In the News
« Previous EntriesKimberley Process Reviews Angola
Tuesday, September 29th, 2009Over the past four years, Angola has avoided being scrutinized in the conflict diamond trade, but recent allegations of human rights abuses have plunged this war-torn nation back into the international spotlight.
Last month, investigators for the Kimberley Process conducted a long overdue mission to Angola, the first since 2005. The team visited northern Angola, where [...]
Zimbabwe Suspension Pending Approval
Thursday, August 6th, 2009Amid strong evidence of the Zimbabwe government and military’s direct involvement in brutal attacks on diamond miners in the country’s Marange district, a Kimberley Process delegation has at long last recommended that Zimbabwe be suspended from the scheme. For months, international human rights groups have called for Zimbabwe’s expulsion from the Kimberley Process, which is [...]
Kimberley Process Team Investigates Zimbabwe
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009In response to ongoing reports of government corruption and human rights abuses in Zimbabwe’s diamond fields, a Kimberley Process review team has recently visited the country to assess its diamond industry first-hand. After a week-long investigation, the review team has confirmed beliefs that Zimbabwe’s military and police were complicit in widespread violence and human rights [...]
Angola Attempts to Halt Diamond Smugglers From DRC
Wednesday, July 15th, 2009The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is engaged in an ethnically-charged tribal war that has seen nearly six million people killed in the past 10 years. Poverty and disease are rampant, with little money available for medicine, education or infrastructure. Child abuse, rape and sexual assault are common. Yet, the country is incongruously rich in [...]
Zimbabwe Smuggling Incidents Continue
Tuesday, July 14th, 2009As Zimbabwe’s ongoing legitimacy in the Kimberley Process is questioned, the country continues to demonstrate a lack of control over its rampant diamond smuggling. The government, the military and many civilians of Zimbabwe are all simultaneously in the business of smuggling conflict diamonds into world markets.
Questions Concerning Greenland Rubies
Friday, June 12th, 2009With many western countries now banning ruby imports from Myanmar due to serious social injustices, the search is on for the next best high-quality source of rubies. Greenland is a rich source of the prized red gems, and a Canadian enterprise called True North Gems is in the process of opening a large-scale mining operation [...]
Conflict Diamond Expert, Ian Smillie, Walks Away from the Kimberley Process
Wednesday, June 10th, 2009In the midst of frustration, Ian Smillie, one of the leading conflict diamond experts and key architect of the Kimberley Process, declared his resignation to the Kimberley Process members this past month, declaring the process ineffective. In an eloquently written letter, Smillie states: “when regulators fail to regulate, the systems they were designed to protect [...]
Sign Too Precious to Wear’s Coral Pledge
Wednesday, June 10th, 2009Coral is a precious natural resource on which much of the earth’s life depends. Unfortunately, it is also being killed and eroded at an alarming rate, posing a threat to all manner of marine life. Corals are suffering from over-fishing, gas exploration, invasive species, pollution, climate change and consumer demand for home décor items [...]
Demand for Action on Nicaragua Gold Mine
Wednesday, May 27th, 2009Canadian-US mining giant, Goldcorp, plans to close its enormous San Martin gold mine in Honduras at the end of 2009. The Honduran government and numerous independent organizations are now demanding that the company take responsibility for damage the mine has caused to the environment and the health of local communities.
Diavik Mine Exceeds Standards of Community Support
Wednesday, May 27th, 2009Brilliant Earth’s environmentally and socially responsible Canadian diamonds are sourced from two specific mines in the Northwest Territory of Canada, one of which is the Diavik Mine. The Diavik Mine maintains high standards of social and environmental responsibility, and plays an impactful role in local community development of the Northwest Territory region.
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