Today's Movie - "Blood Diamond"

Past posts pertaining to the movie "Blood Diamond":
(For credit, you may click on the link below and answer the questions in the post.)
http://hansengeorge.blogspot.com/2008/04/global-citizenship.html
(For credit, answer the "Comprehension Questions" or the "Discussion Activity Questions.")
http://hansengeorge.blogspot.com/2007/09/sierra-leone.html
"Adbusting" Project - Create an "Adbusters" style poster focusing on the issue of conflict diamonds. See the link below for more detail on "adbusting," project requirements and more resources on the issue of conflict diamonds.
http://hansengeorge.blogspot.com/2007/10/adbusting.html
Similar Project Ideas:
http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/14_02/adv142.shtml
Visit this link for samples of "Adbuster" posters on the issue of conflict diamonds:
http://hansengeorge.blogspot.com/2008/05/samples-of-student-work.html

Important: If you choose to answer questions from one of these past blog posts, post your comments in the comments section here.

Resources:
BBC - Information on Children in Crisis including Child Soldiers:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/people/features/childrensrights/childrenofconflict/soldier.shtml

Another Project Suggestion:
Visit the links below. Comment on Beah's experiences as a child soldier.
A Long Way Gone - The true story of a child soldier:
http://www.alongwaygone.com/
Multimedia Clips - A Long Way Gone:
http://www.alongwaygone.com/media.html
Youtube Video - Ishmael Beah:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K4yhPSQEzo
Lessons and Resources on the Web about the film:
http://www.hhsdrama.com/documents/LectureBloodDiamond.pdf
http://www.hhsdrama.com/BloodDiamond.htm

Comments

dimmer said…
when u take young kids and give them a rifle or bomb and tell them that it is ok to kill it kind of messes with there mind since they are in the military at such a young age they will know very little else besisdes what is taught to them by the army they are in. i think it is appaling
dimmer said…
i suggest a book called ak-47 it is about a young boy in africa who family is killed and he is forced into the war
dimmer said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
broadbentW said…
Comprehension
1.Conflict diamonds are diamonds that originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments, and are used to fund military action in opposition to those governments.
2.It's set is in the Sierra Leone Civil War in 1999. It tells about diamonds being mined in African war zones and sold to finance the conflicts and profit the warlords and the diamond companies across the world.
3.I'd say no because in July of 2000 it is said that they made it clear that its zero tolerance policy towards conflict diamonds. They were dedicated and stopped the trade in conflict diamonds.
4.They had to make sure all questions could be answered by the truth and that events that happened in the movie weren't lies.
5.I don't know if this is right, but I found that the United States purchases the most and Africa produces the most.
6.It is a process designed to certify the origin of rough diamonds from sources which are free of conflict.
7.It is hard because they need to examine the texture and parts of the diamond. This helps tell of conditions or the environment the diamond was in.
8.He hopes that it'll will change some hearts, but he mostly wants to let you know how hard it can be and what really goes on in our world. Also the next time you look at your finger, just think of where that diamond might have come from.

Discussion
1.I don't think it will affect them at all because all they care about is money. If they were to stop, they wouldn't have anything and no money. I think some people will stop buying jewelry for the cause but it will be few. I think a lot of people will keep buying diamonds and jewelry.
2.I would say world organizations because I've read many articles on this topic and they are really in it. They want to make sure their thoughts and plans follow out.
3.If it is a serious movie like Blood Diamond is, they should be completely accurate. Mostly because that's probably one of the reasons the director is making the movie is to explain this.
BeachW said…
I listened to Ishmael Beah talk about his new book called A Long Way Gone. The book talks about little African boys forced to become a soldiers. He also talked about the brutal wars in Africa. I really think people should check the site out and listen to him talk about his book.
dimmer- Did you tell be you've seen "Blood Diamond" before?

Thanks for the book suggestion. Did I hear you right when you said it is in our school library?

