Does Your Diamond Have Blood On It?

http://winkcz.com/2013/11/01/does-your-diamond-have-blood-on-it/
Does Your Diamond Have Blood On It?
for all you diamond lovers out there, have you ever wondered where your diamonds come from? Before they sit neatly in your favorite ring or pendant they must first be mined, cut, polished and examined for flaws and dimensions. Many of these things can be done locally in the United States, but there are only so many diamond mines out there and many are concentrated in Africa. However, sometimes these diamond mines fall into the hands of warlords and militant groups who in turn use the profits of selling the raw diamonds recovered to fuel their horrible war efforts against enemy governments and innocent African citizens alike. If any of you have seen the film "Blood Diamond", then you are well aware of the famous example of this tragic situation in Sierra Leone where many Africans were forced into hard labor to recover diamonds or killed.

The term "conflict diamond" or "blood diamond" comes from the fact that these particular diamonds come from areas where warlords are in control and the proceeds most certainly fund their violent efforts in killing people. "The United Nations defines conflict diamonds as '... diamonds that originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments, and are used to fund military action in opposition to those governments, or in contravention of the decisions of the Security Council.'" source

In addition to the mass murder that occurs in these areas, many regular African men, women and children are forced into virtual slavery in which they "are often forced to use primitive, back-breaking methods such as digging into mud or gravel along river banks with their bare hands. The collected material is then separated using hand-held sieves." source If they do not produce enough or flat out refuse to work, they are beaten or killed, among other abuses. The situation is very grim in this part of the world and the international community has attempted to reach out to those whom are suffering.

The United Nations and the World Diamond Council have tried to stem the flow of these illegal stones through sanctions, legislation and stiff penalties for any company that buys conflict diamonds. In 2003 the U.N., along with industry leaders and advocacy groups, passed "the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), whereby members are required to certify that all rough diamond exports are produced through legitimate mining and sales activities and are 'conflict-free,'" named for Kimberly, South Africa where many legitimate diamond operations take place. source Though a sort of checks and balances system, participating governments and territories assert that any the diamonds they mine and send out do not have symbolic blood on them, meaning that they will not fund these militant groups in central and western Africa.


However, the Kimberly Process is not perfect and has sparked controversy in the diamond business community. In late 2011 Global Witness, an advocacy group dedicated to uprooting political corruption and injustice in countries rich in resources, withdrew support for the initiative after being one of the initial founding members of the Kimberly Process. Global Witness states that "the industry's system of warranties' lacks independent verification. The fact is that most consumers still can not be sure where their diamonds come from, or whether they are financing armed violence or abusive regimes." source Do you know where your own diamonds come from?
Global Witness goes on to say" the KP has spent the past few years lurching from one shoddy compromise to the next in a manner that strips away its integrity and undermines its earlier achievements. The KP has failed to deal with the trade in conflict diamonds from Côte d'Ivoire, breaches of the rules by Venezuela and diamonds [fueling] corruption and state-sponsored violence in Zimbabwe." source A resolution to a problem is only valid if those who created it employ it, just like with any law that goes unenforced.

So how does the fine jewelry world deal with this little known war happening a world away. Since the 1970 ′ s we have been able to synthesize brilliant, beautiful carbon-based gems in a laboratory known as Cubic Zirconia, which is fast becoming a great economical and ecological alternative to diamonds. Here at Wink CZ you do not have to worry about where your gems are coming from, as they are always legitimate. Our master gem artists cut and refine only the finest Cubic Zirconia for your jewelry as well as customize gem color for your every mood. If you are planning a wedding or are just in the market for something stunning, Wink CZ can craft it for you at the fraction of the cost of diamond, but just as beautiful. Visit winkcz.com today to see what treasures we have for you, free of conflict!


Sometimes these diamond mines fall into the hands of warlords and militant groups who in turn use the profits of selling the raw diamonds recovered to fuel their horrible war efforts against enemy governments and innocent African citizens alike. If any of you have seen the film "Blood Diamond", then you are well aware of the famous example of this tragic situation in Sierra Leone where many Africans were forced into hard labor to recover diamonds or killed.

The term "conflict diamond" or "blood diamond" comes from the fact that these particular diamonds come from areas where warlords are in control and the proceeds most certainly fund their violent efforts in killing people. The United Nations and the World Diamond Council have tried to stem the flow of these illegal stones through sanctions, legislation and stiff penalties for any company that buys conflict diamonds. In 2003 the U.N., along with industry leaders and advocacy groups, passed "the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), whereby members are required to certify that all rough diamond exports are produced through legitimate mining and sales activities and are 'conflict-free,'" named for Kimberly, South Africa where many legitimate diamond operations take place.