Yes! No-Conflict Diamonds

Love Diamond Jewelry but Hate Oppression? Lets Find Conflict Free Diamonds.


Archive for the “diamond conflict in sierra leone” Category

« previous page
next page »

No Conflict Diamonds | Tack on my agenda too, old boy

April 29, 2006, 2:11 pm

Several weeks ago, I’d written about a movie that’s currently in production, entitled Blood Diamond. The synopsis is based around the horrific civil war in Sierra Leone, circa 1999, revolving primarily around two men’s interwoven lives with ‘blood diamonds,” also known as ‘’conflict diamonds”. Which are the precious stones used to finance rebellions, privateers, and terrorists.

Bringing us to now, when upon searching for any news on the movie’s release date, I came across a press release from The World Diamond Council relating to the movie. Apparently, a few months ago during the last Annual Meeting of the World Diamond Council, Kago G. Moshashane, the chairman of the Kimberly Process and the deputy permanent secretary fo Botswana’s Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, and Eli Izhakoff, the chairman of the World Diamond Council, sent a jointly composed letter to Edward Zwick, the producer of the Blood Diamond.

Within it, they requested that the movie “provide accurate and up to date information about the conflict diamond trade in Sierra Leone”, and noted that the period in which the movie is set “predates the implementation of the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme. And thus, without clearly mentioning this fact, the movie could present a distorted picture of reality to the general public.” - From their own website.

Now, what makes no sense to me about all of that is, how much clearer can the past be from the present, if it isn’t happening anymore? Is the movie now going to be responsible for the lack of education on crisis’ around the world, if they don’t find some way to adjoin the agenda of this company? Not to mention, why is the Kimberly Process Certification Process called a scheme? What is a negative connotation for two hundred Alex?

I mean, in all the situations of the world, that’s on the agenda of the Council set to end such? And haven’t they heard, even bad press is supposed to be good press. Without even needing to wrest creative control through outside sources, that don’t accurately deal with the situation as it was in that time frame anyways. Or maybe we should just make sure all movies begin with the aftermath of the end. I mean, that wouldn’t not make sense or anything. No. Not at all. Maybe we could even tack on an addendum reminder of that little thing called the first amendment too.

    • —B | no comments
    (posted in the diamond, diamonds, conflict-free diamonds, conflict diamonds, conflict diamonds africa, sierra leone diamond conflict, what are conflict diamonds, diamond conflict in sierra leone, conflict free diamonds, what is a conflict diamond category)

    No Conflict Diamonds | Jewelers for Clean Diamond Imports

    April 16, 2006, 10:37 am

    The Clean Diamonds Act, which is a legislation in Congress that would prohibit the importation of diamonds unless the countries exporting the diamonds into the United States have in place a system of controls on rough diamonds, and for other purposes … was immediately supported by Physicians for Human Rights. Which in turn, has pressed for a more active role by the United States and the international community in enforcing the peace, assisting in demobilization and reconstruction and in promoting accountability in Sierra Leone. That, as a corollary, helped put together the promotion to jewelers of the Jewelers for Clean Diamond Imports. Which basically says that they support and promote the use of only conflict free diamonds, and the various other ideals put forth in the Clean Diamonds Act.

    The jewelers who have signed on for such, can be seen on this page of the Campaign to Eliminate  Conflict Diamonds page by phrusa. So check for those you use and who are local for you.

    • —B | no comments
    (posted in the diamond, diamonds, conflict-free diamonds, conflict diamonds, conflict diamonds africa, sierra leone diamond conflict, diamond conflict in sierra leone, conflict free diamonds category)

    No Conflict Diamonds | An article from this month that also supports my point

    March 30, 2006, 12:48 am

    I found this article last month but forgot to post it.

    Hong Kong, the “Diamond Centre of Asia” has a certification scheme designed to regulate the trade of the contraband and is involved in the Kimberley Process, a U.N.-backed global scheme to stop the illegal trading of these gems. But how much impact the city’s good behavior makes is questionable — it appears impossible to stamp out smuggling because the monitors intended to block them are paid a pittance.

    http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?article_class=3&no=273705&rel_no=1

    • —Baby BlingBling | no comments
    (posted in the diamond, conflict diamonds, conflict diamonds africa, sierra leone diamond conflict, diamond conflict in sierra leone, conflict diamond mining, essays on conflict diamonds, conflict diamond statistics category)

    « previous page
    next page »


    No Conflict Diamonds Tags







    No Conflict Diamonds Topics


    More About Diamonds