I wonder if we have "A Long Way Gone?" If not, we should get it.
polk us said…
i agree with dimmer i dont think it is right to give tkids guns and telling them that it is ok to kill thats not good i dont want my kids now to grow up and knowing how to kill thats all they will know for the rest of there life and they could go overbord with that
broadbentw - Another excellent job answering the discussion questions. I'm VERY impressed with everything you've done so far. You've worked very hard every day and you've done a fantasitc job fully and accurately answering questions. This satisfies another project requirement.
beach w - Did you catch where Ishmael Beah is originally from? What were the circumstances behind his capture? Where is his family today? Are they still alive?
BeachW said…
Ishmael Beah book A Long Way Gone talks about his life when he was a little boy. The war started when he was 11 in 1991. He lost his parents and brother at the age of 12. He ran away to find a safe place and then he was recruited when he was almost 16. He wants to let people know what is going on in Africa.
polk us - Did you get a chance to check out some of the links I provided about child soldiers? What are some of the circumstances in which children are forced to become child soldiers? What were the circumstances of Ishmael Beah's capture?
BeachW said…
Ishmael Beah is from Sierra-Leone. Ishmael had mom, dad, and two brothers. His family got killed.
BeachW said…
Ishmael Beah's book A Long Way Gone is about his journey has a boy soldier in Sierra Leone in the 1990's. The war broke out between the government and rebels about the conflict of the diamond trade. Ishmael was forced into the government army where he fought against the RUF (Revolutionary United Forces) One incident that happened to him was he was chased by wild boars and jumped onto a tree branch to avoid the attack. Ishmael village is called Mattru Jong.
Another project suggestion for those of you wishing to do something a little different is the adbusters-style poster. See me for detail if this is something you might be interested in doing. You may want to check out http://www.adbusters.org or the "Badvertising" link I have under "Suggested Links." I've had kids from History, Civics, Political Science and Psychology classes make adbuster-style posters on a number of different themes and it's always been an enjoyable project.
beachw - Good job on the questions. The detail you provide in your responses is EXACTLY what I am looking for! It shows me you've spent some time examining the sites linked on the blog post. You've satisfied another project requirement. Keep up the work!
tylermi w said…
What is a conflict diamond?
What is the Kimberley Process?
Who is responsible for keeping conflict diamonds off the world market?
Do you think the movie will change the way consumers think about diamonds?
Now that you are aware of this issue, how are you going to respond?

Well I’ve seen the movie finally and it was very very good… certainly an intense very touching movie. Even though I seen Blood Diamond just earlier today (ohh and by the way the time right now is 10:27pm and its Thursday) anyways I enjoyed the movie so much I ran home and actually went out and rented the movie and I’ve seen it a second time. Enough of that though ill get to answering these questions. First off-A conflict diamond is any diamond that is mined or paned under circumstances such as war or local fighting or in areas where there are like rebel groups. So really any diamond that could be questioned as to how it was mined as to who did it or if human life’s where involved. The Kimberley Process (KPCS) is a very lengthy process with a very simple objective and idea behind it in which is used to keep conflict diamonds off the market. Now through further research into the KPCS I found the simple concept really is that all diamonds must come with a legal Kimberley process certificate in a sealed tamper proof container and must only be traded to participating nations in which all participate and agree to the terms of the Kimberley Process. These along with many other regulations help to assure that such conflict diamonds don’t make it onto the open market but sadly the system is not fool proof and many illegal smuggled diamonds still make it and there is no way to 100% track or ensure that all the diamonds are safe and reputable. Well from the movie I didn’t happen to pick up on who keeps tabs on such matters but it seems to me like the nations participating in the Kimberley Process in coward Nance with the U.N. help keep sanctions on diamonds being exported from such countries. Really I think that this movie supported with some well placed facts could really put a damper on diamond sales through out the world. Chances are most people would feel compelled to not buy a diamond if they knew how many people where killed just so they could receive that diamond. From looking into this movie and it’s affect a little more I’ve found that there where even people boycotting the sales of diamonds and people who have really stepped up to do something about this issue. This was a great movie and really even better seeing as it is really happening in other parts of the world. It makes me for sure not want to buy a diamond despite the fact that I don’t like diamonds anyway I’d rather have an onyx myself… nothing better than a black luster if you ask me. I might even doing a little looking on the internet and see if I can possibly find anything as to signify a way in which I meaning we as people of America and all over can possibly assist in this.

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