'Blood diamonds' still on market

cnredd · #1 (**permalink**) 11-17-2007, 04:49 AM

Quote:

ANTWERP, Belgium, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Conflict diamonds are coming into Europe despite the Kimberly Process certification system, intended to ensure the legitimate provenance of the stones.

While most of the diamonds on the world market are guaranteed to be legitimate, many of those that are not end up mixed in with the rest, Deutsche Welle reported.

"The problem is that conflict diamonds very rarely come directly from the source country," said Annie Dunnebacke of the Global Witness' Conflict Diamond Campaign. "Rough and uncut diamonds can easily be smuggled over porous borders from places like the Ivory Coast and can obtain a Kimberley Process certificate from another country before being shipped to Europe."

The Kimberly Process was adopted in 2002 out of concern that "blood diamonds" were funding rebel groups in African countries. Under the process, rough diamonds are sealed into containers and supplied with forgery-resistant certificates with unique serial numbers.

Almost 40 percent of rough diamonds, assessed by value, are sent to Europe -- most to the diamond-cutting center of Antwerp, Belgium.

Just like Saddam with the "Oil for food" scandal, the money from this isn't going to the public...instead, it goes straight to guerilla groups that end up creating more tribal and religious warfare...

tristanrobin · #2 (**permalink**) 11-17-2007, 07:45 AM

Until the movie "Blood Diamonds" came out (great flick!), I didn't even know about this problem.

saltwn · #3 (**permalink**) 11-17-2007, 08:09 AM

I don't buy any chocolate besides Nestles because they make it their business to know the cocoa beans are not cultivated by slaves who were stolen as children. They are the only chocolate company who does this. The others either blatantly use farmers who use slaves or use a middle man and shut their eyes to the matter.

I mentioned this at a candy counter in a local shop and a young lady behind me blurted, "Well, diamonds are produced by slave labor. Are you going to quit buying them too?!"

That's the first I ever heard of it. And to think this woman evidently had been aware and didn't think there was any thing wrong with doing business with these
lowlifes.

cnredd · #4 (**permalink**) 11-17-2007, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saltwn

I mentioned this at a candy counter in a local shop and a young lady behind me blurted, "Well, diamonds are produced by slave labor. Are you going to quit buying them too?!"

Dontchya just love defending bad behavior by pointing out other bad behavior?...

Spencer Collins · #5 (**permalink**) 11-17-2007, 12:40 PM

The movie,Blood Diamonds,was a real eye opener into this tragic practice.As a side note,my wife never liked diamonds so she selected a ruby for her wedding ring.

Mikeyy · #6 (**permalink**) 11-17-2007, 01:02 PM

May I suggest that you all buy pearls. Sure I'm in the pearl business. But still its a natural product. They are beautiful and more rare then diamonds. And no conflict.

There is my commercial.

cnredd · #7 (**permalink**) 11-17-2007, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikeyy

May I suggest that you all buy pearls. Sure I'm in the pearl business. But still its a natural product. They are beautiful and more rare then diamonds. And no conflict.

There is my commercial.

Shameless plug on the forum?!?!...Fork over the ad cash...

team_barlo · #8 (**permalink**) 11-17-2007, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tristanrobin

Until the movie "Blood Diamonds" came out (great flick!), I didn't even know about this problem.

Believe it or not I first heard of this problem on QVC with regard to tanzanite.

knot_e_lady · #9 (**permalink**) 11-20-2007, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by team_barlo

Believe it or not I first heard of this problem on QVC with regard to tanzanite.

I heard of it also, but on an old episode of Law and Order.

The only diamond I own is my wedding/engagement ring, and I will not ever buy diamonds again.

Thanks for the info on Nestles. I do love their chocolate, now I'll be sure to only buy theirs.

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