Do some research [irrelevant insult deleted].. the native people of canada do NOTHING BUT BENEFIT from the mines in Canada, creating Jobs, building schools and putting millions of dollars through the yellowknife economy due to trade laws that state the amount of Aboriginal workers and rules that all materials purchased must come from yellowknife and local lsources. The remote regions of Canada where the mines are are completley uninhabited.

Diamond mines in Canada are operated under the strictest environmental laws in the world, ensuring there is ZERO impact to the environment outside of the site

[irrelevant insult deleted].

“Diamond Miners are Disproportionately Exposed to HIV/AIDS” Are you kidding me?? So their employers are forcing them to have unprotected sex?

[ad hominem attack deleted]

By the way, engagement have been around far more than 63 years. Check your facts; the first recorded incidence of a diamond engagement ring was that given to Mary of Burgundy by the Archduke Maximilian of Hamburg in 1477.

Now, I doubt that they’d say that the diamond industry in Canada is exclusively 100% positive in its impact, and I think you are wrong that all the mining takes place in uninhabited regions, also, “zero impact on the environment” is something I find hard to believe, but in general I think you are right that Canadian diamonds are not something to worry about nearly as much as diamonds from other parts of the world.

However, please realize that when the article was written (five years ago) it was not as easy as it is today for a customer to choose a Canadian diamond that could be trusted to be free of the problems that have plagued the industry in the 20th century. It is only in these past few years that there has been awareness of the problems of diamonds among merchants and customers, and the development of the marketing chanels that allow a customer to trust that they are getting a good diamond. In fact, I think it is critical articles like Liz’s that have helped to embarass the industry into doing things to clean up its act. And frankly, I think most people who buy diamonds today still have no idea that there are problems with some diamonds, and make no effort to seek out the better ones, like the Canadian ones.

By the way, just because Canada has strict environmental laws on its books doesn’t mean that aboriginal peoples and their lands are always protected properly. See the debate over the Northgate Minerals Corporation’s proposed ‘Kemess North’ mine. It’s not a diamond mine, but it does suggest that money and influence can get in the way of environmental and human protection even in Glorious Canada. Here’s another example taken from the Turtle Island discussion board on Protecting Mother Earth and Natural Resources.

Although I support most of your issues, I am somewhat against 3. “Diamonds Have No Resale or Investment Value.”

Although it is true for most cases, it is certainly not true in my case. I have been working for the past four years in my father’s jewellery firm. Its is one of the highly respected and reputed jewellery firms in India. We have an exchange policy unlike most other jewellers. In my limited experience, I have seen our customers exchanging diamonds sold by us, being as cheap as $2 to as expensive as $100,000, for stones of a higher value countless times. We deduct only 6-8%(being our profit) from the existing increased market value of their diamonds and either hand over cash, or adjust the value in their next purchase.

(For example, say in 2000 you bought a diamond of $1000. In 2002 you want to buy a larger stone worth $2000. If the value of the $1000 stone is 1500, he gets to pay $590 only) This is however, only in cases older than 6 to 8 months. Before that, we don’t deduct anything.

More importantly, we provide a facility seconded by none, i.e. we offer the client’s full money back to her is she is not satisfied of the worth of our diamonds.

Hope this will help.

In the case that you have a piece of jewelry that you don’t feel the neccesity to keep, feel free to sell it to the first schmuck who will pay a decent price for it, and use that money to contribute to an organization that aids the people that have been exploited by this outrageous, evil industry. I might suggest Amnesty International: http://www.amnesty.org/
or also:
http://www.goal.ie/
http://www.selfhelp.ie/selfhelp/Main/Home.asp

On that note, I am enjoying seeing the pros and cons fight. Thanks for destroying the planet!!

And, I get the impression that this article was written by someone who is more against the giving of diamonds as engagement gifts than anything else. They are, after all, expensive, and most women have been socialized to expect a diamond once the question is popped. I would love to know what the writer would suggest as an alternative symbol of the promise of marriage.

(I bet the writer doesn’t believe in marriage at all. . .)

Nor is marriage even a requirement for any sort of long-term relationship. You imply that it is wrong to not give your loved one an expensive symbol or sign yourself into an unnecessary contractual agreement. I think you’re fairly narrow-minded in this respect.

There is more to a relationship than “Hook up, get engaged, [get diamond ring], get married, have children.” While the ultimate goal of relationships is procreation, that does not necessitate either marriage OR a symbol of adoration. Just sex. Marriage and Dowries are merely societal shackles on a relationship. That’s not to say marriage is a bad thing, but I think you really ought to do some homework on the whole concept of marriage, as well as keep in mind that it really, truly, isn’t necessary for a successful long-term relationship. [No, really!]

You obviously have no knowledge of how South African mines are run. Despite “modern” security and benefits, minors are sexually abused by older miners, mostly miners in higher positions. These practices were extremely prevalent in South African mines up until a few decades ago - young boys were practically sold to black miners in high positions as literal “boy brides.”

If I were you, I wouldn’t make uneducated and high-moralled guesses to what conditions are like in mines. The companies, De Beers included, do nothing to improve conditions in the mines. The mines have a responsibility as an employer to grant their employees a safe working environment.

This was the story of a few decade ago…(when India was a British colony) now the things have changed.

Get the facts right & keep them up-to-date.
Surat, A city in India processes ~80% of the diamonds.

Sounds like somebody’s a virgin or totally ignorant. You don’t know how humans work, do you?

Those companies mining at unacceptable conditions should be exposed and prosecuted, while you should not buy from sources you cant be sure are safe.