A Better Bling without Blood Diamonds

by Admin on September 17th, 2009

 

You are looking for a diamond with a good cause. You’re a diamond lover. You’ve got countless pieces of jewelry studded with diamonds. You are looking to find an engagement ring with the right cause. You are one of those people who just can’t resist the glitter and brilliance that goes with a diamond. Then you learn about the existence of blood diamonds. Your world is suddenly turned upside down.

That may be a satiric narrative but the subject is dead serious. Blood diamonds are used to fund wars and other brutal activities in certain parts of the world. Diamonds sold in this illicit trade promote violence and kill people; you want to make sure that your own non conflict diamonds.

A blood diamond is defined as a diamond that was mined and taken from a war zone (usually an African country, but not always) and sold for purposes such as perpetuating child labor, state sanctioned violence and worker exploitation, to funding a war, providing payment to diamond companies throughout the world, or payment directly into a warlord’s pocket. This is why they are called blood/conflict diamonds. Plenty of people have even died over these diamonds, specifically in countries such as Angola, Liberia, Zimbabwe, and of course, Sierra Leone.

So what can you do help? There are alternative diamonds you can buy—conflict free diamonds, which can even be bought online. Conflict-free diamonds are those gems which were not obtained due to human rights abuses, child labor, violence, or environmental degradation. Whiteflash.com, offers conflict-free diamonds, which are also no less real than the blood diamonds. Whiteflash also give guidance about how to differentiate between blood diamonds and certified conflict-free diamonds.

Whiteflash Initiatives
Dreams of Africa, a Whiteflash initiative, is a program funding relief for children in Africa. 100% of the profit from sales of a designer line of conflict-free diamond jewelry and merchandise goes to the World Centers of Compassion for Children International (WCCCI) to give children affected by the illicit trade of rough diamonds the chance for a brighter tomorrow.

Whiteflash was the first online jewelry retailer to be awarded membership to The Council for Responsible Jewelry Practices (CRJP).

Whiteflash introduced Dreams of Africa to such luminaries as the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu in September 2006, at the largest-ever gathering of Nobel Peace Prize winners on American soil, where we selected the WCCCI, established by Nobel Laureate Betty Williams, as our charity partner.

Dreams of Africa designer jewelry
We continue to be proactive, raising awareness for the victims of blood diamonds through our website, philanthropic celebrity endorsements, donations to charitable foundations, and communication with the media, but we would like your help.

Our message:
Blood Diamonds still exist. Buying “conflict-free” protects you as consumers but it doesn’t stop the pain. As one company we can’t change governments or politics, but we can turn diamonds into a gift for life.
Beyond the protectionist work Kimberley Process, the Patriot Act, NGOs and the CRJP are doing, we believe there must be people-centered answers to help actual humans without industry or red tape in the way

How can consumers help?
Spread awareness. Take part in the global discussion involving exploitation in areas where natural resources are rich and people are poor. Share this link and links to information given by other responsible organizations. Support “development diamond” initiatives such as Dreams of Africa. If possible, donate to organizations like UNICEF and the WCCCI.

Avoid conflict diamonds.
Consumers can aid in the effort to ensure that diamonds do not fund conflict.  When shopping, here are four questions suggested by NGOs Amnesty International and Global Witness to test the seller’s commitment to preventing trade in conflict diamonds:
1.    How can I be sure that none of your jewelry contains conflict diamonds?
2.    Do you know where the diamonds you sell come from?
3.    Can I see a copy of your company’s policy on conflict diamonds?
4.    Can you show me a written guarantee from your diamond suppliers stating that your diamonds are conflict-free?

Whiteflash Answers
1.    Whiteflash diamonds are produced exclusively by Kimberly compliant manufacturers.
2.    All Whiteflash ACA and most ‘Expert Selection’ diamonds are produced on the same fine-make floor of our Kimberly compliant Antwerp site holder. All diamonds brought to Whiteflash, whether from Antwerp or our known USA suppliers are in strict compliance with the Kimberly Process and the USA Patriot Act.
3.    This page represents our policy and position.
4.    Our unique sourcing situation allows great comfort in knowing our diamonds are conflict-free.  Additionally, every diamond we bring to Whiteflash is accompanied by this written guarantee:

The diamonds herein invoiced have been purchased from legitimate sources not involved in funding conflict and in compliance with United Nations Resolutions. The seller hereby guarantees that these diamonds are conflict free, based on personal knowledge and/or written guarantees provided by the supplier of these diamonds.
Every dealer should be prepared to provide you with the above written statement or words to that effect.

