Is there an organized diamond boycott?

[blondeatlast]

Is anyone aware of one? I just googled and the sites I found are not very up-to-date.

Everytime I see that repulsive "Right Hand Diamond" commercial all I can think of is the inncoents who physically cannot wear a right hand diamond even if they could afford it.

I read what I could stomach of "Blood Diamonds" and am now reading "Glitter and Greed." Why isn't the word getting out? Or do people just not care?

[alexwcovington]

1. Oooh, Shiny

No, the problem is people don't care. Diamonds are sold by a monopolistic cartel that keeps them artificially expensive... and then markets them as romantic.

If you can get people to not like diamonds, you'll bring them down.

Until then, "Oooh, shiny!"

[Blue Gardener]

2. I'm waiting for the fake ones to come out

They are created diamonds, but indistinguishable from the real thing, plus they will be cheaper. I'm gonna buy me a big rock!

[madmax]

8. They are already out, Jitterbug

www.moissanite.com

you can google more links.

[AgadorSparticus]

24. There's tons of fake ones that you can't tell from the real thing.

I go to www.qvc.com, www.hsn.com ---> they have amazing ones. I love my fakes almost more than my real ones because you don't have to worry about theft, loss, etc. You can easily replace them. And no one knows the difference. It's great.

[Mr.Green93]

if not there should be

diamonds are a scam (imho)

[radwriter0555]

7. They really are. They're ALWAYS sold for double their actual value and

their value never really changes and definitely doesn't increase unless the PIECE is an art piece made by someone artistic and of note.

I like the fake ones WAY better.

[boxster]

3. Be careful in labeling entire industries based on some

organizations within.

Not all jewelry manufacturers and sellers get their diamonds from the "Blood Diamond" organizations. Some companies have their own diamond mines and manufacturing processes that are independent of the cartels, etc.

[blondeatlast]

5. Do you have examples? Is this why there are no calls for a

broad-based boycott?

[justinpower]

4. I am not certain

about an organized diamond boycott. However if you check out the abolishonist movement I think you might find a lot of overlap there. I have not read up on the diamond trade so I may be wrong but I was under the impression they use mostly slave labor. www.iabolish.com

[blondeatlast]

6. Well, I won't be eating at Taco Bell anytime soon.

Very impressive site. I'm only beginning to learn about contemporary slavery, but what I've seen is shocking as hell.

As an Arizonan, I'm reasonably certain it happens in my backyard. I grew up in a rural farming community, and even at 12, I had few illusions.

Thanks for the link; duly bookmarked.

[DrWeird]

9. I think they should be outlawed.

If they outlawed ivory because it was endangering elephants, why not outlaw diamonds because millions of people are being killed and maimed?

[blondeatlast]

10. Works for me...but it isn't feasible, of course.

Where IS the concern for the victims, though? Good God, even the mildest look into the trade is beyond alarming.

[DrWeird]

11. Why would it be less feasible then ivory though?

Concern for the victims? Maybe if they weren't african.

[blondeatlast]

13. True enough--I hadn't thought of that. nt

I'm sure the color of their skin had NOTHING at all to do with the ignorance of the issue.

//sarcasm off

[DrWeird]

14. Yeah, it's the 500 lb gorilla in the middle of the room.

That nobody wants to talk about.

[Astarho]

15. Because 70% of diamonds mined

are for industrial use (dentist drills, saw blades, lapidary tools etc.) Ivory has no industiral use. Although industrial diamonds don't command near the price of jewelry diamonds though.

[supernova]

16. The Russians

own most of the world's industrial-grade diamond reserve. IOW, it's not great for jewelry, but perfect for Astarho's purposes.

If they really wanted to, the Russians could flood the diamond market and put DeBeers out of commission in a hurry.

I really wonder what sort of under the table dealing goes on to keep them out of the diamond market.

[blondeatlast]

17. That's what I understand,

When I get further into G&G I will see what the author has to say. It's a very dense, slow read, though--and I'm a librarian.

