Blood diamonds?

[abbieg]

I think sooner or later my boyfriend might ask me to marry him, but I feel ethically like I shouldn't be wearing diamonds if people really are dying over them, either because they finance wars or because the mining conditions are horrible. Then I got to thinking, maybe ALL precious metals come to us at the expense of human rights. Does anyone know? Should I give up gold/silver/rubies/etc. forever?

[Dassie]

Give them up? Then you'll also have to give up many other things if you think this way. What about clothes and other items made in foreign countries where there is cheap labour who have to work long hours. What about not driving your car because of the petrol being used due to oilrig conditions where men are often killed in search of "black gold"? Get the picture !
Now don't stop there....what about animal rights and the blood that is spilled to feed you

[diamondrocks]

i wouldnt call this 'news'

[Dassie]

Not "News" but a "current affair" ?

[daffy654]

They're not really known as blood diamonds here in the UK anyway,thats an American term.We more commonly refer to them as conflict diamonds.

[jake-the-peg]

A lot of jewlers are "fighting back" with certification programs like this http://jewelry.about.com/cs/diamondmining/a/di amonds.htm

Very few diamonds on the market are now "conflict" ones but another good reason to avoid diamonds is the way deBeers has historically controlled the market to artificially manipulate the price.

Why are diamonds expensive? Because DeBeers says so:

The classic article on this if you've not read it is "have you ever tried to sell a diamond" It's about 20 years old now and DeBeers have now paid a fine and are allowed to operate in the US but it's still an eye opener:

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/198202/diamond

It doesn't have to be a diamond to be beautiful

What do you think of this?

http://www.jewelryexpert.com/catalog/Trillium- Homer-Sapphire-Engraved-Ring.htm

[Ethel]

I don't wear precious metals or jewels precisely because of this. Jewellery is not a life necessity.

You can be engaged and married without rings.

I don't expect other people to do the same though,

[aims1202]

Yes you should. I dont see the point in them any way, would rather spend the money (if i had it) on travelling, or on my friends and loved ones than a diamond.
I cried all the way through that film, it may not be happening for that now, but those terrible things are still happening for other stuff. We cannot change the world but we can each do our little bit to help.
Have you heard of this site www.wearewhatwedo.org