by Janine Roberts c2000

At the turn of the Millennium, diamonds, the emblems of human love, were being used to fund brutal rebel armies fighting to overthrow recognised governments. In Angola the rebel UNITA movement sold over $US 3 billion dollars worth of diamonds, in the Congo some $70 million dollars worth of diamonds funded rebels - and in Sierra Leone some $35 million dollars worth of diamonds passed through very brutal rebel hands. Most of these were being sold on to De Beers which in turn sold them on so finally they arrived on the jewellery counters of America, Europe and Japan to the enrichment of many a merchant.

The diamond trade only became seriously alarmed and motivated to change when these diamonds became known as "blood diamonds", or "conflict diamonds" and they heard of planned consumer boycott campaign called "Fatal Transactions".

De Beers told the US Congress in 2000; "Having spent hundreds of dollars on advertising its product, De Beers is deeply concerned about anything that could damage the image of diamonds as symbols of love, beauty and purity."

De Beers through its Diamond Trading Company at the same time published a "Best Practice" code of diamond industry ethics. In this they pledged; " We are committed to operating our business with a view to ensuring that consumers buying diamond jewelry are able to rely with confidence on the professional and ethical standards and technical skills of the gem diamond industry, taking account ...

* the consumer is reliant on: (i) the standards and integrity of the diamond industry ... the highest professional and ethical standards and technical skills are necessary to ensure that consumer trust is not misplaced and that the reputation of the gem diamond industry is maintained and enhanced. ..

.(therefore) "injury and hardship suffered by local populations (and the potential for it) when conflicts arise in diamond producing areas are unacceptable, as [is] seeking to profit from such conflicts.

"We are committed to operating out business in such a way that we neither engage in, nor encourage in any manner, the following practices which are regarded as unacceptable and against the public interest and that of the diamond industry: buying and trading rough diamonds ...where this would encourage or support any human suffering: the use of child labor : [and] practices which intentionally or recklessly endanger or harm the health or welfare of individuals ... thereby bringing the diamond industry into serious disrepute."

Thus De Beers recognised that the moral issues were not only confined to diamonds from rebel areas. "Blood Diamonds" are equally tainted by reckless mining practices, by the asbestos dust many miners are forced to breath day in and day out, by the horrific labour camps on De Beers South African properties where workers received one third of the union minimum wage and worked without proper safety equipment; by the low wages and debt bondage in Indian cutting workshops - and by the diamond trade's complicity in maintaining corrupt dictators and in helping to dispose of democratic leaders - which in turn has created the lawlessness and corruption that has led to the current brutal wars.

If we are to cleanse the "blood diamonds" bothreform and independent monitoring are needed to make sure that it really does happen. Without both of these, the above ethical standards may never be realised. Consumer pressure may also be necessary if there is any delay - but I hope this book helps in the rapid cleansing of this industry so we can truly buy "romantic" diamonds without fear of supporting hideous and most unromantic crimes.

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