Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism

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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.


For More Information

The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism's work on international issues is supported by a generous contribution from Marilyn Herst Karsten.

To learn more, contact RAC Legislative Assistant Micaela Hellman-Tincher, or visit the following websites:


Endnotes

1Ian Smillie, Lansana Gberie and Ralph Hazelton, Sierra Leone: Diamonds and War, pg. 1.

2To be clear: if diamond revenues were not being used to purchase weapons that are used against the unarmed population, there would be no concern about the RUF's control of Sierra Leone's diamonds. It is the link between diamonds, weapons and abuses that is of concern, not diamonds in and of themselves.

3Holly Burkhalter,"Deadly Diamonds: Gems Sold in the United States Pay for Atrocities in West Africa", Legal Times, pg. 74.

4"De Beers calls for firm diamond industry action on 'conflict diamonds", De Beers Press Relaease, June 14, 2000.



Last Updated May 11, 2001


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