Archive for 2006
Kimberley Process Participants as of December 15, 2006
by Admin on December 20th, 2006
There are 47 Participants representing 71 countries. From January 1, 2007, this will change to 45 Participants as Romania and Bulgaria will be part of the European Community. More
Leonardo DiCaprio Describes Results of Charitable Work
by Admin on December 15th, 2006
Blood Diamond star Leonardo DiCaprio appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Nov 14, the same day he received two Golden Globe nominations; for Blood Diamond and The Departed.
DiCaprio described the charitable work occurring and emphasized the importance of relief efforts. More
Reforms: Helping Africa’s diamonds sparkle again
by Admin on December 11th, 2006
The depiction of diamonds and disaster in the new film “Blood Diamond,” is the latest horrific tale about Africa. The cinematic history lesson about the now-ended civil war in Sierra Leone may be compelling - but don’t start boycotting diamonds. Today’s mundane reality is that a worldwide coalition of governments, businesses, and NGOs has built a self-policing regimen that is cutting off the “conflict-diamond” pipeline. More
Brian Gavin on Africa: “DiCaprio acted it…I lived it.”
by Admin on December 11th, 2006
Brian Gavin is a diamontaire, born and family-trained in South Africa. While growing up he lived in and around the backdrop of Blood Diamond, the new Warner Bros movie with Leonardo DiCaprio.
Gavin has not yet seen the movie, but hopes it will raise awareness for the plight of people in Africa. His apprenticeship was served learning the legitimate diamond trade. “I was fortunate to grow up among tradesmen of good standing and we knew what areas to stay clear of” Gavin says. Yet as careful as they were even his family, five-generations deep in trading and cutting, was not immune to the influence of evil. “I was returning from a meeting with a legitimate trader in Angola when my vehicle was overtaken” he says. “A gun was placed at my head and I was told it would be in my best interest to begin trading with this new guy. I said yes sir. We will sir. They let us go and I never set foot in Angola again.” More
Brian Gavin - 5th Generation Diamond Cutter
by Admin on December 11th, 2006
Tags: diamonds, kimberly process, blood diamond, conflict diamonds, africa
Martin Rapaport on the movie Blood Diamond
by Admin on December 9th, 2006
Download “Dreams of Africa” by Cedric Samson
by Admin on December 8th, 2006
The song was written and produced in Cape Town by two time Grammy nominee Cedric Samson. The African children’s choir had never sung in any professional capacity before.
The passion to help their brothers and sisters in Africa resulted in a truly inspirational track, rich with rhythm and the passion of Africa’s youth. More
Consumers Should Demand Conflict-Free Diamonds This Holiday Season
by Admin on December 4th, 2006
Two international rights organizations are urging consumers to take action this holiday season to help prevent “blood diamonds” from entering the legal diamond trade. Amnesty International and Global Witness, with the support of the director and cast members of the movie “Blood Diamond,” have launched blooddiamondaction.org, a website to educate consumers about the role of diamonds in funding conflicts that have a devastating impact on civilians.
Blood diamonds are gems that have been used by rebel groups to fund wars across Africa, leading to more than four million deaths and millions more people displaced from their homes. More
