I know I''ve heard of "conflict diamonds," but what about colored stones?

[velouriaL]

Does anyone know if any of the problems and human rights issues associated with the diamond trade hold true for the ruby, sapphire, or other colored gem trade? I''d be interested in links to articles as well.

 

[strmrdr]

Yes its an issue the US has an embargo on against Burma goods.
http://www.customs.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/burma_embargo.ctt/burma_embargo.doc

 

[strmrdr]

http://www.ruby-sapphire.com/burma_embargo.htm

 

[mogok]

Well I''ve heard that the ban was not affecting anymore burmese gems as most of them are proecessed out of Burma...

For the rest there are all the time people trying to sell paper or movies that are trying to link gemstones with whaterver can help to sell their paper or movie: drug, slavery, children work, money laudering, terrorism, whatever.
As gemstones are the most concentrate way to concentrate money, as they can travel easily, for sure they interest also some people as investment as if you have 1 hour to leave your country you can take your ruby but not your house. Anyway as for any production coming from third world countries you can find or make disgusting stories around gemstone mining. I think you can find also human right issues on cotton, coffee, bananas, metal mining, rubber, petrol, gas, peanuts,...

I''ve to say that personally in the 8 years I''ve spend running gem mines in south east Asia in countries like Vietnam, Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. I had never personally seen anything hurting my philanthropic nature... The worse thing I''ve seen in Burma for example was prisonners or villagers doing some forced labor on roads... But I think that in some place in USA you can also see some chained prisonners working on streets, in France I''ve seen a policeman beating a guy in the tube station and I still dont feel good about that. So well. But in bars and coffee shop in Bangkok coming from people who never went to a mine, on TV, magazines or Internet, I''ve learn a lot on all the things I''ve never seen.
May be the people that had report these facts are more cleaver that I''m. I have to say that I''ve some very bad opinion on some of them, as I know that they were unfair and they reported things that they never witness themselves.

Regarding to gem business or in life, I think that you have the choice: You can search for beauty or for evil. Both of them are not find like that, but if you are motivated and interested, probably you will discover something that will be amazing! Now you can dig for gems or for shit... Its a question of objectives in life!
If you are interesting in digging for evil, dont worry you will find some. But one thing I know about gem business, is that all over the world I''ve met many wonderful people involve in it from miners, to dealers, jewellers or hobbyits. These people are searching beauty, they are trying to make a living from their passion or just to live this passion... Of course all are not angels and greedy people are also present. But they do not desserve such things as a ban on Burmese goods...

This ban has hurt mostly small dealers and miners that have lost their US customers. Big dealers, generals, money laudering people have ways to turn the ban and continue to do whatever they want but small people are put out of business and have to find other ways to survive. Thats bad and evil...

Anyway...

I just wake up in Bangkok, and this day will probably be good as my coffee was bad... LoL

Have a nice day! All the best...

 

[velouriaL]

That was a really interesting, thoughtful post, Vincent. Thank you.
Also, thank you for the links, strmrdr.