The Future
The political obstacles to creating free, fair and competitive markets in conflicted areas are historically considerable.  Beyond the protectionist work Kimberly Process and the Council for Responsible Jewelry Practices are doing we feel the information age presents an opportunity to work toward people-centered solutions.

KP comes under fire at Rap conference

by Admin on September 17th, 2009

 

A discussion on the economic downturn and its impact on jewelers turned lively when the Kimberley Process (KP) was mentioned during the final session at the annual Rapaport International Diamond Conference, held on Thursday in New York.

The session, titled “Human Rights and the Diamond Industry,” inevitably came to focus on the current situation in Zimbabwe, a diamond-producing country that has become a center of controversy due to the alleged abuse of diggers in the Marange diamond fields.

During the session, panelist and Diamond Development Initiative Chairman Ian Smillie, a leader in the inception of the KP who walked away from the organization earlier this year, blasted the process, saying that it had “no teeth.”

“In my view, the Kimberley Process is failing badly,” he said.

Smillie said there is no method of voting within the process (to take action, all members must agree unanimously) and that issues drag on for long periods of time for no reason.

He also called the KP’s peer-review mechanism, which dictates that participating countries visit and review other participating countries every three years to ensure compliance and offer suggestions, a “disaster.”

He cited a 2008 peer-review trip to the African nation of Guinea where members spent less than two hours outside the capital city and didn’t finish the review report for 11 months.

In Zimbabwe, Smillie said, the KP review team who visited the country this summer recommended that the nation be suspended from the KP, but KP Chairman Bernhard Esau said that wouldn’t happen, a statement he has since publicly denied.

Cecilia Gardner, head of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee and director of the U.S. Kimberley Process Authority Institute, however, defended the KP and the steps it has taken in Zimbabwe.

She said there are three sources of diamonds in Zimbabwe, two of which have “spotless” records of KP compliance.

She acknowledged that while the problems in the third source area, the Marange diamond fields, which produce mostly industrial diamonds, are “incredibly serious,” the KP is taking the lead on addressing those issues, noting that it is the only organization of any kind that is working with the government in Zimbabwe on a solution to the problems in Marange.

She also pointed out that while there are problems in countries such as Zimbabwe, other large-producing diamond countries, such as Botswana and Russia, are completely KP compliant.

“What we have been talking about here are the problem countries,” she said.

Other highlights of the conference included:

In a speech entitled “Now What?” Chris Ellis, president of Boston-based Consensus Advisors, gave retailers tips on how to thrive in these trying economic times, noting specifically that jewelers should streamline their offerings and spice up their stores.

He said there is too much product in jewelry stores, so instead of covering every inch of floor space with display cases, jewelers should think about doing something different such as putting in a coffee bar or children’s play area.

“But just don’t fill the cases up with memo goods that don’t sell,” Ellis said.

In a portion of the day dedicated to new consumer markets in India, C.K. Venkatraman, of Indian retail chain Tanishq, discussed the need to make the jewelry-shopping experience more appealing to women both today and in the future, making a place they go to relax, a “stress-buster.”

Tanishq opened two U.S. stores in late 2008 and the brand garnered praise for its unique, Zen-centered design. The stores, however, were closed this summer because they were not living up to the company’s expectations.

“We seem to have gotten something right, but the economics were not that good,” he said, noting that although the stores were not successful, they might be a good model for where to take jewelry store design in the coming years.

In an address before lunch titled “New Realities,” Rapaport Group Chairman Martin Rapaport told the audience that the economic crisis has created a new reality, and that those retailers who “go with the flow” of the current situation and act on the opportunities it presents will be the ones who thrive.

“Yes we can,” Rapaport said, echoing the campaign rally cry of President Barack Obama. “That’s the new reality: Yes we can.”