In the 1990’s blood diamonds from West Africa were recognized as a crisis that international community had to do something about. The Kimberly Process is what they did. Seventy-five countries take part in the process. Each member country has to meet extensive requirements before diamonds are verified to ship as conflict free. The system has largely worked.

But we’re going to talk now about a situation in a diamond mine in Zimbabwe that’s testing the boundaries of the Kimberly Process. Brian Leber is President of Leber Jewelers, they are a retailer that specializes in ethical Jewelry. Brian was instrumental in the “Block Burmese Jade Act”. It stopped the import of Burmese jade and rubies into the US starting in 2008. The proceeds from the sales were benefiting the military junta in Burma. Also with us is Tiseke Kasambala a Senior Researcher, Human Rights Watch.