How It Works: Blood Diamonds

Mia Farrow is ratting out Naomi Campbell like a good German.  Apparently Naomi Campbell was given a very nice diamond by an admiring head of state.  The stories conflict, but on to the point: as African countries emerged more and more independent, they began trading diamonds on their own account, emerging free market and small business.  The usual suspects (diamond cartel) claimed this financed terrorism and free trade in diamonds was then suppressed.

Diamonds are taken out of Africa in the rough at very little money, and moved to countries where they are cut, the chief added value for the stone.  (This is why Naomi describes what she was given as a dirty pebble: Africans are not allowed to learn how to cut stones.)  The congo makes little or nothing off diamonds, the cutter in Antwerp clean up.

If and when Africans are free of western meddling, their countries will grow and prosper.  In the meantime, we'll be treated to odd spectacles such as supermodels forced to testify at war crimes trials over a gift.

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