According to a recent U.S. State Department report, smuggled and illicit conflict diamonds may amount to as much as ten to fifteen percent of the $50 billion of diamond jewelry sold internationally each year. American consumers - who buy 65% of diamond jewelry sold internationally - unwittingly subsidize violence in Sierra Leone and Angola through their diamond purchases.
Information on the Clean Diamonds Act
This is an issue that hits particularly close at home for the Jewish community. Jews, historically and still today, have been at the forefront of the diamond industry and are involved on every level from mining to retailing. This makes it even more important that we be at the forefront of putting an end to the human rights abuses perpetuated by conflict diamonds.
Jewish Values and the position of the Reform Movement regarding conflict diamonds.
View relases from the Religious Action Center on Conflict Diamonds.
