PAC Adds Conflict Diamonds, Hollywood Info to Web Site

In light of growing public interest in issues relating to conflict diamonds and the Kimberley Process (KP), NGO Partnership Africa Canada (PAC) has added information to its website to answer questions raised by the Blood Diamond movie.

The new temporary home page (pacweb.org) explains some of the issues raised by the movie, says PAC. The site covers seven broad subjects, including a historical overview of exploitation of diamond mines by rebel forces in Africa in the 90s and early in the current decade, a discussion about the KP and its effectiveness, the diamond industry and its role in the KP, a description of what PAC is doing about diamonds, an explanation of the Diamonds Development Initiative, and a list of ideas for individuals buying diamonds or those interested in making the KP more effective.

An additional topic is dedicated to Hollywood and conflict diamonds. Under this topic, PAC discusses the features and documentaries that focus on diamonds and Sierra Leone. This section, as well as some of the others, is offering facts relating to the issue, wondering what damage, if any, these films will do to African diamond producing countries, to the image of diamonds or the reputation of the Kimberley Process.

“Sierra Leoneans are worried that having suffered a terrible war, they will now be punished again when investors shy away and diamond dealers demand a discount because Sierra Leonean goods are seen to be tainted,” the site states.

The NGO also pushes the discussion to a broader level, saying, “Certainly there is a long essay to be written about the almost completely negative portrayal of Africa in films and the idea that African countries and African babies need to be adopted by Hollywood’s glitterati.”

PAC seems to be interested in making available information that on one hand is not coming from the diamond industry, but at the same time takes advantage of the benefit PAC has as an insider to what is happening with the KP system and in Africa. It believes that while there remains much to be done in the KP, there have been great successes as well.