Diamonds and amputations are forever

Re “Diamonds More Burden Than Asset for Sierra Leone,” March 25

Thank you for bringing attention to the devastating consequences of the diamond industry in West Africa. For years I have equated diamonds with the thousands of children who are now missing limbs as a consequence of civil wars fueled by the diamond trade. After reading your article, I thought that we would benefit from a multipart story that traced a diamond -- from the exploited workers who make $2 a day, through those who sell it for arms, to companies such as De Beers that keep the price of diamonds artificially inflated by holding many diamonds in storage, to the many woman who seem to be demanding larger and larger diamonds for their engagement rings. Take as an example the glamorization of Paris Hilton’s 24-carat diamond ring. Did the man who mined that rock get more than $2 for his work?

ELINA KARI

Santa Monica