Archive for April, 2008
Investors Urge Responsible Mining in Guatemala
Monday, April 28th, 2008Shareholders in Canadian mining firm are exercising their influence in support of human rights in Guatemala. A group of shareholders from Canada and Sweden have reached an agreement with Goldcorp Inc., which has agreed to commission an independent human rights impact assessment of its operations in Guatemala.
The investors spent more than two years trying to […]
A Larger Diamond for Less? It’s True!
Monday, April 28th, 2008As any diamond consumer knows, diamond grading options can be confusing and intimidating to navigate. As you wade through the myriad of options available for trying to balance size, quality, and beauty, Brilliant Earth offers one little-known suggestion rarely made by jewelers that can allow you to secure a larger diamond without additional cost. […]
Corporate Responsibility and the Jewelry Sector
Friday, April 25th, 2008Brilliant Earth is currently engaged as part of the Madison Dialogue, a collaborative of companies, nonprofits, advocates and other agencies working towards establishing verified sources of responsible gold, diamonds and other minerals. We are part of a fascinating discussion about how companies in the jewelry sector are bringing corporate responsibility and sustainability to a […]
Pete Wentz, Conflict Free At Heart
Friday, April 25th, 2008Yup, it’s true, People Magazine reports that Pete Wentz bestowed a conflict free diamond engagement ring on his fiancee Ashlee Simpson. Wentz even called out his conflict free cause at the recent NME Awards by wearing a t-shirt with the message “Coltan is a Conflict Diamond,” referring to the metallic ore largely found in the […]
Côte d’Ivoire Election Date Set
Monday, April 21st, 2008Rapaport News reports that a date has finally been set for the much-delayed presidential election. Côte d’Ivoire will hold their elections on November 30, 2008. The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Côte d’Ivoire welcomed the news, but peace remains a fragile state of affairs in the country, and the UN […]
Côte d’Ivoire Arms Still Funded by Conflict Diamonds
Thursday, April 17th, 2008All Africa reports that an April report by the UN’s Group of Experts, which report to the UN Security Council, has found that both the the national army, Defence Forces of Cote d’Ivoire, and the former rebel army Forces Nouvelles have been violating a UN arms embargo and using diamond mining to fund weapons purchases.
The […]
Green on the Inside, Only in April!
Wednesday, April 9th, 2008Brilliant Earth has just launched a special offer for our customers in celebration of Earth Day. For just the month of April, Brilliant Earth is setting a small green sapphire on the inside of our engagement rings as a special complimentary gift commemorating our customers’ commitment to building a better future for our […]
Country Update: Congo Violence Continues
Monday, April 7th, 2008The Democratic Republic of Congo has abundant natural resources, including diamonds, cobalt, copper and petroleum, but little to show for them. Conflict over resource management has led to bloody conflict and the deaths of literally millions of Congolese. Today, while the conflict has formally ended, the violence and misuse of resources has not.
South Africans Lose Against Platinum Giant
Tuesday, April 1st, 2008Rural communities in South Africa are losing their farm land and clean water to the activities of platinum mining giant Anglo Platinum, the world’s largest platinum company. A new ActionAid report, Precious Metal: The impact of Anglo Platinum on poor communities in Limpopo, South Africa, focuses on just one of a number of platinum producers […]