BLOOD DIAMOND/BLOOD CHOCOLATE

Why are countries that are rich in natural resources so often poor and war-torn? You've probably heard of blood diamonds, but what about blood vanilla, blood microchips, or blood chocolate? How are rebels and terrorists funding themselves with watermelons and wheat? We crisscross the globe from Papua New Guinea to Madagascar to find out.

You’ve probably heard about blood diamonds, but what about blood chocolate? Why do so many resource-rich countries end up poor, war-torn, and ruled by dictators? Where does cocoa come from? Where does the metal that makes the microchips in your computer and phone come from? And where does 90% of the world’s vanilla come from? In this episode, we tackle these questions, as we travel from the lush hills of Madagascar to the gas-rich hinterlands of Papua New Guinea. We speak to journalists, political scientists, and other experts who explain why some resources come with a curse — sparking conflict, poverty, and strife. And, you won’t believe how some commodities — from watermelons to camels to wheat — have been used to fuel violence and terrorism across the globe.

Don’t miss it, on Episode 12, of Power Corrupts.