Transcript File
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=Do3iJ6DWvpQ Listen for a few words to tell me what this song is about… Lyrics: “Diamonds From Sierra Leone” • • • • • • "Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix)" (feat. Jay-Z) [Verse 1] Good Morning, this ain't Vietnam still People lose hands, legs, arms for real Little was known of Sierra Leone And how it connect to the diamonds we own When I speak of Diamonds in this song I ain't talking bout the ones that be glowing I'm talking bout Rocafella, my home, my chain These ain't conflict diamonds, is they Jacob? don't lie to me man See, a part of me sayin' keep shining', How? when I know of the blood diamonds • • • • • • Though it's thousands of miles away Sierra Leone connect to what we go through today Over here, its a drug trade, we die from drugs Over there, they die from what we buy from drugs The diamonds, the chains, the bracelets, the charms I thought my Jesus Piece was so harmless 'til I seen a picture of a shorty armless And here's the conflict It's in a black person's soul to rock that gold Spend ya whole life trying get that ice On a polo rugby it look so nice How could something' so wrong make me feel so right, right? 'fore I beat myself up like Ike You could still throw ya Rocafella diamond tonight, 'cause Conflict Diamonds Did someone die for that diamond? • Also called a “blood diamond” or a “war diamond” – is a diamond mined in a war zone and sold in order to finance or fund an insurgent (terrorism, war lords, rebels) or a war effort. •West Coast of Africa, countries like Sierra Leone are in a civil war with rebel groups like the RUF, Revolutionary United Front. • Terrorism tactics of the RUF include killing, raping, and abduction. However they are known for the amputation of limbs of men, women, children and babies. • The RUF funds their efforts with the diamond resources of the area. Selling over $200 million in diamonds annually. • What is being done? • Clean Diamond Trade Act Kimberly Process (2003) = international certification of diamonds so that buyers know where their diamond comes from, only when consumers stop buying conflict diamonds will rebel groups of the world stop killing for the profit of the gems. •The United States consumes 65% of the world’s diamonds • http://www.amnestyusa.org/dia monds/d4.html • http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/1584252 2/ • http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/2113454 0/vp/15930505#15930505