[Astarho]

22. I've wondered that too

I've also heard that the Australians have a greater diamond reserve then South Africa. I wondered why they didn't take out De Beers, but I guess without those articially high diamond prices their reseves would not be worth as much.

However with the ability to lab-grow diamonds recently perfected, De Beer's days are numbered (yay!)

[proud patriot]

12. Word of mouth

Sierra Le own (sp?)

[DemBones DemBones]

18. It hasn't been discussed on television,

as far as I know, except by Bill Maher on the old "Politically Incorrect." Maher tended to start foaming at the mouth, attacking women and marriage as much as the diamond merchants and the real criminals, whenever he raised the topic. It was rants like that which turned me off to him.

Most people buy diamond engagement rings when they're young and have never heard of what goes on in the diamond trade, so it would work better to inform them in advance of that time, rather than attack them after they've already bought.

The diamond companies won't start the information campaign, you may be sure. But I don't see any reason why young women couldn't have their tastes re-shaped and go for rubies, sapphires, emeralds, etc., rather than diamonds.
It just takes some trend-setting and providing information about the diamond trade.

When I got my engagement diamond, and even my 25th anniversary diamond, I hadn't heard of the killings in the diamond trade. However, I will note that I chose diamond for my 25th anniversary ring because a ruby would have been much more expensive and I didn't want to spend that much money on it. I don't want to stop wearing my diamonds, or my mother's ivory jewelry, for that matter, all bought before there was any reason not to.

But I won't buy more diamonds and I'd encourage people to buy other gems rather than diamonds. Another alternative is to buy estate diamonds, rather than support the new diamond market. Estate diamonds can be bought more cheaply and they can be reset to suit modern tastes.

[blondeatlast]

19. Yeah, my wedding ring is a solitaire and I won't give it up but I

sure as hell won't be buying more.

Besides, I LOVE pearls.

It seems like a fairly easy thing to take on DeBeers over their ads; particularly the recent "right hand" one in light of the maimings of children that happen. It only needs to focus on DeBeers to get the point across, too--I somehow doubt that DeBeers is terribly interested in the industrial trade.

I've also been aware for a long time that the whole thing is DeBeers marketing. I can't believe people buy into the "two months" salary thing anymore. My hubby did until I MADE him buy me a cheaper one so that we could spend the money in Oahu. I told him it was just a marketing tool; he thought (he is from India, fwiw) that it was an American tradition.

[Lisa]

20. some diamond-marketing countries are pushing the issue ...

For example, Canadian diamonds are laser-etched to ID them, and are being sold as "clean" because their origins can be tracked.

http://web.idrc.ca/en/ev-5505-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html
http://www.jewellersvigilance.ca/html/jvc_special.htm

There is something called the "Kimberly Process" which is supposed to screen out "conflict diamonds" but its credibility is being questioned.

[rhino47]

21. Actually most jewelers I know are buying up diamonds

The market price is rising fast due to canada and most of europe
banning blood diamonds.They will not allow import on any
diamonds that do not have a lazor mark on them.Usa does
not have such a ban.In 2000 there was talk of a ban
here in usa but we all know what happened there.I am an antiques
dealer and do alot of biz in jewelery.When I need a stone
set I only use a lazor inscribed ,vetted diamond or old miners cut
diamond from another mount.
Yes I do boycott blood diamonds.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

23. here are a few orgs ...diamonds: wars best friends

BLOOD DIAMONDS http://www.americanradioworks.org/features/diamonds/sierraleoneprint.html


Do You Know Where Your Diamond Has Been?, UMCOR
http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/emergency/conflictdiamonds.stm

More background on Conflict Diamonds and links to news articles.
Partnership Africa Canada (in English and French)
http://www.partnershipafricacanada.org

This web site includes the complete Report of the United Nations Sierra Leone Sanctions Committee Expert Panel and the document "The Heart of the Matter -- Sierra Leone, Diamonds and Human Security" by Ian Smillie, Lansana Gberie and Ralph Hazleton

Did Someone Die for that Diamond?, Amnesty International
http://www.amnesty-usa.org/diamonds/
Background on Conflict Diamonds and the Clean Diamonds Act