Blood Diamond

Blood diamonds also called conflict diamonds or war diamonds, are those sold in order to fund armed conflict and civil war. In the movie “Blood Diamond”, Solomon Vandy, a fisherman, loses his son to the (R.U.F) Revolutionary United Front, which forces the boy into service. The R.U.F. also forces Solomon to work in the diamond fields, where he pulls a rare pink diamond from the river. He buries it, but word gets around and he stays alive for not telling anyone where the diamond is. A smuggler named Danny Archer, a South African mercenary, found out while he was in prison that Solomon has found and hidden a rare pink diamond. A magazine reporter, Maddy Bowen, tries to get closer to Archer so that she can get the story of how the smuggling trades are done. Solomon, Danny, and Maddy all want something. Solomon wants to save his family, Archer wants another chance he thought he would never have, and Maddy wants the story of smuggling trading. They all help each other and try to trust each other to get what they want. Watching the movie made me want to ask my self before buying a diamond; did someone die for that diamond? What should be done to stop conflict diamonds? Now I would like to help people who run actions for human rights and hope for humanity to survey diamond retailers.

Social Issues - Lebanon

Lebanon is a small mountainous country in Western Asia that is bordered by Syria in the north and the east, and Israel in the South. Jordan, Turkey, and Cyprus as well are the other three countries surrounding Lebanon. Lebanon was also mentioned in the bible as “the land of milk and honey”. “Paris of the east” is what Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, is known for. Keanu Reeves is one of the famous artists that were born in Beirut. Shakira who is a well known singer is also half-Lebanese.

In 1943, Lebanon has gained its independency. First, between the years 1943-1948, many circumstances appeared. The most important was the Arab-Israeli war over the rights to territory in the Middle East. Second, Tension reached it peak in 1975, when members of radical christen group attacked and killed a bus full of Palestinians. That was a reason for many Muslims to leave the country with help of Syria. Third, in 1982, the Israeli army attacked Beirut with a goal of removing the Palestinian Liberation Organisation. It also had many civil wars but at 1989 a peace deal was signed between Lebanese leaders. The civil war affected its people and its economy. Around 150,000-200,000 people died, 300,000 were wounded and a quarter of the population left the country. For years the economy was paralysed.

Nowadays, the economy in Beirut is recovering. The US shopping malls are all over the economy and building cranes are everywhere. The United Arab Emirates is sending some money to Beirut to help them retain there position which they did as one of the most modern cities in the Arab world. Some other problems, such as air pollution and traffic jams, are faced by the country.