apparently from my parents have told me I’ve always been fascinated with
I’ve always been fascinated with
I’ve always been fascinated with gemstones just so that you believe me
gemstones just so that you believe me
gemstones just so that you believe me here’s a picture of me being caught
here’s a picture of me being caught
here’s a picture of me being caught red-handed when I was seven years old I
red-handed when I was seven years old I
red-handed when I was seven years old I still remember going to my first
still remember going to my first
still remember going to my first gemstone exhibition and as I walked
gemstone exhibition and as I walked
gemstone exhibition and as I walked through the doors of that exhibition I
through the doors of that exhibition I
through the doors of that exhibition I still remember how fascinated I was when
still remember how fascinated I was when
still remember how fascinated I was when I saw all the glistening stones I
I saw all the glistening stones I
I saw all the glistening stones I immediately became interested in the
immediately became interested in the
immediately became interested in the beautiful colorful objects and within a
beautiful colorful objects and within a
beautiful colorful objects and within a couple weeks the gemstones it sparked a
couple weeks the gemstones it sparked a
couple weeks the gemstones it sparked a passion within me I started reading and
passion within me I started reading and
passion within me I started reading and learning all about them ruby sapphire
learning all about them ruby sapphire
learning all about them ruby sapphire garnet onyx amethyst diamond peridot
garnet onyx amethyst diamond peridot
garnet onyx amethyst diamond peridot agate you name it with time I literally
agate you name it with time I literally
agate you name it with time I literally read and learned everything I could find
read and learned everything I could find
read and learned everything I could find on crystals minerals and gemstones one
on crystals minerals and gemstones one
on crystals minerals and gemstones one day though when I was about 10 ish I was
day though when I was about 10 ish I was
day though when I was about 10 ish I was researching on the internet I wanted to
researching on the internet I wanted to
researching on the internet I wanted to find out why diamonds were so rare
find out why diamonds were so rare
find out why diamonds were so rare compared to all the other gemstones just
compared to all the other gemstones just
compared to all the other gemstones just for your information it’s because
for your information it’s because
for your information it’s because diamonds are the purest natural form of
diamonds are the purest natural form of
diamonds are the purest natural form of crystallized carbon and as a result of
crystallized carbon and as a result of
crystallized carbon and as a result of that they’re only formed in specific
that they’re only formed in specific
that they’re only formed in specific types of magma called kimberlites
types of magma called kimberlites
types of magma called kimberlites anyways while I was researching that I
anyways while I was researching that I
anyways while I was researching that I stumbled across an article that shocked
stumbled across an article that shocked
stumbled across an article that shocked me the article was about diamonds
me the article was about diamonds
me the article was about diamonds yes but rather than being about the
yes but rather than being about the
yes but rather than being about the Diamonds properties and crystal
Diamonds properties and crystal
Diamonds properties and crystal structure like all the other articles I
structure like all the other articles I
structure like all the other articles I had been before this article is about
had been before this article is about
had been before this article is about how the diamonds were actually obtained
how the diamonds were actually obtained
how the diamonds were actually obtained from the earth I at that time had never
from the earth I at that time had never
from the earth I at that time had never even considered that aspect of gemstones
even considered that aspect of gemstones
even considered that aspect of gemstones how they were actually mined and when I
how they were actually mined and when I
how they were actually mined and when I read that article I just couldn’t
read that article I just couldn’t
read that article I just couldn’t believe what I read the article
believe what I read the article
believe what I read the article described the life of an actual diamond
described the life of an actual diamond
described the life of an actual diamond miner
miner
miner and said that in some places children
and said that in some places children
and said that in some places children were forced to work under horrible
were forced to work under horrible
were forced to work under horrible working conditions to mine them children
working conditions to mine them children
working conditions to mine them children my age sometimes even younger even as
my age sometimes even younger even as
my age sometimes even younger even as young as five or six being underfed and
young as five or six being underfed and
young as five or six being underfed and night of health care taken away from
night of health care taken away from
night of health care taken away from home to work for diamond mining
home to work for diamond mining
home to work for diamond mining companies as a ten year old at that time
companies as a ten year old at that time
companies as a ten year old at that time I just couldn’t get myself to believe
I just couldn’t get myself to believe
I just couldn’t get myself to believe that adults would force children to do
that adults would force children to do
that adults would force children to do this that article deeply resonated with
this that article deeply resonated with
this that article deeply resonated with me and ever since then I have seen
me and ever since then I have seen
me and ever since then I have seen gemstones in a completely different
gemstones in a completely different
gemstones in a completely different light and precisely this is why I’m here
light and precisely this is why I’m here
light and precisely this is why I’m here today to speak about the real cost of
today to speak about the real cost of
today to speak about the real cost of diamonds well because children are
diamonds well because children are
diamonds well because children are considered a source of cheap labour they
considered a source of cheap labour they
considered a source of cheap labour they are employed by several large diamond
are employed by several large diamond
are employed by several large diamond mining companies and alarmingly regular
