How Blood Diamonds Work [Infographic]

Alluvial diamond miners in Kono District, Sierra Leone. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The term "blood diamond" used in reference to diamonds mined informally and frequently under hazardous or coercive conditions in conflict zones, notably those located in sub-Sarahan Africa.

Various warlords, armed rebel groups, and unscrupulous government or military officials in countries such as Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Angola exploited the chaos of ongoing civil war, widespread poverty, and rampant corruption to enrich themselves and fund their military efforts. These illicit blood diamonds were commonly used as an unofficial currency to purchase arms and munitions from abroad due to the high demand for diamonds on the international market.

In most cases, civilians were effectively enslaved and forced to work under brutal conditions to collect the diamonds, which were then sold to unscrupulous foreign dealers. Eventually, as a result of public outrage in many of the Western countries were these blood diamonds were ultimately sold, more stringent business standards were adopted by the diamond industry to certify that blood diamonds from conflict zones were not purchased or sold by their dealers.

Beyond Modified Foods: Modified Laws And The Monsanto Protections Act

Many of the genetically modified foods will be safe, I’m sure. Will most of them be safe? Nobody knows. –Jeremy Rifkin

Here is some food for thought (pun intended). What do you call a business that has a monopoly on an industry, has been known to do great environmental damage, is able to nearly write their own laws, the product they offer is outlawed in numerous countries, they’ve been known to use child labor, many people have committed suicide as a result of being indebted to them, have many known cases of false advertising, and one which has enough lobbyists and allies in the American government to not only do all of this unimpeded, but is seemingly supported by it?

Given up? You call that business Monsanto. And Monsanto is a very big business.

5 Great Family Things To Do With Teens

English: Teenagers in the Netherlands. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When you have teenagers it can be difficult to do things as a family. They may feel that it is rather babyish to spend time with their parents and could even be embarrassed to be seen with them. However, it is still important to have family time and so worth thinking of things to do together.

How Fashion Is Influenced By Our Grandparents [Infographic]

Are you concerned that the clothing you wear is not cool enough? Or are you just more of a free spirit that likes to wear whatever you have lying around to bring out the most of your personality? Luckily, the fashion trends of today are allowing people to turn back the clock and wear seemingly whatever they want in order to make a statement. From your grandparents’ old clothes to other vintage styles from decades past, what you wear says a lot about your individual nature, and can also put you at the forefront of the latest in hipster fashion. If you are unsure about what dressing like a hipster entails, take a look at this infographic for the top 10 signs that you are already dressing like one. You can also see the top fashion trends from the past seven decades in order to get inspiration for your next hipster outfit! Start digging through your attic or shop wholesale clothing for the best retro clothes to add to your hipster collection!

Children Book Tour: 'The Magic in Us : The Power of Imagination' by Natalie Tinti

Today's Book Tour stop is the second children's one we're hosting at LoupDargent.info and is about another book from the (very) young author (and illustrator) Natalie Tinti.

We're delighted to welcome Natalie once again (one of her books was the one we hosted our first Children Book Tour stop for) in this virtual corner of ours and are 150% sure that, like us, you'll love reading about this other book of hers.

Enjoy!

Loup Dargent

British PM Survives Gay Marriage Vote

British PM survives gay marriage vote (via AFP)

British Prime Minister David Cameron headed off another Conservative rebellion Monday after the opposition Labour Party helped him see off a "wrecking amendment" which had threatened his gay marriage bill. Tory MP Tim Loughton had proposed the amendment saying that if gay couples were allowed to marry…

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Book Tour: 'Kingdom of Heroes' by Jay Philips [Giveaway Included]

"Years ago, a gene virus ran rampant across the planet, leaving a small percentage of people gifted/ cursed with extraordinary abilities and humanity itself forever changed. Suddenly, there were people with super strength and speed, people who could read minds, people who could teleport themselves from place to place with but a single thought..."

Today's Book Tour stop is very special indeed... as in: it's about superheroes. Cool! Well, it's about  'Kingdom of Heroes', a Fantasy/Mystery novel with superheroes in it. So, close enough.

In today's post, we have bits of info about the book and its author, Jay Philips, as well as an excerpt. Oh, and there is also a chance for some of you guys to win a kindle copy of the book

Enjoy!

Loup Dargent

Art As Social Commentary: A Match Made In Heaven

Image by Samdecle

Society is a fluid construct, in a constant state of flux as issues that affect it move in and out of fashion, and then is some cases, back in again. Within this complex system, art has given the people who exist within it a platform to have their voice heard, the means of carrying a message that attempts to make sense of the world around them, or in some cases, protest against it.

Throughout time there have been countless art movements that have reflected the society, defined by their style, technique, time frame and artistic ideal that allows them to carry the public, social and economic issues of their time.

Here we explore four of the most significant and influential art movements the world has ever seen.

The Unusual Ways Of The Famous: 5 Gorgeous Celebrities And Their Odd Habits

English: One of the winners in the tie for Outstanding Actress in a Musical, Catherine Zeta-Jones (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Being a celebrity is not easy. There's the constant glare of the paparazzi, the screaming clamoring fans, the perpetual need to look photogenic and so much more, to deal with. With that being said, it doesn't come as a surprise that most celebs would resort to some really crazy habits to either look good, stay healthy or just maintain their sanity. After all, who can tell the ways of the glamorous? Never mind that, we give you five gorgeous celebrities and their absolutely bizarre habits- right from eyebrow-raising to nose-cringing. And then some more.

Top 5 Nerdy Girls Who've Stolen Our Hearts!

Image: [ebarrera]

2013 has already experienced some exciting events; not least the start of Beyonce’s “Mrs Carter” world tour and Rihanna getting back together with Chris Brown before breaking up… again. But shrugging our favourite divas aside, this year we have seen the continued rise in popularity of the bespectacled smarty-pants that forms the token gorgeous geek in multiple popular sitcoms.

Here are the top five savvy, book smart ladies who’ve stolen our hearts.

Muslim Religious Leaders To Visit Auschwitz

Muslim religious leaders to visit Auschwitz (via AFP)

Fourteen Muslim clerics from across the globe will visit the former Nazi German Auschwitz death camp in southern Poland next week as part of a Holocaust awareness and anti-genocide program, organisers said Friday. "This is an opportunity for imams who are influential in their communities to look at…

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Cover Reveal: 'Endre' by ST Bende

Today's Cover Reveal is for 'Endre', the second paranormal romance book in The Elsker Saga, written by ST Bende... We have had the pleasure to host a Book Tour stop for 'Elsker' on here before, so that makes this Cover Reveal a welcomed follow up post.

Cover Reveals are like sneak previews of a book's... cover, but there are also bits of info about the book itself and its author. And, today, the trailer for 'Elsker'; is also available for you guys to watch.

Enjoy...

Loup Dargent