diamonds Archives - Saskia Shutt

Meeting the Diamond Miners in Liberia

Saskia Shutt — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 14:05:16 +0000

What do Diamonds For Peace do?

Diamonds For Peace was set up in 2014, founded by Chie Murakami, in Japan.

There aim is to improve the working conditions and social status of the workers in the diamond supply chain and to promote ethics and fairness in the diamond industry. They provide support to improve the working conditions and social status of artisanal diamond workers in developing countries, especially in Africa and raise awareness of the issues in the diamond industry.

The Trip to Liberia

The long-awaited visit to the Diamonds For Peace (DFP) communities has finally arrived.

I traveled with fellow goldsmith Mara Bragaglia, landing in Monrovia during the rainy season. We were warmly welcomed by Chie, the visionary founder of DFP, at our guest house. After settling in, we prepared for our journey.

The next morning, our driver, Marvin, and Winston, a dedicated DFP employee, picked us up. Together, we set off on a four-hour drive to Gbarma. There, a three-day workshop awaited the leaders of the Gbarma, Weasua, and Camp Alpha cooperatives.

Workshops and meeting the diamond miners

The workshop focused exclusively on cooperative leaders, equipping them with essential skills and knowledge to share with their members when they return home. During the first two days, we explored key topics such as “Mindset,” “Business Plan,” and “Record-Keeping.” These competencies are vital for establishing and managing successful cooperatives.

Gbarma faces unique challenges as it navigates the strict regulations set by the newly elected Liberian president and government to achieve cooperative status.

Beekeeping Workshop

On the third day, we shifted our focus to beekeeping. Victoria, a miner from Weasua with extensive beekeeping knowledge, teamed up with Moses, another expert, to conduct an engaging workshop. They guided the cooperative leaders and select Gbarma miners through the basics of beekeeping, including the hierarchy of a beehive, maintenance techniques, and how to identify natural enemies.

In the afternoon, the leaders learned to construct hives using locally sourced wood. By the end of the practical session, we had installed eleven beehives in Gbarma, marking the exciting start of their beekeeping venture.

Beekeeping and Fish Elevation

Beekeeping offers a sustainable way for miners to support themselves while generating a second income to lift them out of poverty. The basic materials needed for beekeeping are relatively low-cost. They can use wood from the surrounding forests, requiring just two gables, two side panels, a base, and top bars. Best of all, the bees are free! The miners simply need to attract them to the hives, allowing them to begin building honeycombs and producing honey.

In addition to beekeeping, the cooperative also constructs and manages fish ponds. On the outskirts of Weasua village, we discovered three ponds dedicated to fish farming. Fish is a staple in the Liberian diet, and the miners can sell their catch at local markets.

Both beekeeping and fish farming are essential for empowering the miners and improving their livelihoods.

About Diamond Mining at Weasua

During our visit to Weasua, we toured our first mine, graciously opened to us by an independent miner. Although not led by Diamonds For Peace (DFP), this dual-purpose mine for gold and diamonds provided valuable insights.

Miners are legally required to hold separate licenses for gold and diamonds. However, many do not, resulting in one being mined legally while the other is not. Most miners working with DFP are currently informal (illegal) miners. Some may have had a diamond license at one point but are too poor to renew it.

On a positive note, Victoria obtained a legitimate diamond mining license in August 2023. Another miner, Mariama, is also in the process of getting hers. This is exciting news for the future!

DFP has partnered with the Weasua cooperative for five years. This community was the first DFP worked with and has been receptive to their criteria, especially regarding women miners. In many communities, women are still not allowed to mine. (read my article on Superstition: an uphill battle for Diamonds For Peace)

Pushing for change for the diamond miners

Diamonds For Peace (DFP) is advocating for changes that would allow miners to sell rubies and quartz found in diamond mines. This could help diversify and enhance their income streams.

However, the process is slow. DFP does not engage in bribery, which means their requests and negotiations with officials take significantly longer.

Visiting Camp Alpha

Our final destination was Camp Alpha.

Last year, Diamonds For Peace (DFP) hosted a diamond prospecting workshop with an expert from the US. The workshop taught cooperative members in Camp Alpha scientific and responsible prospecting techniques.

Despite initial enthusiasm, many miners often revert to traditional methods, turning prospecting directly into mining. The workshop emphasized responsible prospecting by encouraging miners to keep initial test holes small and shallow. This approach conserves resources and makes refilling easier if no diamondiferous gravel is found.

