Story: Movie Sparks Debate over Diamond Trade, 12/04/06
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec06/diamonds_12-04.html

Reading Comprehension Questions:

1.What is a conflict diamond?

2. What is the movie Blood Diamond about?

3. According to human rights groups, are conflict diamonds still a problem today?

4. What actions did the World Diamond Council take before the movie's release?

5. Which country purchases the greatest amount of diamonds and which continent produces the most?

6. What is the Kimberley Process?

7. Why is it hard to determine how successful the Kimberley Process is?

8. What does the director of Blood Diamond hope the movie will do?

Discussion Activity (more research might be needed):

1. Do you think the movie will change the way consumers think about diamonds? Will it make some people stop buying diamond jewelry? Why or why not?

2. Who do you think is responsible for keeping conflict diamonds off the world market? Is it the industry, world organizations or governments? Why?

3. Do you think movie makers have a responsibility to be historically accurate, or are they just making entertainment?
How might a director's concerns about plot, characters and dialogue conflict with complicated political and historical issues?

Write a 300-500 word essay on any of these topics providing clear examples. Send your completed editorial to NewsHour Extra (extra@newshour.org). Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site.