‘Blood Diamonds’ Polished Off

After coffee, it’s now turn for diamonds. A worldwide campaign by NGOs brought about a new brand -- Fair-Trade Certified Coffee -- that ensures the coffee beans were bought from growers at fair trade condition. Now a global campaign against the so-called “blood diamond”, the stones mined and smuggled out by armed groups in Africa to finance civil wars or illegal operations, has brought some initial restrictions. Thirty five countries agreed to prevent “blood diamonds” from reaching the world market. This BBC report, though, quotes an activist as saying” the new regulations are just a vague code of conduct and will not provide a way of tracking diamonds from the mines to the shops, as intended.” The report adds, “the real question now is whether the diamond industry can adopt a system that really regulates itself, ending its tarnished image in which up to 20% of its trade is in illicit stones. “ – YaleGlobal