09/06/06 campaign to educate both consumers ....

[Zoinkers]

NEW YORK, Sept. 6 /CNW/ - As part of its recently announced
campaign to
educate both consumers and the trade about important diamond-related
issues,
the diamond industry announced today the launch of a new informational
web
site, www.diamondfacts.org, along with a major advertising effort that
includes full-page print ads in ten major U.S. and international
newspapers
including The New York Times, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, The Times
(UK),
International Herald Tribune and Financial Times.
Diamondfacts.org offers a wealth of information about diamonds:
from
facts about the history of the trade and the social and economic
benefits
diamonds provide nations around the world, to reporting on how the
industry is
grappling with various challenges including conflict diamonds.
"The primary goal of Diamondfacts.org is to offer people a wealth
of
factual, balanced information about diamonds," said Eli Izhakoff,
Chairman of
the World Diamond Council, which is leading the education campaign. "We
want
people to feel good about their diamond purchases, so we attempted to
help
eliminate some of the myths and misperceptions about the industry. We
tapped
countless academics, industry organizations, and other experts to
ensure that
the information we publish on the site is accurate and offers many
perspectives and points of view."
At the new web site, visitors can understand how diamonds are
making a
difference globally. From the countries where they are mined to the
countries
where they are sold and polished, diamonds create jobs and
opportunities that
support millions of people around the world. The web site also
highlights the
significant role diamonds are playing, particularly in southern Africa
in
contributing significantly to supporting healthcare, education and
other
infrastructure needs. Specifically, they are helping tackle the
HIV/AIDS
pandemic, helping fund necessary counseling, testing, education,
treatment
programs, clinics and hospices, along with homes and care for orphans.
In
addition, the website features personal stories from people whose lives
have
been changed due to diamonds.
Diamondfacts.org also offers information about the progress the
industry
has made in virtually eliminating the trade in conflict diamonds.
Questions
were first raised about the impact of diamonds in the late 1990s, when
the
world became aware that a number of rebel movements in Africa were
smuggling
and selling illegally obtained stones to fund conflicts against
legitimate
governments. At the beginning of this decade, the trade in these
conflict
diamonds represented approximately 4% of the world's rough diamond
output.
Since then, the trade in conflict diamonds has been significantly
reduced to
less than 1% of the world's rough diamond supply.
In large part, this progress has been the result of a joint effort
by the
diamond industry, the United Nations, more than 45 individual
governments, and
several NGOs to develop a method of verification that would stop the
sale of
conflict diamonds and the atrocities and violence they supported. Known
as the
Kimberley Process, this system was endorsed by the UN in January 2003
and
currently includes nearly 70 countries representing 99.8% of current
world
diamond production.
Diamondfacts.org contains detailed explanations of how retailers
and the
jewelry trade can guarantee that the diamonds they sell are
conflict-free and
how consumers can buy diamonds with confidence. Visitors to the site
can walk
step-by-step through the Kimberley Process and System of Warranties;
read what
various experts have to say about conflict diamonds; and also keep
abreast of
the latest relevant news.
A trade pack of materials were launched earlier this year, as part
of the
industry's educational initiative to raise awareness of the positive
impact
the diamond industry has on Africa, as well as its progress in
virtually
eliminating the trade in conflict diamonds. Along with the World
Diamond
Council, this industry-wide campaign includes the American Gem Society,
Diamond Dealers Club, Diamond Manufacturers & Importers Association of
America, Jewelers of America, Jewelers Vigilance Committee, Jewelry
Information Center and the Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of
America.

For more information, please visit www.diamondfacts.org.


About World Diamond Council


Amid growing concern over human rights violations and atrocities
committed against innocent victims in diamond producing countries of
war-torn
central and western Africa, the World Federation of Diamond Bourses and
the
International Diamond Manufacturers Association passed a resolution at
their
Antwerp meeting in July 2000, creating the World Diamond Council.
The resolution called for the newly formed WDC to include
representation
from the diamond industry itself and also from among countries where
diamonds
play a major economic role and from the international banking sector.
The
ultimate mandate for the World Diamond Council is the development,
implementation and oversight of a tracking system for the export and
import of
rough diamonds to prevent the exploitation of diamonds for illicit
purposes
such as war and inhumane acts.
The World Diamond Council represents over 50 industry organizations
-
from mining companies and trade associations to manufacturers and
retailers -
worldwide. Member organizations include: ABN Amro Bank International
Division;
Alrosa Company; American Gem Society; Antwerpse Diamantbank; Ascorp;
Association of Diamond Manufacturers of Russia; Belgian Federation of
Diamond
Bourses; BHP Diamonds & Industrial Metals; Canadian Diamond Consultants
Inc.;
Cartier; Centre for Expertise, Valuation and Certification (Democratic
Republic of Congo); CIBJO; Codiam; Damas; De Beers; De Beers LV;
Debswana
Diamond Co.; Diamond Chamber of Russia; Diamond Dealers Club New York;
Diamond
Federation of Hong Kong; Diamond Manufacturers and Importers
Association;
Diamond Trading Company; Dubai Metals and Commodities Center; EGL USA;
Eurostar Diamonds Ltd.; Gem and Jewelry Export and Promotion; Harry
Winston,
Inc.; International Diamond Manufacturers Association; International
Gemological Institute; Israel Diamond Exchange; Israel Diamond
Institute;
Israel Diamond Manufacturers Association; Jewelers of America; Jewelers
Vigilance Committee; Leviev Group of Companies; London Diamond Bourse;
Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America; Ministry of Mines
(Namibia);
Namdeb Diamond Corporation; Rapaport Corporation; Rio Tinto Diamonds;
Rosy
Blue; Shanghai Diamond Exchange Co. Ltd.; South African Diamond Board;
Sterling Jewelers, Inc.; Tacy Diamond Consultants; The Dubai Multi
Commodities
Centre; Tiffany & Co.; Union Bank of Israel; United Association of
South
Africa; World Federation of Diamond Bourses; Zale Corporation.


For further information: US Contact: Carson Glover, World Diamond
Council, [e-mail], [phone]; Intl. Contact:
Jonathan Sinnatt, Manning Selvage & Lee, 44-207-878-3169,
[e-mail]


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