It's hard to imagine that a mineral could fuel wars and finance corrupt governments. This mineral can be smuggled undetected across countries in your coat pocket, then sold for large sums of money. This mineral is used in power tools, X-ray machine parts and microchips, but especially in jewelry. Once considered the ultimate symbol of love, the diamond has a darker history. “Blood” diamonds or “conflict diamonds” are those mined, polished or traded in areas of the world where the rule of law does not exist. They often come from war-torn countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, Angola and Ivory Coast, where rebels use these gems to finance genocide or other questionable objectives. Even with a system known as the Kimberly process that tracks diamonds to prevent the trade of these illicit gems, infringements continue as the process is seriously flawed. The continuation of the conflict diamond trade is inhumane and unethical, and to put an end to this illicit trade, further action is needed to redefine a conflict diamond, as well as reform of the diamond certification process. Said to be a girl's best friend, diamonds are often seen as a symbol of poverty, war and death for many Africans. Due to the cruel and inhumane way in which these diamonds are mined and processed, the trade in these illicit gems must be stopped. Conflict diamonds or conflict diamonds are often associated with war, forced labor, child labor and smuggling. Paul Orogun wrote an article in the magazine World Affairs, in which he describes some of the brutal conflicts in recent African history. “Blood Diamonds and African Armed Conflict in the Post-Cold War Era,” in which he discusses conflicts associated with the illegal diamond trade. Orogun de...... middle of paper...... January 10, 2014.Miklian, Jason. “Rough cut.” Editorial. Foreign Policy January-February 2013: 31-35. EBSCOhost. Network. January 10, 2014.Parmar, Sharanjeet and Matthew Wells. "Child miners struggle to survive." National Catholic Reporter 44.31 (2008): 12-13. EBSCOhost. Network. 13 January 2014. Orogun, Paolo. “Conflict Diamonds and African Armed Conflicts in the Post-Cold War Era.” World affairs. vol. 166. Np: World Affairs Institute, 2004. 151. Spinks, Rosie. “Zimbabwe diamond export threatens ethical jewelery trade.” The Ecologist 40.26 (2011): 9-11. Library database. Network. January 10, 2014.Ward, Olivia. “Efforts to stop Blood Diamond trade have hit a wall.” Library database. Toronto Star, November 23, 2012. Web. January 11, 2014. Wilson, Sigismond A. “Sierra Leone's Illicit Diamonds: The Challenges and the Way Forward.” GeoJournal 76.3 (2011): 191-212. EBSCOhost. Network. January 12. 2014.