Mugabe has announced this week that the sale of Zimbabwe diamonds will continue despite lacking KP certification.

Global mining giants Rio Tinto had announced in June that they would invest $300 million into expanding Zimbabwe’s diamond production , estimated to bring capacity to produce one quarter of the worlds diamonds.

It is hoped they will suspend the plans to expand until KC certification is reinstated and human rights atriocities have ceased.

Please click the link below to connect to the Professional Jeweller Article.

http://www.professionaljeweller.com/article-8090-zimbabwe-to-ignore-diamond-trade-ban/

Click on the link below  to be taken to Humans Rights Watch letter to jewellery retailers and see their campaign to stop Zimbabwe Blood Diamonds:

http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/12/17/letter-select-major-diamond-retailers

Fifi Bijoux opposes the trade of diamonds to fund military activity or diamonds which are mined in a manner which we deem detrimental to the miners, the environment, immediate community or which  appears to jeopordize a countries stability and ability to trade transparently and peacefully. We have not and will not purchase diamonds from Zimbabwe until it is clear that human rights are being upheld and the conditions for diamond mining are in full compliance, not only with Kimberley Certification, but also with our strict code of practice for social responsibilty and environmental stewardship.

Fifi Bijoux currently sources diamonds from Lesotho, Canada, Australia and Sierra Leone. Each of the projects we work with have demonstrated exceptional levels of commitment to ethical practise and can be tracked from mine through to cutting and polishing, to ensure human rights are upheld throughout our supply chain.

We are currently working with 2 other diamond producers for future projects and it is our strict belief that the best method to prevent continued abuse of human rights in diamond mining is to boycott sources which do not comply and to promote transparency in the jewellery supply chain in order to make all relevant imformation available to consumers. Fifi Bijoux promotes positive ethics throughout our supply chain and favours Fair Trade standards and mining practices which actively benefit the local communities through equitable trade and respect for social and environmental best practice.

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.