Unfortunately, during our visit to three sites, we found that miners had already started mining instead of prospecting. They lack confidence in the scientific theory of prospecting. Gaining their trust will take time, and often, seeing proof is key to building that confidence.

My thoughts about meeting the diamond miners

I left Monrovia feeling a renewed sense of hope. Meeting Victoria and Mariama was truly inspiring. Their eagerness to learn and progress was palpable.

Victoria stands out as a beacon of motivation for her fellow miners. With over 50 beehives under her care and her diamond mining license, she exemplifies the success and potential that Diamonds For Peace (DFP) aims to cultivate within these communities.

Witnessing DFP’s unwavering dedication to empowering these communities is truly inspiring. They equip miners with the skills to recognize and value rough diamonds while promoting responsible mining practices. Their work represents a beacon of sustainable development and community empowerment.

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Sustainability in Diamonds versus Lab-grown Diamonds

Saskia Shutt — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 16:30:12 +0000

Exploring Sustainable Diamond Mining and Lab-Grown Alternatives

On October 28, 2022, Artemis GEO hosted an event featuring guest speaker Iris Van Der Veken. Iris shared insights into her start-up collaboration with Cartier & Kering, focusing on sustainability and gender equality. During the evening, an audience member asked, “Why do we still mine diamonds when laboratories can perfectly replicate them?”

This question struck me. The event’s theme, “Sustainability,” sparked an important debate: Which is more sustainable—mined diamonds or lab-grown diamonds? This debate continues in the jewellery trade, raising essential questions about the true meaning of sustainability.

What is Artisanal Small-Scale (ASM) Mining?

Diamonds form naturally deep within the Earth. Carbon under intense pressure creates diamonds, which rise closer to the surface over time. Today, around ten million people globally rely on diamond mining for their livelihoods, with ASM miners making up about 20% of this workforce.

ASM miners work independently, extracting minerals with basic tools, usually by hand, and without corporate employment. Many live in remote, rural areas and depend on mining as their primary income source.

The Lab-Grown Diamond Landscape

High-tech factories now produce lab-grown diamonds, which mimic natural diamonds. In 2019, China produced over half of the world’s lab-grown diamonds, sending 85% of its output to Europe. With high-quality lab-grown diamonds available, it’s fair to ask, “Why keep mining diamonds at all?”

This question is valid, yet I wonder: would ending natural diamond mining lead to true sustainability? Stopping ASM mining would remove livelihoods from millions, pushing vulnerable communities into deeper poverty. Can we really call that a sustainable move?

Sustainability in Diamonds versus Lab-grown Diamonds

If the world shifted solely to lab-grown diamonds, about two million ASM miners would lose their income, plunging rural communities into even more hardship. ASM mining is vital in developing countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, where many families rely on it for survival.

In contrast, lab-grown diamonds often come from factories in countries known for poor working conditions and environmental issues. Though lab-grown diamonds avoid direct extraction from nature, we still need to ask: do they offer a truly sustainable alternative?

Defining Sustainability Beyond the Surface

To me, sustainability means more than just protecting the Earth. It means securing a future where people and nature can coexist harmoniously. Real sustainability supports both environmental health and human welfare, providing safe work, fair wages, and equal opportunities.

By improving ASM diamond mining with fair policies, safety standards, and gender equality, we can strengthen communities. With these standards in place, miners can earn a fair living and send their children to school.

Can Diamond Mining Be Sustainable?

Although gold, diamonds, and gemstones will eventually run out, sustainable mining practices can protect both the planet and its people. True sustainability doesn’t rely on endless resource extraction; it prioritizes responsible practices.

Fairmined’s work shows that sustainable mining can succeed. This organization supports ASM gold miners in Colombia and Peru, ensuring fair wages, safe conditions, and sustainable practices. Fairmined gold is traceable from mine to market, with circular water use and land restoration in place.

We can adopt these standards in diamond mining. The problem isn’t the resource itself but how we extract it. By focusing on safety, gender equality, and environmental stewardship, we can support communities and conserve natural resources responsibly.

Sustainable mining balances human welfare with planetary health. By refining our methods rather than focusing solely on the products we extract, we can ensure a future where both people and the environment thrive.

Interested in finding out more about commissioning responsibly sources raw materials for your bespoke jewellery? Contact Saskia directly via email or book an appointment and visit her in the workshop to discuss your ideas.

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