mining companies and alarmingly regular
mining companies and alarmingly regular rate in fact according to brilliant
rate in fact according to brilliant
rate in fact according to brilliant earth a survey taken in a province of
earth a survey taken in a province of
earth a survey taken in a province of Angola Africa showed that nearly 50
Angola Africa showed that nearly 50
Angola Africa showed that nearly 50 percent of all the diamond miners
percent of all the diamond miners
percent of all the diamond miners working there were aged 5 to 16 children
working there were aged 5 to 16 children
working there were aged 5 to 16 children just like you or me working up to 11
just like you or me working up to 11
just like you or me working up to 11 hours a day 6 to 7 days per week no
hours a day 6 to 7 days per week no
hours a day 6 to 7 days per week no holidays no weekends no nothing the
holidays no weekends no nothing the
holidays no weekends no nothing the thing is despite having work periods
thing is despite having work periods
thing is despite having work periods several hours longer than most adults
several hours longer than most adults
several hours longer than most adults these children are sometimes only paid
these children are sometimes only paid
these children are sometimes only paid 275 US cents per day that’s not even a
275 US cents per day that’s not even a
275 US cents per day that’s not even a dollar in fact that’s 77 times less than
dollar in fact that’s 77 times less than
dollar in fact that’s 77 times less than minimum wage in the United States 77
minimum wage in the United States 77
minimum wage in the United States 77 times less the worst part is though that
times less the worst part is though that
times less the worst part is though that the parents of such children usually
the parents of such children usually
the parents of such children usually have such a low income that they have no
have such a low income that they have no
have such a low income that they have no choice but to send their own children to
choice but to send their own children to
choice but to send their own children to work just a quick show of hands how many
work just a quick show of hands how many
work just a quick show of hands how many parents do we have in this room
now those of you who raised their hands
now those of you who raised their hands I’d like you all to imagine this you
I’d like you all to imagine this you
I’d like you all to imagine this you work so hard every day to try earn
work so hard every day to try earn
work so hard every day to try earn enough money to take care of your family
enough money to take care of your family
enough money to take care of your family but no matter how hard you work you
but no matter how hard you work you
but no matter how hard you work you aren’t able to provide enough support
aren’t able to provide enough support
aren’t able to provide enough support for your children how would you feel how
for your children how would you feel how
for your children how would you feel how would you feel if you were forced to
would you feel if you were forced to
would you feel if you were forced to send your own children to work every
send your own children to work every
send your own children to work every single day risking their lives in
single day risking their lives in
single day risking their lives in dangerous diamond mines how would you
dangerous diamond mines how would you
dangerous diamond mines how would you feel now this is to all of you I’d like
feel now this is to all of you I’d like
feel now this is to all of you I’d like you all to go back in time and visualize
you all to go back in time and visualize
you all to go back in time and visualize your life as a seven-year-old for some
your life as a seven-year-old for some
your life as a seven-year-old for some of you this may be a long time ago for
of you this may be a long time ago for
of you this may be a long time ago for others not that much but just try to
others not that much but just try to
others not that much but just try to really feel what your life was like at
really feel what your life was like at
really feel what your life was like at that time as if you re experiencing it
that time as if you re experiencing it
that time as if you re experiencing it where did you live
where did you live
where did you live what school did you go to what did you
what school did you go to what did you
what school did you go to what did you do in your free time what toys did you
do in your free time what toys did you
do in your free time what toys did you play with now imagine this you are still
play with now imagine this you are still
play with now imagine this you are still seven years old but instead of all the
seven years old but instead of all the
seven years old but instead of all the things you did including going to school
things you did including going to school
things you did including going to school you are being forced down a narrow and
you are being forced down a narrow and
you are being forced down a narrow and claustrophobic mineshaft on the verge of
claustrophobic mineshaft on the verge of
claustrophobic mineshaft on the verge of collapsing you can easily get lost you
collapsing you can easily get lost you
collapsing you can easily get lost you barely ever see your parents you work
barely ever see your parents you work
barely ever see your parents you work all day long
all day long
all day long almost all week you’re completely
almost all week you’re completely
almost all week you’re completely fatigued that you have to keep working
fatigued that you have to keep working
fatigued that you have to keep working or else you won’t earn enough money you
or else you won’t earn enough money you
or else you won’t earn enough money you may be abused or even tortured by this
may be abused or even tortured by this
may be abused or even tortured by this appears in your diamond mining company
appears in your diamond mining company
appears in your diamond mining company well this is the case of over 1 million
well this is the case of over 1 million
well this is the case of over 1 million children in Western and Central Africa
children in Western and Central Africa
children in Western and Central Africa only and I just really want to highlight
only and I just really want to highlight
only and I just really want to highlight this one thing these kids that work for
this one thing these kids that work for
this one thing these kids that work for long hours in the diamond mines they’re
long hours in the diamond mines they’re
long hours in the diamond mines they’re really just like any kid in the world
really just like any kid in the world
really just like any kid in the world they’re like
they’re like
