Innovative Minds © 2014. All Rights Reserved. www.inminds.co.uk
|
Boycott Israeli Blood Diamonds
Why Israel?
Israel is one of the worlds leading producers of cut & polished diamonds. It imports rough diamonds, doubles their value by cutting & polishing, and exports them globally via hubs in London, Antwerp, HK, NY & Mumbai. In 2011 Israels net export of diamonds was worth $10 billion (30% of Israels manufacturing export, Israels #1 industry). 40-50% of diamonds purchased in the US in dollar terms are from Israel.
Most people dont realise that diamonds sold in jewellers worldwide are bankrolling Israels war machine: Overall the Israeli diamond industry contributes about $1 billion annually to the Israeli military and security industries every time somebody buys a diamond that was exported from Israel some of that money ends up in the Israeli military evidence given by Israeli economist Shir Hever (Russell Tribunal Nov 2010).
Kimberley Process Failing
The Kimberley Process (KP) was supposed to prevent the trade in diamonds that fund human rights violations. However, The KPs narrow definition of a conflict diamond excludes cut and polished diamonds. Jewellers exploit this anomaly, deceitfully claiming diamonds crafted in Israel are conflict free despite the UN Human Rights Council having found Israel guilty of war crimes and possible crimes against humanity.
Diamonds crafted in Israel cannot be distinguished from other diamonds. Unless a diamond is laser inscribed to identify where it was crafted or the jeweller can provide documentary evidence of where it was cut and polished, there is a high risk of buying an Israeli blood diamond. Israels leading exporters of Diamonds are Leo Schachter ( includes Leo Diamonds as sold in Ernest Jones ) and Lev Leviev Diamonds.
What can I do?
- Dont buy a diamond unless you know where it was cut and polished.
- In Dec 2011 the British Jewellers Association(BJA) directed jewellers to take every reasonable precaution to prevent [Zimbabwe] Marange diamonds [which are also exempt from the KP definition of conflict diamond] entering the UK supply chain." Yet in 2010 Israels net export of diamond was worth 25x Zimbabwes total diamond export. Why the double-standards? Write to BJA Chief Exec, Simon Rainer (simon.rainer@bja.org.uk), ask why is he ignoring Israeli blood diamonds.
- When concern for Israeli blood diamonds was raised in Retail Jeweller Magazine, Beaverbrooks Jewellers defended Israel saying its bombing of Gaza in 2009, which killed 318 children, was "a legitimate act of self-defence", any accusation of war crimes are "biased" and "flawed". Beaverbrooks also admits selling Israeli diamonds. Dont shop in Beaverbrooks, demand they apologise to the children of Gaza.
Related Articles |
|
Support Us
If you agree with our work then please support us.
INMINDS Facebook Live Feed
Featured Video's
You need Flash player 8+ and JavaScript enabled to view this video.
Featured MP3 Podcast "Apartheid is dead, you cannot have justice and peace with apartheid. Racism is dead, you cannot have justice and peace with racism. The zionist regime is the materialisation, is the epitome of racism and apartheid" Islamic Centre England Al Quds Day 2007, London [10min / 5Mb] [need flash]
Boycott Israel Campaign
|
|