Conflict Diamonds

Never has an issue posed such a threat to the Diamond industry and yet, at the same time, the issue of conflict diamonds threatens the economic future of some of Africa's poorest countries.
"the diamond industry is vital to the Southern African economy. Rather than boycottsbeing instituted, it is preferable that through our own initiative the industry takes a progressive stance on human rights issues." Nelson Mandela, 1999

In 2002 Nelson Mandela historically congratulated the diamond industryduring an industry dinner in London on the progress that had been made.

"Hip-hop entertainer Kanye West, as well as politicians and movie celebrities, are using the issue of 'blood diamonds' from Sierra Leone and elsewhere in Africa to sell records and videos, but are they really portraying what is happening?" Martin Rapaport (Chairman of the Rapaport Group, publisher of the Rapaport Diamond Report).

Is it better to tackle the issues in Africa by boycotting the diamond industry or supporting it as it helps Africa to create fair trade structures and modernize their diamond industry? Rapaport Fair Trade Diamonds