Fifi Bijoux - Luxury Ethical Jewellery » blood diamond http://www.fifibijoux.com Fifi Bijoux uses ethically mined and fairly traded precious metals and precious gemstones to create luxurius ethically sourced contemporary jewellery Mon, 26 Dec 2011 13:36:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Diamonds Are Forever http://www.fifibijoux.com/2009/11/diamonds-are-forever/ http://www.fifibijoux.com/2009/11/diamonds-are-forever/#comments Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:22:44 +0000 vivien http://www.fifibijoux.com/?p=403 I’ve just been enjoying a TV performance by Dame Shirley Bassey of one of my favourite songs ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ with a little ethical diamond slant thrown in by Dizzee Rascal!

This evening also saw a performance by another diva favourite of mine, none other than the lovely Annie Lennox.

I was lucky enough to meet Annie Lennox last year and she was utterly charming.

(We discussed the Fifi Bijoux ‘From Little Acorns’ project and the Shoe Box appeal launched in response to Marie Claire readers!).  The Feast Of Albion - This event is a celebration of all that is great about Britain, in aid of the Soil Association and there will be a range of entertainment that runs throughout the evening, encompassing outstanding upcoming and established British talent. The headline performance is by the legendary singer Annie Lennox. Organised by Quintessentially Photography By Morgan O'Donovan

 Glad that her voice can still make me cry its so beautiful, and I know that she works hard to promote education for women and children with HIV in Africa.

As for my own ‘Forever’  fair trade diamonds, I’m delighted to introduce the result of the ultimate design challenge; my own ring! Sparkling round my little finger are:

 2 small Fair trade ethical diamonds mined in a women’s co-operative in Lesotho , cut and polished in a fair trade, co-operative workshop in Surat

1 Canadian ethical diamond in a Radiant square cut ( mined, cut and polished to highest assured and certified ethical standards)

2 little Scottish sapphires in Princess cuts, extremely rare indeed in a blue-green colour, cut and polished here in Scotland

Set in Fair Trade Platinum from Colombia and mounted on an 18ct Rose Fair trade Gold band,  from co-operative mine in Argentina.  All mined without mercury or cyanide, of course!

(I couldn’t leave anyone out! I work with such fabulous projects it was impossible not to have them almost all involved!).

Anyway, I’ve taken a snap for you! Here we are , ta- ra!   5 stone

More soon!

Fifi xxx

]]> http://www.fifibijoux.com/2009/11/diamonds-are-forever/feed/ 0 Fireworks http://www.fifibijoux.com/2009/11/fireworks/ http://www.fifibijoux.com/2009/11/fireworks/#comments Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:10:29 +0000 vivien http://www.fifibijoux.com/?p=377 A Call to Action

This week sees the convention of diamond officials who will discuss the continuing problem of Blood Diamonds.

As Mugabe’s diamonds remain on the global market, can anyone be sure that they aren’t currently buying a diamond from the high street which has been mined amidst the murder of some 200 civilians in Zimbabwe in the diamond fields?

The profits from these conflict diamonds are being used to finance political militia.

Sierra Leone has yet to make a full recovery from it’s bloody conflict, funded by diamonds, 1991-2002. Tens of thousands of civilians lost their lives and over 2 million people were displaced by the war.

As Christmas seems to quicken it’s pace towards us, the surge in engagement ring enquiries for Christmas delivery has got well under way. However, for those who aren’t ‘in the know’ about conflict diamonds, far less fair trade diamonds, they could well be unwittingly placing a Blood Diamond on their loved one’s finger.

Zimbabwe’s Rio Tinto mine alone produces approximately 260,000 carats per year and has plans to increase production up to sixfold.

 Gifts of Love Should Not Fund Hate

 

 I’ve just signed an urgent petition urging international regulators meeting in Namibia this week to ban Zimbabwe diamonds, sending a clear message that I do want the rough diamond trade financing war and violence as has been seen in the recent past in Angola & Sierra Leone.

 

Please join me by signing the Avaaz petition below and let’s get a massive petition together that will be delivered directly to the meeting in Namibia.

 

We have just 24 hours to persuade regulators to act.

Click here to Sign the Petition

 

I feel it’s time we sent up a rocket to stop this trading in its tracks- and so remove a considerable source of finance from Mugabe’s grip.

 

Ethical Diamonds

 

Ethical diamonds are more than a luxury which offers a consumer choice, they have a real impact on the communities who mine them and the nations which hold such valuable reserves.

 

At Fifi Bijoux I was determined to make the maximum positive impact possible on these communities, many of which remain in abject poverty despite their valuable resources. We source our diamonds with extreme care and only from specific mines (not just from specific countries). We’ve gone as far as it’s possible to go into our supply chain. However, most jewellers fail to trace their supplies any further than the dealer who sold them the goods (and not without reason, its extremely difficult to access the supply chain).

 

However, this should not mean that high street jewellers are legitimately trading in Blood Diamonds, or Conflict Diamonds without any choice in the matter.

Diamond industry officials must intervene and stop these diamonds reaching the market.

 

Thanks for taking the time to read this and learn more. If you’d like to read a detailed article I have written for Greener View magazine on Blood Diamonds, please follow this link below:

 

Greener View

Vivien

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