- Live Fearlessly, Compassionately and Honestly
 


Blood  Diamonds  Still  Exist

                      PLEASE CARE WHERE YOUR DIAMONDS COME FROM
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YOU MAY BE DYING TO WEAR A DIAMOND, BUT MAKE 
SURE NO ONE DIED SUPPLYING YOU WITH THAT DIAMOND.
 "BLOOD DIAMONDS" ARE VERY REAL. BE RESPONSIBLE AND 
DON'T BUY OR WEAR DIAMONDS FROM THE MARANGE 
FIELDS IN ZIMBABWE.
FROM HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH:
In July 2010, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme,
 an international body that oversees the diamond trade,
 decided to lift its one-year ban on exports of diamonds from
 the Marange fields, despite finding serious human rights abuses
 and rampant smuggling during its own investigation there.
 Its weak excuse was a technicality in its mandate that defines 
blood diamonds as those mined by abusive rebel groups, not 
by abusive governments.

Human Rights Watch continues to call for the withdrawal of the 
army from the diamond fields, an end to ongoing abuses, 
and investigations into human rights abuses that have 
taken place since 2007.

Responsible consumers should not buy diamonds from
Zimbabwe’s Marange fields.

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State Library of New South Wales collection's photostream
I've posted new information about blood diamonds.

According to Commodity on Line, " ..diamonds from Zimbabwe, Africa continue to fund murders, forced labor, rape, and political oppression." The monitoring organization called the Kimberly Process (KP), intended to prevent blood diamonds continues to certify diamonds from Zimbabwe. 

So when KP fails to do its job, then diamonds marked with "conflict free" certification hit the market even though they originated from diamond mining where unspeakable human suffering has resulted. 

My advice? Don't rest easy when you buy your next diamond. Better yet... buy some other stone that doesn't have such a bloody, greedy and corrupt association. Personally, I don't buy or wear diamonds. I'd rather wear something without such a tainted history. The whole marketing of diamonds turns me away... but that's a story for another day.

 I read at prlog.org today that approximately 50% of the $57.8 billion American jewelry market comes from diamonds. What percentage are 'blood diamonds' has not been determined, but what is known is that the diamond business is still bloody and still corrupt. People are still losing their lives because of greed in the diamond industry. 

I've been regularly posting information under Featured Blogs. Lately, I posted a petition to demand justice in San Salvador for women sexually assaulted by police officers. Petitions are powerful tools for the activist. I've witnessed many good changes this last year as a result of people speaking out. There's also an interesting posting on the Ethical Clothing Pledge. It's amazing what some people are doing to make a difference!

I've updated information about Uzbekistan regarding child slavery in their cotton fields. Anyone truly interested in buying slave free clothing should be aware of what atrocities continue to go on in that country. 

I've also updated Saving America's Mustangs. It's a must read for any horse lover. It has a youtube interview about the debate between activists and the BLM. 
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