grist for the mill
A not-so-secret research cacheThursday, July 01, 2004
Q & A about Conflict Diamonds: "Why should American jewelers care about conflict diamonds?
Diamonds derive their unique value from consumers' association of the gem with love and commitment. However, the international trade in diamonds from Sierra Leone and Angola have enriched and empowered some of the cruelest fighting forces in the world. Increasingly, diamonds are associated not with love but with rape and amputation by the RUF in Sierra Leone. It is vitally important that the trade in diamonds be reformed quickly so that their image is not irreparably damaged. Otherwise legitimate producers like South Africa will be seen as peddlers of war spoils rather than symbols of love, and value of all diamonds will be forever tarnished."
Diamonds derive their unique value from consumers' association of the gem with love and commitment. However, the international trade in diamonds from Sierra Leone and Angola have enriched and empowered some of the cruelest fighting forces in the world. Increasingly, diamonds are associated not with love but with rape and amputation by the RUF in Sierra Leone. It is vitally important that the trade in diamonds be reformed quickly so that their image is not irreparably damaged. Otherwise legitimate producers like South Africa will be seen as peddlers of war spoils rather than symbols of love, and value of all diamonds will be forever tarnished."
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