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
History Channel - "Blood Diamond" (MANY useful resources):
http://www.history.com/minisites/blooddiamonds
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.pdfhttp://www.hhsdrama.com/BloodDiamond.htm
Kanye West Video: "Diamonds from Sierra Leone"
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ebbn7mOGegw
Comments
1. What is a conflict diamond?
2. What is the Kimberley Process?
3. Who is responsible for keeping conflict diamonds off the world market?
4. Do you think the movie will change the way consumers think about diamonds?
5. Now that you are aware of this issue, how are you going to respond?
Or, you may complete one of the other projects described on this or past blogs on the subject of conflict diamonds.
If so, last semester, quite a few of my Civics kids wrote letters to Wal-Mart, Jostens, etc. asking about their diamond policies. If a company did not have a diamond policy and seemed to not take the issue seriously, some of my kids indicated that if they did buy a diamond in the future, they would not buy it from those companies.
Another thing some of my kids did was visit Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International's websites. I can't remember if they signed petitions or not. I just remember quite a few kids studying the issue further. I even remember parents telling me it was the topic of evening conversation for quite some time! (I'm glad kids were interested in the topic and eager to learn more. More importantly, I'm glad they were sharing what they learned with their parents and freinds!)
Have you shared what you learned about this topic with anyone?