“Every diamond at De Beers Diamond Jewelery is conflict free and labor free.”
For many Americans, clarity and size are the two most important considerations when choosing a diamond. These nations do not care much beyond the status quo to be fulfilled or to please their desiring spouses. Few, however, are much more interested in where diamonds come from. For them, the most important promise above De Beers is the diamond company. These Americans are well aware of the horrific nature of the conflict in the diamond industry and need reassurance that no blood was shed in the manufacture of their precious gem.
Blood or conflict diamonds, aptly named because of the vicious nature in which they are obtained, have been described by the United Nations as “…diamonds that originate from areas by legitimate and internationally recognized forces or factions opposed to governments, and military actions are used against those governments, or against the decisions of the Security Council. Such diamonds received international attention in the mid-1990s because of the bloody conflict in Sierra Leone. At that time, diamond conflict was estimated to be about 4% of all diamonds. Since the Kimberly Process was established, that number has been reduced to about 1%. The Republic of Congo, Liberia and Ivory Coast are the three countries responsible for a small and significant percentage.
The Kimberly System Certification Process, a UN-backed system, was established in 2002 after a global outcry against blood diamonds. Both governmental and non-governmental organizations joined with the diamond industry to create a process that led to the large-scale manufacturing and distribution of blood diamonds. In fact, Diamondfacts.org found that Kimberly’s process is largely responsible for the diamonds that have now contributed to much of the economic growth in Africa.
Diamondfacts.org provides several facts on its website that demonstrate the positive effects of diamonds, including
(1) An estimated 5 million people globally have access to affordable health care from diamonds.
(2) Diamond taxes enable every child in Botswana to receive free education up to the age of 13.
(3) An estimated 10 million people globally are directly or indirectly supported by the diamond industry.
(4) The Gems for Children Charity is a community based program for orphaned children in South Africa.
(5) The diamond mining industry generates over 40% of Namibia’s annual export earnings.
(6) Diamond Development Initiative is established as working conditions working iasn the industry is right and the diamonds are as good as I lead you to believe.
