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PLEASE watch this video to educate yourself on WHY the Conflict Diamonds are a problem and WHAT exactly is happening.
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The Trade of Conflict Diamonds is highly fueled by the American/Western belief that "Diamonds are Forever". Furthermore, that a diamond engagement ring is a symbol of a lasting marriage. The truth is, due to this belief, the Diamond Industry is able to highly inflate the price of diamonds. There is no shortage of diamonds. Let me repeat, THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF DIAMONDS! The only reason they are expensive, is because we allow them to be. Furthermore, because of our incurable thirst for all things 'bling', people are abused, mutilated, and killed.(Please take the time to watch the video above).
The Revolutionary United Front (RUF) is a rebel group in Sierra Leone that uses disgusting and inhumane tactics to gain control of diamond minds (therefore control of the country's wealth). They go from town to town cutting off ears, hands, fingers, arms, legs, noses, etc. to instill fear, and enforce slave labor. In one operation, Operation: No Living Thing, they did exactly what the name said-left nothing in the town living. When the former President of Sierra Leone (later killed, still unknown by whom) asked the RUF to put down their weapons and let everyone join hands as brothers, the RUF went through a town, chopping off everyone's hands. The next morning, the President's doorsteps were piled with bloody hands. All this, so that we can have something sparkly.
In recent years The Kimberley Process is an international certification scheme that regulates the trade in rough diamonds. Its aim is to prevent the trade in conflict diamonds, while helping to protect the legitimate trade in rough diamonds. It basically provides diamond sellers with a certificate saying that their diamonds received from suppliers are not from conflict mines. So, what's the problem? Often times the suppliers themselves (or people who provided the suppliers with the diamonds) lie, take bribes, and forge documents. There is no way for the seller to honestly know if the diamonds are legit, so the cycle continues.
THE SOLUTION:
1-BOYCOTT DIAMOND ENGAGEMENT RINGS! If you are not yet engaged, committ yourself to an alternative engagement ring (much more cost effective as well!). Encourage your friends to do the same. This could cripple the diamond market into being FORCED to take the Kimberley Process more seriously and making SURE they know the sources of the diamonds they sell. If you MUST have a diamond-use a family stone! There's more meaning that way, anyway.
2-Flood your congressmen with emails asking a more strict enforcement of the Kimberley Process. Click here to go do it now!
3-Flood major media markets with young adult viewers (the age people get engaged)-like MTV-with requests for them to get involved.
4-Call all of the local jewelry stores in your area and tell them a bit about the campaign you are working with, ask them if they know about conflict diamonds, etc., then ask them if you can send them some information on the subject. Your objective here is to convince them to adhere strictly to the Kimberly process. Please click
here or here for the articles on the subject. print them out and send them to the store owners. Then call them a week later and ask them if they will do what you are asking.Please make sure you have read the articles and know your stuff before you call them. We need a United but WISE front when appealing to business owners. GO!
