"Blood Diamond" not so good for diamonds

hsmith · 12-11-2006, 11:31 PM

'Blood Diamond' May Dull Gem's Gleam, As Holidays Near, Movie Shines A Light On The Dark Side Of The Diamond Business - CBS News

(CBS) For diamond merchants it's the peak season for sales, CBS News correspondent Thalia Assuras reports. but Hollywood may dull the gleam with the movie "Blood Diamond."

Leonardo DiCaprio plays a smuggler in the seamy world of arms dealing, trading weapons for diamonds during the decade-long civil war in the African nation of Sierra Leone.

"In America it's 'bling bling,' but out here, it's 'bling bang,'" DiCaprio says in the film.

To get the diamonds, rebel fighters terrorized villagers, killing indiscriminately and, in an especially brutal tactic, hacking off limbs.

"Hundreds of people running around with various limbs amputated going about, mothers cradling their newborn children without arms, it was an incredibly horrible, cruel thing to see," says Chris Hondros, a Getty Images photographer.

Hondros and author Greg Campbell traveled to Sierra Leone five years ago to track so-called "blood diamonds" from war-torn Africa to the world's jewelry counters.

"The entire purpose of the war in Sierra Leone was to steal the diamonds," Campbell says. "It was a jewelry heist is simply what it was."

The war and abuses in Sierra Leone ended four years ago, and the diamond industry says diamonds no longer fuel such conflicts. That's because of a new certification system implemented after the war.

Known as the Kimberly Process, it's supposed to guarantee diamonds are not from war zones. But a recent United Nations reports says these so-called "conflict diamonds" are today being smuggled out of the Ivory Coast. Critics charge certification has loopholes for future abuses.

"It's simple to move diamonds from one country to another. And it's just as simple now to mix them in with legitimate diamonds," Campbell says.

Ed Zwick, who directed "Blood Diamond," hopes moviegoers start asking where diamonds come from.

"Ask for ironclad verification that the stone that you buy did not come from a conflict zone," Zwick says.

Diamond dealer Ronnie Mervis says his customers already have questions. "We are more than 99 percent confident" that the diamonds they receive from Africa are clean.

With diamonds on plenty of Christmas lists, Mervis is banking on the adage that even bad publicity can be good for business.

only 99% sure that their diamonds aren't conflict diamonds. i have started hearing commercials "refuting" the movie by diamond sellers.

pretty sad, when will people finally see how horrible this industry is. if one needs to be regulated, it is diamonds

lew · 12-12-2006, 09:48 AM

The diamond industry is a joke.

at your tags. stupid, women

Scrum · 12-12-2006, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by lew

at your tags. stupid, women

Agreed. If women and rappers would just stop demanding diamonds, this problem would fix itself.

DosEquis · 12-12-2006, 10:29 AM

I like how they also rename the "blood" to "conflict" in effort to make it seem .. less mean.

6SpeedTA95 · 12-12-2006, 10:52 AM

I bought my wife's ring from a local jeweler and he couldn't guarantee me they were "blood free" diamonds, but I got a smokin' deal on fantastic quality stones for each of her rings

Am I going to hell hsmith?

Phantom · 12-12-2006, 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by 6SpeedTA95

Am I going to hell hsmith?

you're going to hell because you are conservative, so you might as well enjoy some of the benefits.

6SpeedTA95 · 12-12-2006, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by Phantom

you're going to hell because you are conservative, so you might as well enjoy some of the benefits.

I forgot about that part

hsmith · 12-12-2006, 11:07 AM

Personally, I am going to demand a blood diamond.

And bring it up every time she talks about the stone

hsmith · 12-12-2006, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by lew

The diamond industry is a joke.

at your tags. stupid, women

only women could overlook slave labor because of a shiny rock

Phantom · 12-12-2006, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by hsmith

Personally, I am going to demand a blood diamond.

And bring it up every time she talks about the stone

I think I might specifically request a diamond that at least 10 persons died over the next time I walk by a jewelry store. I think the request will need to be made while standing next to the girl looking at teh largest diamonds in the store

Scrum · 12-12-2006, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by hsmith

Personally, I am going to demand a blood diamond.

And bring it up every time she talks about the stone

Demand that at least 3 children had their hands cut off in the mining of the diamond.

hsmith · 12-12-2006, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by Phantom

I think I might specifically request a diamond that at least 10 persons died over the next time I walk by a jewelry store. I think the request will need to be made while standing next to the girl looking at teh largest diamonds in the store

"How many children died to get this diamond?"

"None"

"None~~ COME ON!!"

hsmith · 12-12-2006, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

Demand that at least 3 children had their hands cut off in the mining of the diamond.

the whole industry makes me sick

Phantom · 12-12-2006, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by hsmith

the whole industry makes me sick

isn't it sort of the epitome of anarcho-capitalism?

lew · 12-12-2006, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by Phantom

isn't it sort of the epitome of anarcho-capitalism?

Not at all.

Phantom · 12-12-2006, 11:58 AM

Originally Posted by lew

Not at all.

what am I missing?

hsmith · 12-12-2006, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by Phantom

isn't it sort of the epitome of anarcho-capitalism?

You are free to sell your labor at any price you desire.

Enslaved children are not free to do that.

lew · 12-12-2006, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by Phantom

what am I missing?

A breech of human rights such as life and liberty are against the ideals of anarcho-capitalism.

DosEquis · 12-12-2006, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by lew

A breech of human rights such as life and liberty are against the ideals of anarcho-capitalism.

It can be argued that dying is a hazard of the job. They are also paid (granted its pennys) for the stuff they are doing and in most cases they can go do something else. Sounds like pure capitalism to me.

hsmith · 12-12-2006, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by DosEquis

It can be argued that dying is a hazard of the job. They are also paid (granted its pennys) for the stuff they are doing and in most cases they can go do something else. Sounds like pure capitalism to me.

Since when are slaves allowed to do whatever they want?

Sure they can quit, but they would be shot in the face.

Doesn't sound like free labor to me!