| You may have seen the recent film with Leonardo | | | | requirements of the Kimberley Process and you |
| DiCaprio as the grizzled ex-soldier smuggling diamonds | | | | should avoid at all costs any retailer who uses blood |
| out of war-torn Africa - though this may be | | | | diamonds. |
| Hollywood, many of the images and representations | | | | Certain countries in the world are awash with two |
| are deeply rooted in very tragic fact! | | | | things; diamonds and wars. Good examples include |
| Certain countries in the world are awash with two | | | | Sierra Leone, The Congo and Angola where warring |
| things; diamonds and wars. | | | | factions have been tearing the land and peoples apart |
| Good examples include Sierra Leone, The Congo and | | | | with never ending armed conflict financed by the sale |
| Angola where warring factions have been tearing the | | | | of diamonds. Human rights abuses and crimes against |
| land and peoples apart with never ending armed | | | | humanity have been in the news on many occasions |
| conflict financed by the sale of diamonds. Human | | | | and these barbaric acts have only added to the |
| rights abuses and crimes against humanity have been | | | | misery of millions which has been further worsened |
| in the news on many occasions and these barbaric | | | | by collapsing infrastructure providing jobs, homes, |
| acts have only added to the misery of millions which | | | | food, education, medical services and the whole |
| has been further worsened by collapsing | | | | spectrum of civilized life we take for granted. |
| infrastructure providing jobs, homes, food, education, | | | | The sale of blood diamonds (also known as Conflict |
| medical services and the whole spectrum of civilized | | | | Diamonds) has also been linked with terrorist groups |
| life we take for granted. | | | | including Al Qaeda who use blood diamonds as part |
| The sale of blood diamonds (also known as Conflict | | | | of their money laundering operations. |
| Diamonds) has also been linked with terrorist groups | | | | Millions have died as a direct result of war and strife |
| including Al Qaeda who use blood diamonds as part | | | | financed largely by the sale of diamonds from these |
| of their money laundering operations. | | | | countries, hence the phrase, "Blood Diamonds" - |
| Millions have died as a direct result of war and strife | | | | these stones may be valued for their beauty and |
| financed largely by the sale of diamonds from these | | | | rarity but they really do come with a price paid in |
| countries, hence the phrase, "Blood Diamonds" - | | | | blood. |
| these stones may be valued for their beauty and | | | | Do you want a blood diamond on the hand of the |
| rarity but they really do come with a price paid in | | | | woman you love? |
| blood. | | | | In order to reduce conflict and misery heaped upon |
| Do you want a blood diamond on the hand of the | | | | millions of innocent people, President Bush signed into |
| woman you love? | | | | law a bill which enacted an international protocol |
| In order to reduce conflict and misery heaped upon | | | | known as the Kimberley Process and which has over |
| millions of innocent people, President Bush signed into | | | | forty other countries as signatories. The purpose of |
| law a bill which enacted an international protocol | | | | this legislation is to cut off the flow of financing from |
| known as the Kimberley Process and which has over | | | | the introduction of blood diamonds into general |
| forty other countries as signatories. The purpose of | | | | circulation thereby cutting off the flow of funds from |
| this legislation is to cut off the flow of financing from | | | | their sale which in turn reduces the ability to buy new |
| the introduction of blood diamonds into general | | | | arms and weapons of war. |
| circulation thereby cutting off the flow of funds from | | | | The countries who have signed up to the Kimberley |
| their sale which in turn reduces the ability to buy new | | | | Process along with the diamond industry and civil |
| arms and weapons of war. | | | | agencies involved, account for 99.8% of all rough |
| The countries who have signed up to the Kimberley | | | | diamond production. The legislation requires all |
| Process along with the diamond industry and civil | | | | purchasers of diamonds must be made from |
| agencies involved, account for 99.8% of all rough | | | | manufacturers with the correct documentation which |
| diamond production. The legislation requires all | | | | ensures the provenance of a stone from mining |
| purchasers of diamonds must be made from | | | | through the various channels and processes it is |
| manufacturers with the correct documentation which | | | | subjected to until it ends up on the hand of your |
| ensures the provenance of a stone from mining | | | | loved one. |
| through the various channels and processes it is | | | | In this way, the diamonds that are used by your |
| subjected to until it ends up on the hand of your | | | | jeweler can be proven beyond any doubt to have |
| loved one. | | | | originated from a source which will not then use the |
| In this way, the diamonds that are used by your | | | | proceeds to buy arms or ferment civil war and |
| jeweler can be proven beyond any doubt to have | | | | tragedy. Given the high value of any diamond, there |
| originated from a source which will not then use the | | | | are many who seek to bypass the Kimberley |
| proceeds to buy arms or ferment civil war and | | | | Process and use conflict or blood diamonds because |
| tragedy. Given the high value of any diamond, there | | | | of the vastly enhanced profits to be made from |
| are many who seek to bypass the Kimberley | | | | innocent consumers - it is simple to insist on diamonds |
| Process and use conflict or blood diamonds because | | | | being used which are fully certified as meeting all the |
| of the vastly enhanced profits to be made from | | | | requirements of the Kimberley Process and you |
| innocent consumers - it is simple to insist on diamonds | | | | should avoid at all costs any retailer who uses blood |
| being used which are fully certified as meeting all the | | | | diamonds. |