Comments on: Blood Diamonds

By: RowerGirl

RowerGirl — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:41:59 +0000

I won't repeat what the others have said because some people already gave excellent answers. Watch the movie Blood Diamond (excellent film) because it explains it. It's based on a true-to-life book written by a journalist called Blood Diamonds. I've known about these for years (before the book and movie came out) and I won't wear diamonds because of it. The jewellery industry makes the public believe that diamonds are rare and that's how they keep the prices up; this is far from the truth. There are a lot of reasons why I don't like and wouldn't wear diamonds. Glad to see someone trying to educate themselves about diamonds. If you really want to buy a diamond ring (or other diamond jewellery), talk to your jeweller and make sure yours comes with a certificate that tells you exactly where it was mined, etc. Canadian diamonds are becoming more and more popular and of course are not conflict diamonds.
References :

By: GreenEyedJedi

GreenEyedJedi — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:39:59 +0000

I was going to ask a question about this myself. I'm glad that you asked. I've learned a lot!
References :

By: Etiquette Gal

Etiquette Gal — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:37:59 +0000

Diamond money funds Osama bin Laden, for starters!!!

And also different factions in Africa, like in Sierra Leone, fight over the diamond mine owership and kill regular people including children with machetes– thousands of children are living without their limbs, due to the violence. Blood diamonds and conflict diamonds are also terms the refer to the child SLAVE LABOR used to mine for the gems. It's just a sickening industry (even "conflict-free" does not mean slave-labor-free or child-labor-free!).

Even if you get non-conflict diamonds, like for instance ones from Canada are conflict-free, the mining practices are still HORRIBLE for the environment.

It's best to avoid diamonds and gems altogether, and find an ethical jeweler working with recycled gold and other metals, to help save people AND the planet.

Google blood diamonds to learn more!
References :

By: dragonfaeriegodess04

dragonfaeriegodess04 — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:35:59 +0000

A blood diamond is a diamond that has come from a country that is having a civil war/ in war(mostly african countries), and the diamond is used to trade for weapons, bombs, and money to purchase said things. In most countries, it is illegal to sell, purchase, buy wholesale, or anything with diamonds that are known blood diamonds. The better places to buy such diamonds are DeBeers(one of their minds is in Canada), or research the company you are thinking of buying diamonds from.
References :

By: June B

June B — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:33:59 +0000

You have received some wonderful answers already. However, please rest assured that the "big name" jewerly stores are following what's known as the Kimberly Process. This is a system of locking and sealing the transport boxes, with certifications that the diamonds are conflict free.
References :

By: bestadvicechick

bestadvicechick — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:31:59 +0000

Diamonds, like all natural resources, are only available in certain countries. Diamond mines are a very big thing in Africa, which as you know is a very unstable area in terms of government. As a result, in some African countries, diamond mines are controlled by GANGS essentially and they use horrible methods to obtain the diamonds and go around killing people who stand up to them. The diamond companies often look the other way because the quality of the diamonds coming out of Africa. It's easy for legitimate diamond companies to claim they do not buy "conflict" or "blood" diamonds because the diamond dealers use back channels to the "blood" diamonds get mixed in with the regular diamonds and people don't know the difference.

In essence, "blood diamonds" are diamonds that are obtained using violence and inhumane treatment – often cutting off the arms of children, raping women, killing people, bribing officials, etc. It's a very bloody business when that much money is involved. I suggest you watch BLOOD DIAMOND, the movie with Leonardo DiCaprio in it. It will open your eyes a bit.

The ONLY way to ensure you are not getting a blood diamond is to buy diamonds from Canada. I saw a story on the Canadian diamonds. They have a special polar bear lasered on the inside of the diamond and comes w/ a certificate. Of course they are more expensive but the wearer can be happy knowing no one was killed in getting the diamond.
References :

By: danashelchan

danashelchan — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:29:59 +0000

Yes really, what the others said. Watch the movie Blood Diamond. It is very good, and you will learn a lot about the whole issue. At the end it informs you, only buy diamonds specified as "conflict free". Believe me, after this movie, that is all you will want to buy.
References :

By: Ember

Ember — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:27:59 +0000

Blood dimaonds are mined in such a way, using unhumane treatment on its workers, a lot of the time there is no choice to be there. The diamonds that are sold go to finance wars and buy weapons.
References :

By: norakelly29@yahoo.com

norakelly29@yahoo.com — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:25:59 +0000

comes from a war zone
References :

By: Cannzikka

Cannzikka — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:23:59 +0000

They're also referred to as "conflict diamonds", and the people who are employeed to gather the diamonds are treated horribly. Watch the movie "Blood Diamonds", it'll give you a better understanding than just reading a bunch of stuff about them.
References :