Ethical+Consumption
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Nov 24, 2024
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GEA 2000 World Regional Geography Writing Assignment: Do You Shine Bright Like A Diamond?
Picture it. You just got engaged and you are presented with a sparkly diamond ring to symbolize your
unending love for each other. Firstly, congrats. Secondly, have you ever thought about how diamonds
have become so strongly associated with love and marriage?
Humans have been using diamonds for tools and decorations for thousands of years. However, it wasn’t
until the brilliant marketing campaign of Cecil Rhodes and his company, De Beers, that they gained their
association with marriage. Through the following years people created rules with how much is
acceptable to spend on the ring, how large the stone should be, and how the stone should be cut. In
more recent years the image of diamonds has dulled due to associations with conflict, working
conditions, and environmental concerns, so people have begun to critically examine the industry. In this
assignment you are going to explore the idea of ethical consumption by using the diamond mining
industry as a case study. As always, please submit your assignment as either a .docx or .pdf.
Resources
Guardian Article (also available as a pdf on Canvas):
https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-
business/diamonds-blood-kimberley-process-mines-ethical
FairTrade International (optional):
https://www.fairtrade.net/
Questions
1.
One of the most famous issues associated with diamonds is the presence of conflict diamonds
(sometimes called “blood diamonds”).
a.
Using the internet and the Guardian article, define ethical consumption and conflict
diamond.
2.
What is the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and how is it implemented?
a.
Are there consequences if a country does not adhere to the values put forth by the
agreement?
3.
Many people suggest the Kimberley Process is not enough to ensure that conflict diamonds are
removed from the supply chain. As a result, some people argue the diamond industry should
move toward fair trade standards.
a.
Using the Guardian article (PDF on Canvas), identify two critiques of the Kimberley
Process, and briefly discuss how fair trade standards would change the diamond
industry.
Many scholars suggest that the diamond industry needs to look beyond the Kimberley Process to
address socio-economic and environmental concerns at the site of the mines. Canada and Botswana
have positioned themselves as leaders in ethical diamond production, so they make great case studies
for understanding how mines can move beyond the Kimberley Process. In Canada, you will use Diavik
Mine (
https://www.riotinto.com/en/Operations/canada/diavik
). In Botswana, you will use Jwaneng Mine
(
https://www.debswana.com/Operations/Pages/Jwaneng-Mine.aspx
). Scan through both websites to fill
out Table 1. Hint: You may have to look for sections about social or corporate responsibility to find the
information. If a mine shows commitment to one of the behaviors described in the first column, you will
enter “x” in the cell. For example, if Diavik Mine demonstrates gender empowerment then you will enter
“x” in the cell at the intersection of the column called Diavik Mine and the row called gender
empowerment.
Table 1. Behaviors of Mining Companies in Canada and Botswana
Mining Company Behaviors
Canada (Diavik Mine)
Botswana (Jwaneng Mine)
Community Financial
Arrangement
Gender Empowerment
New Community Facilities
Land Rights Acknowledgement
Environmental Protections
4.
You’ve seen both negative and positive outcomes associated with the diamond industry. The big
question with ethical consumption is how can we be better consumers?
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