Fair Trade Jewelry

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I was reading the January 2008 issue of JCK Magazine when I came across a short article about the Democratic Presidential candidates and diamonds. Having already heard about the diamonds or pearls question asked of Hillary Clinton I expected another humorous fluff piece. But when I read the article I noticed something else, something that got no press when it happened, and only rated a few lines in the already short JCK article.

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Tags: Spin, CSR, Fair Trade, Sustainability, Transparency, Change Agents, Diamonds, Interviews, Ethics, Editorial by Steve Gerencser
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If you are looking for a reason to purchase recycled gold, read this report put out by This Human Rights Watch, www.hrw.org. It outlines the abominable gold trade in the Congo.

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Tags: Transparency, Spin, Sustainability, Change Agents, Toxins, Mining, Gold, Editorial by Marc Choyt
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One of the outcomes of the Madison Dialog were several working groups, metals, refining, manufacturing, diamonds, and colored gemstones. The objective is to develop standards for for gemstone mining based on environmental and socially responsible principals. The outcome might be a third party certified fair trade gemstone.

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Tags: CSR, Ethical Initiatives, Fair Trade, Sustainability, Spin, Transparency, Madison Dialogue, Ethics, Change Agents, Fair Trade Gems by Marc Choyt
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Katy Sai of Story Bridge TV, an independent documentary production company, contacted us after visiting our website. After looking over their videos on the work done by the Anonymous Angels Co-op in Peru, we wanted to share their work with our readers. They’re inspiring for both the consumer and the greater jewelry trade. In Katy’s words: “They’re quite moving and a great example of how a socially responsible company can make a difference. Make sense?”

Well, we think so.

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Tags: Spin, Ethical Initiatives, Sustainability, Transparency, Change Agents, Interviews, Ethics, Editorial by admin
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Read this article published in the International Herald Tribune where Ian Smillie testifies against Charles Taylor. Ian is a Canadian expert on the international trade in illicit diamonds who presented at the Ethical Jewelry Summit in Washington DC.

Herald Tribune Article

In a related article from Martin Rapaport’s Rapaport News

Tags: CSR, Spin, Change Agents, Diamonds, Editorial by admin
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GET INVOLVED NOW!!!

The end result of the Madison Dialogue was several working groups, each planning on tackling issues around ethical standards and principals with the ultimate aim of developing third party certification processes. Here is the first public statement from Amanda Stark, the Rapaport Fair Trade Liaison and Estelle Levin, a minerals and sustainability consultant. They are the current chairs of the, Diamond Working Group.

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Tags: CSR, Spin, Ethical Initiatives, Fair Trade, Sustainability, Transparency, Change Agents, Madison Dialogue, Diamonds, Mining, Ethics, Environment, Editorial by admin
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I am grateful to this excellent work coming from Tiffany Scholar Sally Dickinson DeLeon and Saleem H. Ali, Ph.D along with several research collaborators at the University of Vermont. The site provides information for educators, researchers, governments, miners and companies. Also on the site are case studies done on the gemstone sector in various countries.

As someone passionate about the plight of artisanal miners, and as the President of Reflective Images, a jewelry deisign company, I am just most are grateful for this fantastic resource. Here’s the link:

http://www.uvm.edu/envnr/gemecology/index.html

Tags: CSR, Spin, Ethical Initiatives, Fair Trade, Sustainability, Transparency, Change Agents, Fair Trade Gems, Diamonds, Mining, Ethics, Environment, Editorial by admin
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With the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show just around the corner many dealers will be looking to purchase rubies. In this, my third post on this subject, I discuss the implications and the politics of Jewelers of America’s boycott of Burmese rubies

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Tags: Transparency, Spin, CSR, Sustainability, Change Agents, Environment, Fair Trade Gems, Rubies, Mining, Editorial by admin
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In this, the second of three posts on the subject of Burmese rubies, I publish a letter to the New York Times on The Burma Ruby Trade by Edward Boehm, Vice President of the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA), http://www.gemstone.org/ Boehm explains why a blanket boycott of Burmese rubies is the wrong move. Special thanks to Mr. Boehm for permission to print this letter.

A Letter On The Burma Ruby Trade by Edward Boehm, Vice President of ICA

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Tags: Transparency, Spin, CSR, Sustainability, Change Agents, Environment, Fair Trade Gems, Rubies, Mining, Ethics, Editorial by Marc Choyt
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Is there such a thing as a “blood ruby?”

Should gems from Burma be boycotted?

In this, the first of three posts on this subject, I provide some interesting information about where the generals in Burma really get the money that supports their oppression.

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Tags: Spin, Transparency, CSR, Ethical Initiatives, Sustainability, Change Agents, Environment, Fair Trade Gems, Rubies, Mining, Ethics, Editorial by Marc Choyt
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