There was recently a movie in theaters called "Blood Diamond". I didn't see it, but apparently, its an (over)dramatization about the violence associated with the diamond industry in Africa.
In case you haven't heard, socially responsible people don't buy diamonds anymore, for 2 primary reasons.
1) Buying diamonds funds all kinds of nastiness- slavery, child slavery, dictatorships, civil wars, mass killings and violence, and al-Qa'ida. Yes, al-Qa'ida.
So-called "certified" diamonds cannot be verified. The certification program is a whitewash that has been impossible to regulate and is totally ineffective.
2) Buying diamonds is stupid.
Its a rock, folks. They are somewhat rare, perhaps, but so is eye cancer. Would you put an eye cancer on your finger if someone spent enough money trying to convince you that you needed to? Also, the diamond market is totally artificial. Debeers has a monopoly and exercises complete control over the price and availability of diamonds in America. They can cause the price to be as cheep or expensive as they wish. Buying diamonds makes you a dupe of the highest order. Spend your hard-earned money on something that will actually bring you or someone else happiness.
1 comment:
If you must get a diamond (or should I say if SHE insists on it), there is always the option of using diamonds that are already in your family. It's socially conscious and pretty darn sentimental.
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