Ethical issue highlighted by Blood Diamond

THE RELEASE of the film Blood Diamond has drawn attention to the issue of conflict diamonds.

Jewellers’ representatives have bombarded the media in an effort to assure the public that the enforcement of the Kimberley Process controls have virtually eliminated the trade in blood diamonds.

What these spin-doctors fail to mention is the fact that the Kimberley Process only applies to unpolished or rough diamonds and completely ignores the trade in the much more lucrative polished diamonds from conflict zones.