Diamond matters
Kadir van Lohuizen
Agence VU
Diamond is carbon, crystallized under pressure over millions of years. The crystals rise to the surface during volcanic eruptions. Some fall back into the volcanic pipe to form blueground, called kimberlite. Some is spread across a large area through erosion and flood and can be found in river beds or just under the surface. In the 1990s I did a number of photo-reportages during the fighting in Zaire (present-day Democratic Republic of Congo), Sierra Leone and Angola, conflicts which were often dismissed as tribal wars, the final convulsions of the Cold War. By degrees, however, they increasingly became conflicts over raw materials. The diamond deposits were, for the most part, controlled by the Angolan and Sierra Leonean rebels, who used the gems as a means to buy weapons. Governments got in on the act too and the terms “blood diamond” and “conflict diamond” were coined. At the time I did a number of reportages on the subject, without, however, being able to picture the whole industry; both rebels and dealers were very suspicious.
Preview
But then various campaign groups began to sound the alarm and pressure was put on the industry as well as the producing and trading authorities to cooperate on a certification system which would guarantee that only conflict-free diamonds would come on the market. Worried by any threat to their image, the industry bowed to public opinion and entered into negotiations with the relevant authorities and such campaign groups as Fatal Transactions; this led to the Kimberley Agreement being signed at the end of 2002 by a large number of the exporting and importing countries. The agreement reduced smuggling and made the industry more transparent. Nowadays these African countries are, on the whole, at peace, and rebel movements no longer officially play much of a role in diamond exploitation. Yet working conditions remain appalling. Profits are enormous but very little flows back to the people. The mining companies get big concessions, which improves control of the trade, but robs the local populace of its bread. They are chased off their land and given little, if any, compensation. Besides which the locals have always dug for diamonds and know little or nothing about farming. So in no way are they able to profit from the riches under their feet; worse, they are outlawed. Society is threatened with meltdown.
“Fair trade” in diamonds would be the ideal next step, with profits being shared by all in the industry and diamond workers’ rights being respected. The industry is under pressure. Until recently, the South African company De Beers, owned by the Oppenheimers, had had a monopoly of the diamond market for decades and had been able to dictate prices. But diamond stocks worldwide have turned out to be greater than previously thought and the Israelis are now proving stiff competition. Given the large diamond reserves in the world, a collapse in the market and tumbling prices are not inconceivable, and would benefit no one in the industry. Supermarket chains and internet shops already undercut market prices. Besides which, synthetic diamonds are now being produced and are virtually indistinguishable from the real thing.
Nor would the countries of Africa benefit by a collapse in the industry. Tens of thousands there earn a living in diamonds - albeit a meagre one. The mineral resources of the disrupted countries give real hope for reconstruction and economic development, provided that it happens honestly, of course. A year ago I decided to return to the same African countries and follow the diamond trail from mine to the end consumer, in cooperation with the Netherlands Institute for Southern Africa. This photo reportage examines the financing, working conditions, dealers and those who really profit from the industry.
Commission : French Ministry for Culture & Communication (National center for visual arts).
The "Diamond Matters" exhibition was created in cooperation with: NiZA (Netherlands institute for Southern Africa), Fatal Transactions, West Africa Witness
This exhibition was made possible by the financial support of: NOVIB (Oxfam Netherlands), CARE, Stichting DOEN, NCDO, Plan, Development and Peace, FNV Mondiaal, European Union.
