The ‘Conflict-Free’ Diamond Cover Up: Note From the Publisher

March 13, 2022  |  Martin Rapaport
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Blood diamonds are diamonds involved in torture or slavery.

There is no justification for the buying and selling of blood diamonds.

Yet that is what our industry is doing. We cover it up by pushing misleading terminology like “conflict-free” or “non-conflict,” which implies diamonds are legitimate when they are blood diamonds. As an industry we support evil governments through the Kimberley Process (KP), which certifies blood diamonds as legitimate, giving them direct and easy access to our trading and cutting centers. These KP certificates also legitimize the money received from the sale of these diamonds. The KP is the washing machine for dirty diamonds and dirty money. Shockingly, the KP is supported by the World Diamond Council (WDC) and its member organizations.

And so, the torture goes on and on. For years the diamond industry has been trading Marange blood diamonds. The torture, KP certifying, and trading has become routine, normal and acceptable. It’s no longer shocking. Just another day, another deal, another victim. This must stop.

In spite of this terrible situation, the diamond industry does much good. Thousands of people and dozens of organizations are working hard to make the world a better place. Our trade is doing good things for the disadvantaged members of our industry, including artisanal diggers who are getting effective support from organizations like the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM), De Beers GemFair and many others. We are a caring, loving industry with good people who intensely care about others.

So how do we solve the problem? How do we keep blood diamonds out of our legitimate diamond supply chains? What should we do? That is what this issue of Rapaport Magazine is about. We are all in this together. There are many views. I will present mine and so will others. So read on. Get involved with this issue. Visit our social responsibility website sr.rapaport.com. Contact me at [email protected].

I believe in the goodness of our trade and its people. But I am worried about how we are handling the blood diamond issue. We must take action. We must stop trading blood diamonds.

Martin Rapaport
Publisher
[email protected]

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