“Diamonds are not just symbols of love, fidelity and purity, they are the most concentrated
form of wealth on earth, and because of that, they attract problems. A raid on a Damiani
showroom in Milan netted thieves as much as $30 million in diamond jewellery in February.
That was just one of many diamond heists. If you Google “diamond theft 2008” you will
find more than five million articles. It stands to reason, therefore, that conflict diamonds could
return to countries where development is stunted and governance weak. That is why
organizations like the Diamond Development Initiative (DDI) are so important, and why
efforts to bring greater transparency to the extractive sector need all the support they can
get. The intergovernmental Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative and the NGOled
Publish What You Pay Campaign are key elements in this.”
