Blood Diamond

mikeinie · Post by **mikeinie** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 1:45 pm

I watched the movie Blood Diamond last night and I thought that it was very good.

With all of the posts in the FG these days about things like the seal hunt in Canada, it really makes you think screwed up we are and the problems we cause in the world due to pure consumerism and the values that we place on things.

In the end a diamond is just a rock out of the ground, is it really worth so many lives and suffering just so people can show off their nice new ring?

We really need to get our priorities right as a human race.

Imladris · Post by **Imladris** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 1:48 pm

I watched it the other night too. An excellent and thought provoking film.

I don't buy diamonds often, or even at all, but if I do I shall certainly remember this film and the message behind it.

Btw I thought Leo Dicaprio was bloomin' brilliant in this film and so was the chap who played Soloman (don't know his name)

Galbally · Post by **Galbally** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 5:02 pm

People are the cause and solution to all of people's problems in the world, thats the truth. Its unrealistic to expect people to stop continuing to place value on property over human life overnight, but certainly people awareness can be raised into realizing that you can't take anything with you, and I believe that the more you take, in the end, the more you will answer for. We are not what we own, we are just persueded sometimes that we are.

hoppy · Post by **hoppy** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 1:42 pm

The quest for valuables is what makes the world go 'round. If human life was the only thing considered to have any value there would still be wars, over slaves.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 3:51 pm

hoppy;820381 wrote: The quest for valuables is what makes the world go 'round. If human life was the only thing considered to have any value there would still be wars, over slaves.

And yet in the end what are our regrets ?

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 3:52 pm

Also can you say are our 5 times fast ?

Magic Rhino · Post by **Magic Rhino** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 4:39 pm

I too saw the movie and thought it too was great, especially Leonardo,s South African accent.

Making a comparison between human life and diamonds is one consideration, but if you really want to do something, stop the diamond buying and the problem will go away. Like the action taken against those that wore fur, has stopped some of the senseless killing. As long as there is a demand a supplier will supply.

But why stop there, stop the expanding of humans settlement into the other inhabitants of the planets homes. I find it strange that we humans think we have the sole right to do what we want. We move into areas where wild animals having been living for centuries, then when one of them attacks us, we seem to think we can kill it in the name of survival.

The question I ask is human life really that important compared to the damage we are doing for all inhabitants that share the planet with us? Would this planet not be better without us humans?

We could go on with what we should be doing all day, but enough.

I will get off my soap box now.

Enjoy the rest of the day

hoppy · Post by **hoppy** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 6:07 pm

I don't hold animal life above human life, but the other way around.

Magic Rhino · Post by **Magic Rhino** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 7:20 pm

I too don't hold human life above animal life, but at the same time feel that eliminating animal life and the micro-environments that they create makes the human life worthless. We all who share this planet are equally important, and nothing has the right to destroy the others environment, especially us humans.

Enjoy the rest of the day.

hoppy · Post by **hoppy** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 4:02 am

Throughout history many, many species have disappeared, yet life goes on. Humans can't save each and every life form and still progress ourselves.

I watch Animal Planet on TV, the animal cop show especially. When I see these people rushing some mangy kitten to a place where it will get the best medical care and feed, then placed in a good home, I get a sick feeling. Why? Because I wonder how many poor or homeless people hospitals refused to help that day because they have no money or insurance, no jobs, no permanent address.

Animals are here for our use, but not misuse. For our use as food, clothing, for work. Not to be placed on a pedestle and adored or worshipped.

koan · Post by **koan** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 7:40 am

hoppy;820589 wrote: When I see these people rushing some mangy kitten to a place where it will get the best medical care and feed, then placed in a good home, I get a sick feeling. Why? Because I wonder how many poor or homeless people hospitals refused to help that day because they have no money or insurance, no jobs, no permanent address.

:yh_clap

Thank you! The world seems like a slightly better place now. One step at a time and maybe other people will start developing compassion towards their own species in priority.

Animals are here for our use, but not misuse. For our use as food, clothing, for work. Not to be placed on a pedestle and adored or worshipped.

Not so sure about the food, clothing and work part.

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 7:46 am

I couldn't disagree with you more, Hoppy.

Fortunately that type of outdated thinking is being seen for what it really is- specist. We are after all, the reason the environment is screwed.

hoppy · Post by **hoppy** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 7:57 am

Specist. HAH!. I never been called that before. I'm called a racist because I see people as black, yellow, brown, red or white, not some generic non-color. I'm called a supremist because I choose to live seperate from ALL people and ignorant people don't know the difference between supremist and seperatists. And, I'm called a sexists because I have my own beliefs about where women belong.

I shoot and trap animals and fish and eat them, use dogs for flushing and retrieving game and horses to pack in and out of areas so i'm a specist now? Well, I'm a happy one, tell ya what.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:02 am

hoppy;820688 wrote: Specist. HAH!. I never been called that before. I'm called a racist because I see people as black, yellow, brown, red or white, not some generic non-color. I'm called a supremist because I choose to live seperate from ALL people and ignorant people don't know the difference between supremist and seperatists. And, I'm called a sexists because I have my own beliefs about where women belong.

I shoot and trap animals and fish and eat them, use dogs for flushing and retrieving game and horses to pack in and out of areas so i'm a specist now? Well, I'm a happy one, tell ya what.

Youre also a Forum Gardenist.

Boy, youve got em all covered dont ya ?

hoppy · Post by **hoppy** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:08 am

When I raise my hand like that only one finger stands at attention. Lol.

koan · Post by **koan** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 2:45 pm

I was never a big fan of diamonds so it was easy for me to decide not to buy or wear them after seeing Blood Diamond.

I find it shocking that people still think it's desirable to spend a fortune on a substance, just because it sparkles and was assigned high value by humans, knowing how much death and suffering results from the purchasing of the item. I'm being told all the time about boycotts for various reasons. I didn't realise until recently that chocolate has fair trade issues. Not sure how bad the conditions are with that one. I don't eat chocolate anyway so I doubt I'll research it much.

It might be interesting to go through all the known fair trade/consumer boycotts and discuss the merits.