Rape of a Nation: Diamonds and the Congo

Please take just 11 minutes to watch this important video.

Almost 5 1/2 million people have died in the Democratic Republic of Congo since 1998, making it the deadliest war since world war two.

In 2007 alone, there were 40,000 rape cases.

In the last ten years, Congolese warlords have recruited over 30,000 child soldiers in the Eastern Congo.

With statistics as drastic as these, it is shocking that this war is not plaguing the news papers and TV stations to be brought to our attention. This is a hidden war, the severity of which the majority of Americans do not know, if they know of it’s existence at all.

The Congo is a country with vast natural resources, and warlords are taking what they please when they please. Diamonds and gold are being sold for ridiculously low prices due to the lack of Congolese knowledge. These low prices create great appeal for Jewelry stores around the world to get good diamonds and gold at low prices, without consideration of what circumstances they were mined under. These jewelers are unknowingly funding the war and encouraging the use of child labor.

Whilst this war is severe and won’t be an easy one to stop, it is not unsolvable. We must make it our priority to raise awareness among the American people. Before buying gold and diamonds, make sure that you inquire where they were mined. We must put an end to our support of this brutal war, and and that begins with you and with me.

Here at Scottsdale Fine Jewelers we make it a priority to buy no gold, diamonds or other natural resources that were mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We want to make sure that you, as a consumer, can make smart, informed decisions to do the same.

To get more involved with this cause visit http://www.mediastorm.com/publication/rape-of-a-nation and click on the tab “get involved”. Here you will be able to find a number of ways to help put an end to this catastrophic war. The death of one person was too many, the death of 5 1/2 million is beyond outrageous. We urge you: get involved today.

This is a war that can be tackled.