I hesitate in writing this post for fear that you will appreciate less the lovely roses your hunny gave you a few days ago. I don't intend to be a buzz kill, so don't take this the wrong way. BUT I found this documentary to be so educational and eye-opening, that I did want to share it.
"Blood Roses and Deathly Diamonds"
(I think accurately) presents the true cost of traditional Valentines gifts.
First: Roses
This is an 8.5 billion dollar industry, 1 billion of which is based in Colombia due to the slightly bigger heads on the roses. Colombians work from 7:30 am to midnight every day and are required to produce at least $70,000 bouquets each day. But more concerning than their rough work load are the health consequences. The greenhouses they work in are extremely toxic and cause infertility and birth defects. Because of this, women must show a certificate that their fallopian tubes have been disabled. Unbelievable. These Colombians also suffer arthritis, back problems and paralysis from their work.
Isn't it amazing that roses can be cut in Columbia one morning, arrive in Miami that same day, and be shipped to the Los Angeles flower market the next day? That means that when your roses arrived on Monday, it is possible that they were growing in Colombia on Friday.
Second: Diamonds
The RUF in Sierra Leone gained control over diamonds in the 1990's when they overtook communities and broke families apart (as we read about in Ishmael Beah's A Long Way Gone- Great read!) In 2002 the civil war was declared over, but the effects are still evident today. Will the diamonds that helped destroy that country help it recover? Mining is the only means of survival for many in that desperate country. "Blood Roses and Deathly Diamonds" follows a miner on his 3 hour walk to/from work each day, where he digs in the hot sun all day long- all for 30 cents and 2 cups of rice. Miners are paid a tiny percentage of the worth of diamonds they find. But when people go 2-5 months without finding a diamond, there is little to no hope for getting out of this sick cycle. The worker in the video says that his work today feels like HEAVEN compared to what it was like when the RUF was there breathing down his neck and shooting anybody who so much as let their shovel rest for a quick break.
What I think is the worst part about this situation is that the miners have zero education, and hence don't know what the diamonds are worth when they do find them! The appraisers are giving them whatever compensation they feel like, and the workers don't know any better. They don't even know numbers! Apparently there is an American group (The Integrated Diamond Management Agency) who go to Sierra Leone and teach miners about cut, karat, clarity... so that they can keep a fairer share of their diamonds.
I still LOVE my diamond ring, and every girl loves getting roses on Valentines day. But these issues are definitely something to think about.
3 comments:
Here's the thing. Diamond wedding rings are totally socially "the only way" for young American girls. I wouldn't have minded another stone, but I just went the traditional way. Thanks for this interesting post.
"They don't even know numbers!"
It sounds like you're a bit conflicted Stef (no pun intended). So are you pro blood diamonds or not? When you post something like this, you really have to take a stand on the issue.
That is awful! I am glad to say I've never gotten roses (or a rose) on Valentine's day. I hope something can be done about those toxic greenhouses in columbia.
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