This Valentine's Day Make Sure Your Diamond Doesn't Have Blood on it!

[tisucre]

Bridal Registry
Conflict Diamonds Week of Action
February 9-14, 2003

source: amnesty.org
Direct link: http://www.amnestyusa.org/diamonds/valentines_day.html



Join Amnesty International USA's Week of Action and help break the link between the diamond trade and human rights abuses. The period leading up to Valentine's Day is one of the biggest diamond sales periods of the year in the US. Therefore, we urgently need to send powerful messages to the diamond industry and Congress about the need for strong, effective legislation to guide the international diamond trade.

Some of the world's most beautiful gems are helping fund violent and brutal rebel insurgencies across Africa, like in Sierra Leone where the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) finances their brutal campaign by selling illicit diamonds onto the world market. They are best known for their trademark crime; cutting off the limbs and body parts of innocent men, women, children and babies. The RUF has ravaged Sierra Leone and its people for too long.


Since September 11, 2001 concerns have also mounted over links between the trade in conflict diamonds and money laundering by groups like Al-Qaeda. A recent report in the Financial Times of London in 2002 estimated that Al-Qaeda might have laundered up to 20 million US dollars in conflict diamonds.

About the Kimberley Process

The Kimberley Process sets out guidelines and principles to govern the international diamond trade. The international community and diamond industry developed it in response to the problem of conflict diamonds. The Kimberly Process was to have come into affect on January 1, 2003; however, the United States has not passed the necessary regulations and legislation to enforce the Kimberly Process. In addition, there are significant weaknesses to the Kimberly Process, such as the narrow definition of conflict diamonds, which excludes diamonds controlled by groups like the al Qaeda, the exclusion of polished stones and diamond jewelry from the gems monitored, and the lack of independent monitoring over the Kimberly Process itself. Furthermore, the diamond industry’s chain of warranties, a critical compliment to the Kimberly Process, has yet to be effectively implemented and independently monitored.

With continued fighting linked to the exploitation of natural resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and more and more reports detailing how the al Qaeda financed its activities through the sale of conflict diamonds, it is more essential than ever that the Unites States, the world’s largest diamond market, pass strong, effective legislation as soon as possible.

Decisive action must be taken, to protect innocent people, prevent consumers from unwittingly financing such groups and to protect a legitimate industry. These efforts have now reached a critical stage where strong US leadership and action will make the difference between public relations cosmetic action and genuine reform.

Learn More:

Blood Diamonds: Illicit diamonds make fabulous profits for terrorists and corporations alike. The trade illustrates with the hard clarity of the gem itself that no matter where human rights violations occur, the world ignores them at its peril.

Draft Proposals for Diamond Legislation for the 108th Congress:
RTF Format | PDF Format

Did Someone Died for that Diamond?
View our Movie Flash

For addresses and more information, please go to the following websites:
http://www.worldvision.org | http://www.oxfamamerica.org | http://www.catholicrelief.org

What You Can Do:


Contact your Senator and Representative and urge them to implement the Kimberley Process and effective government oversight of the US diamond industry.
Take Action Now
Call on your State/Regional Jeweler Association to lobby the US Congress to implement the Kimberley Process and to accept independent monitoring of their "chain of warranties."
Take Action Now
Urge your State Chamber of Commerce to lobby the US Congress to implement The Kimberley Process, and call on the US diamond industry to accept independent monitoring of the industry's "chain of warranties."
Take Action Now
Visit local jewelry stores and ask if they and their suppliers are complying with the Kimberley Process and if they have a chain of warranty. Send back answers to africa@aiusa.org.
Remind the general public that the human rights violations caused by conflict diamonds have not been resolved and that they can make a difference.


Happy V Day all... Vagina Day ;-)
cheers
Tisucre