...
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...Rice May 2010 Child Soldiers in Sierra Leone This semester, the topic of Child Soldiers presented a very interesting dilemma that several countries in Africa continue to face today. Sierra Leone, in particular, has struck an interest because of the many films and readings that try to depict this story of the civil war. In class, we have viewed two films representing the problems with child soldiers in Sierra Leone which include films titled Blood Diamond and Ezra. Both films represent opposite sides of the spectrum, as Blood Diamond shows the Western view of child soldiers and Ezra represents the first African view of child soldiers. Before discussing the two films, there are also two articles that depict the issues of child soldiers in great detail. In the first article by A. B. Zack-Williams titled, “Child Soldiers in the Civil War in Sierra Leone,” the author describes the reasons behind children even joining rebel based armies such as the RUF, why children are chosen as soldiers against their will, and the examination of policies that are yet to be instilled on this matter. The first valid point that the author makes is the purpose of the RUF (Revolutionary United Front). The focus of this organization is to seek a better life for the people in Sierra Leone. They feel as if their lives have been wasted because of poor housing, malnutrition and no opportunity to succeed and that the government is to blame. With that said, the RUF seeks to take drastic control over...
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