Major boycotts that changed history

Conflict diamonds – Africa is home to the majority of the world’s diamonds, which are often mined in harsh conditions. In the 1990s, people grew concerned about buying these gems, not wanting to support “blood diamonds,” or stones mined using forced labor in African war zones, potentially funding rebel armies. In 2003, the diamond industry established the Kimberley Process, an international system that certifies conflict-free diamonds. The process did reduce the number of conflict diamonds on the market, but it didn’t do much to improve the working conditions of the miners, who only share in a small percentage of the profits.