“Diamonds from African countries have been funding guerrilla wars for decades. But they’re not the only precious gems with blood on their hands. Emeralds and Burmese rubies, for example, are two prized resources that are fraught with conflict and not monitored or certified by the KP, (The Kimberley Process (KP) requires each nation to certify that diamond exports are produced through legitimate mining and sales activity.)
The KP is believed to have significantly reduced the number of conflict diamonds that are reaching international gem markets, although not without its problems.
Most consumers do not realize they may be purchasing blood diamonds—even in 2010.”
-http://www.worldpress.org/Africa/3543.cfm
The article I referenced may be a few years old, but for the interested reader, it provides a pretty legitimate history of the blood diamond trade.
Wait, didn’t Leonardo DiCaprio fix that problem back in 2006?
No. Grow up. It’s no different than narcotics coming over the border. Sure shit’s going on to stop it, but it never really stops. It just get’s smarter and goes further into the shadows like a bad dream.
People scream and bitch about heroine and cocaine killing people and coming over the border; but they’ll still walk into Zales and pay a 500% mark up on a piece of shit stone that has probably gone unchecked or slipped into the market under the nose of the KP.
Just like the cocaine that killed your little brother that got smuggled over the border in some poor unwilling woman’s breast implants.
Everybody likes to selectively bitch about certain things. Drugs and diamonds happen to be mine. Sure I supported the drug trade for many years, but then I quit. I quit for myself yes, but that meant I was one less person adding to the destruction of peoples lives for some stupid “luxury.”
What prompted this little rant?
A few of my friends have recently gotten engaged and instead of diamonds, chosen a man-made sapphire.
So I looked it up. The sapphire represents loyalty and fidelity. That seems a little more fitting doesn’t it? Also, by buying a lab grown stone you’re giving someone a legitimate job, there’s no blood on your hands. And if you shop around, you’re not paying a 500% conformity mark up.
But diamonds do go well with sheep’s skin…
Now I’m not here to damn anyone that owns any of these things. I just personally don’t own any so I feel I can freak the fuck out about it.
(I did have a pair of diamond earrings once that were given to me as a gift, but I traded them for “protection” with a woman named Majik in the slammer. Nobody really cares to do up to 30 days unprotected. Especially if you know you’ll be going back. But that’s another story. Like I’ve said before, my halo’s a little crooked and hanging on by a worn-down horn…)
Anyway. No judgment passed if you own one of these things. I’m not trying to fill anyone’s head with images of blood soaked, amputtee orphans, shot up with heroine, toting semi-automatic weapons. But maybe next time you feel the need to buy a new sparkly diamond to fit in, conform, or stick with tradition, think about those orphans. Doesn’t seem worth it to me.
Maybe choose a stone with a meaning. Do some research. What does the stone stand for, where does it come from and can you find it man-made? Find a stone with a story other than death and destruction.
If you really need to buy one of these things take the advice form the article I referred to earlier.
“Retail customers buying a cut diamond (the United States accounts for about 50 percent of world diamond demand) should insist upon a sales receipt that documents that their diamond originated from a conflict-free source.”
Or just be a little fucking original.
The KP is believed to have significantly reduced the number of conflict diamonds that are reaching international gem markets, although not without its problems.
Most consumers do not realize they may be purchasing blood diamonds—even in 2010.”
-http://www.worldpress.org/Africa/3543.cfm
The article I referenced may be a few years old, but for the interested reader, it provides a pretty legitimate history of the blood diamond trade.
Wait, didn’t Leonardo DiCaprio fix that problem back in 2006?
No. Grow up. It’s no different than narcotics coming over the border. Sure shit’s going on to stop it, but it never really stops. It just get’s smarter and goes further into the shadows like a bad dream.
People scream and bitch about heroine and cocaine killing people and coming over the border; but they’ll still walk into Zales and pay a 500% mark up on a piece of shit stone that has probably gone unchecked or slipped into the market under the nose of the KP.
Just like the cocaine that killed your little brother that got smuggled over the border in some poor unwilling woman’s breast implants.
Everybody likes to selectively bitch about certain things. Drugs and diamonds happen to be mine. Sure I supported the drug trade for many years, but then I quit. I quit for myself yes, but that meant I was one less person adding to the destruction of peoples lives for some stupid “luxury.”
What prompted this little rant?
A few of my friends have recently gotten engaged and instead of diamonds, chosen a man-made sapphire.
So I looked it up. The sapphire represents loyalty and fidelity. That seems a little more fitting doesn’t it? Also, by buying a lab grown stone you’re giving someone a legitimate job, there’s no blood on your hands. And if you shop around, you’re not paying a 500% conformity mark up.
But diamonds do go well with sheep’s skin…
Now I’m not here to damn anyone that owns any of these things. I just personally don’t own any so I feel I can freak the fuck out about it.
(I did have a pair of diamond earrings once that were given to me as a gift, but I traded them for “protection” with a woman named Majik in the slammer. Nobody really cares to do up to 30 days unprotected. Especially if you know you’ll be going back. But that’s another story. Like I’ve said before, my halo’s a little crooked and hanging on by a worn-down horn…)
Anyway. No judgment passed if you own one of these things. I’m not trying to fill anyone’s head with images of blood soaked, amputtee orphans, shot up with heroine, toting semi-automatic weapons. But maybe next time you feel the need to buy a new sparkly diamond to fit in, conform, or stick with tradition, think about those orphans. Doesn’t seem worth it to me.
Maybe choose a stone with a meaning. Do some research. What does the stone stand for, where does it come from and can you find it man-made? Find a stone with a story other than death and destruction.
If you really need to buy one of these things take the advice form the article I referred to earlier.
“Retail customers buying a cut diamond (the United States accounts for about 50 percent of world diamond demand) should insist upon a sales receipt that documents that their diamond originated from a conflict-free source.”
Or just be a little fucking original.
Lab created 2.5 caret sapphire engagement ring on Amazon. Sterling silver. $29.99.
If you want a different metal, up your price, but really, does it matter? It’s a symbol right? And if someone asks or points out that it may not be gold, platinum or whatever, tell them to get fucked. The only person who should give a shit about what’s on your body, is you.
But if you do want to pay more, there’s always this option:
If you want a different metal, up your price, but really, does it matter? It’s a symbol right? And if someone asks or points out that it may not be gold, platinum or whatever, tell them to get fucked. The only person who should give a shit about what’s on your body, is you.
But if you do want to pay more, there’s always this option:
1.5 caret diamond ring on Amazon. Two different sellers, $10,000. Sounds like a good, clean deal doesn’t it?
Stand up and stand out. Make up your own mind and fuck everybody else. It’s your body remember.
I’ll take my gemstones like my tits, unnatural and man-made. The only possible blood shed is my own; and I can live with that.
Peep the blog at it's home site http://www.hihaveyoumetme.com for more archives.
Don’t forget to stalk me further at https://twitter.com/#!/hihaveyoumetme orhttp://www.facebook.com/authorkatemonahan
Stand up and stand out. Make up your own mind and fuck everybody else. It’s your body remember.
I’ll take my gemstones like my tits, unnatural and man-made. The only possible blood shed is my own; and I can live with that.
Peep the blog at it's home site http://www.hihaveyoumetme.com for more archives.
Don’t forget to stalk me further at https://twitter.com/#!/hihaveyoumetme orhttp://www.facebook.com/authorkatemonahan