Dear Congressmember,
After diamond-fueled wars in Angola, Sierra Leone, and the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo), the diamond industry agreed in 2002 to regulation of the entire supply chain of diamonds through the Kimberley Process.
Despite these efforts, the trade in blood diamonds continues. Global Witness and Amnesty International recently reported that $23 million worth of blood diamonds are being smuggled each year from the Ivory Coast of Africa and sold worldwide.
As the largest consumer of diamonds, the U.S. must take the lead in strengthening the Kimberley Process to require verification of industry compliance, and to strengthen enforcement of the U.S. Clean Diamond Trade Act.
Blood diamonds have already fueled civil wars and destroyed countries, killing over 4 million people and displacing millions more. Knowing this, I want assurance that the diamonds I buy are conflict-free.
It's clear that the diamond industry cannot be trusted to properly regulate the sale and trade of blood diamonds. We need government regulation.
[Your comment]
As your constituent, I urge to you to support legislation that will make this possible.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Address]
