The World Beyond BetterMost > Anything Goes
On Diamonds
Lynne:
We're seeing AVATAR this week, and although I think I know what it's about, I've not done any additional reading.
I agree that BLOOD DIAMOND was somewhat forumulaic, but nonetheless, I found it very powerful. I can't imagine myself ever owning another diamond and I keep entertaining thoughts of getting rid of the ones I have and making donations to an appropriate charity. :-\
I can't imagine ever wanting another diamond and being thrilled about it the way I was my first one, when I was innocent of how that market operates and exploits.
delalluvia:
--- Quote from: Lynne on January 18, 2010, 01:31:19 am ---We're seeing AVATAR this week, and although I think I know what it's about, I've not done any additional reading.
I agree that BLOOD DIAMOND was somewhat forumulaic, but nonetheless, I found it very powerful. I can't imagine myself ever owning another diamond and I keep entertaining thoughts of getting rid of the ones I have and making donations to an appropriate charity. :-\
I can't imagine ever wanting another diamond and being thrilled about it the way I was my first one, when I was innocent of how that market operates and exploits.
--- End quote ---
The Blood Diamond issue is tragic, but considering very few people are consumers - who buys diamonds? - that it seems a drop in the bucket compared to the same sort of human rights abuses over something much more impacting - like oil. Which no one is willing to stop using.
But this is a topic for another thread.
Front-Ranger:
Almost everybody who gets married owns a diamond or several. Most same sex couples I know have plain gold bands, but a diamond in the ear is fashionable.
I've had an avatar for four years now, named Front-Ranger!
delalluvia:
--- Quote from: Front-Ranger on January 18, 2010, 04:52:57 am ---Almost everybody who gets married owns a diamond or several. Most same sex couples I know have plain gold bands, but a diamond in the ear is fashionable.
--- End quote ---
Only adults, only those who can afford them and only those whose marriage traditions include getting rings as nuptial symbols. That's mostly the affluent West, isn't it? How about the 5 billion other people on the planet?
[shrug]
As I said, it doesn't impact as many people as does the oil business. I used to work for a scholarship service for Angolan students sponsored here in the U.S. Well, not Angolan students per se, only the children of the wealthy oil executives of Angola who worked for Sonangol Oil. Angola still was divided, had rebels and was trying to recover from their massive civil war. What resources supported each side? Diamonds and oil.
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: delalluvia on January 18, 2010, 11:34:33 am ---Only adults, only those who can afford them and only those whose marriage traditions include getting rings as nuptial symbols. That's mostly the affluent West, iisn't it? How about the 5 billion other people on the planet?
--- End quote ---
It may not constitute a majority of Earth's inhabitants, but it's millions of people. Plus, I have two small diamond ear studs unrelated to my marital status.
However, the movie suggested that it is possible to buy diamonds that aren't "blood diamonds." It probably takes some careful consumerism, just as when you buy a foreign-made rug you want to make sure it wasn't made by children.
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