Diamonds are NOT my best friend
The link for the title of this post is to a documentary about the Diamond Empire. I had my doubts about diamonds previously, which became more solidified after watching the movie Blood Diamond. I had been somewhat aware of conflict diamonds but realized that if diamonds are used to fuel the conflicts that bloody the continent that is one of my homes, I wanted no part of it - unless of course they were conflict-free (or lab-created). And then I watched this documentary and learned of a diamond empire that has been unethically built over a century, at the cost of Africans, South Africa's apartheid, and much more. But if that wasn't enough, those who grew this diamond empire created a deception so that consumers (both women and men) believed, and still believe, that diamonds are a girl's best friend, and that they are "forever"; they have created the impression that diamonds are rare and extremely valuable, only because they make it that way - controlling what goes on the market and stock-piling the rest. De Beers is at the center of this diamond empire and has a monopoly on the diamond market all over the world.
This documentary that I have linked to the title of this blog describes the history of this century-old empire and how it was formed. De Beers' unscrupulous methods have contributed to the poverty of Southern Africa, typifying what colonizers did by oppressing the African people. I think everyone should watch this and consider the history of that diamond you wear on your finger, or the diamond you bought for your loved one; or if you don't have one yet, educate yourself about it for the future. It is no longer just about conflict diamonds. To me, for what the diamond empire has done to the continent of Africa and the rest of the world, they might as well all be conflict diamonds. The documentary is about an hour long or so. It looks like it's outdated but it really isn't; it's a history lesson that continues to be relevant to the choices we make today. Just because we are not the deceiver doesn't mean we are not a part of the deception; we are just as guilty if we participate in it by allowing ourselves to be deceived and enable the deception to continue. If you absolutely must get a diamond, get one that is used; you can put the old stone in a new setting. This is something De Beers doesn't want you to do.
Seriously....watch this documentary and pass it on.
This documentary that I have linked to the title of this blog describes the history of this century-old empire and how it was formed. De Beers' unscrupulous methods have contributed to the poverty of Southern Africa, typifying what colonizers did by oppressing the African people. I think everyone should watch this and consider the history of that diamond you wear on your finger, or the diamond you bought for your loved one; or if you don't have one yet, educate yourself about it for the future. It is no longer just about conflict diamonds. To me, for what the diamond empire has done to the continent of Africa and the rest of the world, they might as well all be conflict diamonds. The documentary is about an hour long or so. It looks like it's outdated but it really isn't; it's a history lesson that continues to be relevant to the choices we make today. Just because we are not the deceiver doesn't mean we are not a part of the deception; we are just as guilty if we participate in it by allowing ourselves to be deceived and enable the deception to continue. If you absolutely must get a diamond, get one that is used; you can put the old stone in a new setting. This is something De Beers doesn't want you to do.
Seriously....watch this documentary and pass it on.
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