they’re like me there like you although this thought
me there like you although this thought
me there like you although this thought may seem hard to process considering
may seem hard to process considering
may seem hard to process considering that my life like yours is so different
that my life like yours is so different
that my life like yours is so different from one of a diamond miner but I mean
from one of a diamond miner but I mean
from one of a diamond miner but I mean think about it it’s not like people
think about it it’s not like people
think about it it’s not like people choose what family they’re born into any
choose what family they’re born into any
choose what family they’re born into any of us that’s right any of us could have
of us that’s right any of us could have
of us that’s right any of us could have been born into a family of diamond
been born into a family of diamond
been born into a family of diamond miners in Western and Central Africa
miners in Western and Central Africa
miners in Western and Central Africa this could be your life now if you know
this could be your life now if you know
this could be your life now if you know the least bit about Africa you know that
the least bit about Africa you know that
the least bit about Africa you know that in some parts water is extremely scarce
in some parts water is extremely scarce
in some parts water is extremely scarce right well did you know that in the
right well did you know that in the
right well did you know that in the Central African Republic
Central African Republic
Central African Republic – the little water that is their
– the little water that is their
– the little water that is their industries such as diamond mining are
industries such as diamond mining are
industries such as diamond mining are the number one cause of water pollution
the number one cause of water pollution
the number one cause of water pollution in the Central African Republic water is
in the Central African Republic water is
in the Central African Republic water is already somewhat scarce but because of
already somewhat scarce but because of
already somewhat scarce but because of industries such as diamond mining the
industries such as diamond mining the
industries such as diamond mining the majority of it isn’t drinkable in
majority of it isn’t drinkable in
majority of it isn’t drinkable in addition diamond mining if done in
addition diamond mining if done in
addition diamond mining if done in certain ways can cause soil erosion
certain ways can cause soil erosion
certain ways can cause soil erosion which makes soil infertile this means
which makes soil infertile this means
which makes soil infertile this means that it is basically impossible to grow
that it is basically impossible to grow
that it is basically impossible to grow any form of food plant or crop so in a
any form of food plant or crop so in a
any form of food plant or crop so in a way the current ways of the diamond
way the current ways of the diamond
way the current ways of the diamond mining industry are not only an issue to
mining industry are not only an issue to
mining industry are not only an issue to do with human rights
do with human rights
do with human rights it is also to do with food shortage
it is also to do with food shortage
it is also to do with food shortage water scarcity and even the environment
water scarcity and even the environment
water scarcity and even the environment and this exactly this is why I strongly
and this exactly this is why I strongly
and this exactly this is why I strongly believe that this is not only an issue
believe that this is not only an issue
believe that this is not only an issue worth debating but doing something about
worth debating but doing something about
worth debating but doing something about but what can we do firstly what can we
but what can we do firstly what can we
but what can we do firstly what can we do as a community well as a worldwide
do as a community well as a worldwide
do as a community well as a worldwide community we can create a strict
community we can create a strict
community we can create a strict certification that ensures that a
certification that ensures that a
certification that ensures that a diamond is ethically mind using
diamond is ethically mind using
diamond is ethically mind using eco-friendly practices although there
eco-friendly practices although there
eco-friendly practices although there already exists a certification called
already exists a certification called
already exists a certification called the conflict-free certification this
the conflict-free certification this
the conflict-free certification this only ensures
only ensures
only ensures that the money raised from mining a
that the money raised from mining a
that the money raised from mining a diamond is news for war but I mean it
diamond is news for war but I mean it
diamond is news for war but I mean it has nothing to do with the protection of
has nothing to do with the protection of
has nothing to do with the protection of human rights or the protection against
human rights or the protection against
human rights or the protection against child labor but there is something we
child labor but there is something we
child labor but there is something we might be able to do another
might be able to do another
might be able to do another certification is slowly being put into
certification is slowly being put into
certification is slowly being put into motion the Fairtrade certification
motion the Fairtrade certification
motion the Fairtrade certification now Fairtrade international is an
now Fairtrade international is an
now Fairtrade international is an organization that creates certifications
organization that creates certifications
organization that creates certifications for industries and ensures that the
for industries and ensures that the
for industries and ensures that the products that they certify are ethically
products that they certify are ethically
products that they certify are ethically mud are ethically produced using
mud are ethically produced using
mud are ethically produced using eco-friendly practices sounds perfect
eco-friendly practices sounds perfect
eco-friendly practices sounds perfect doesn’t it the thing is it doesn’t exist
doesn’t it the thing is it doesn’t exist
doesn’t it the thing is it doesn’t exist for diamond mining or at least not yet
for diamond mining or at least not yet
for diamond mining or at least not yet so far Fairtrade international has
so far Fairtrade international has
so far Fairtrade international has created certifications for hundreds of
created certifications for hundreds of
created certifications for hundreds of industries ranging from tea and coffee
industries ranging from tea and coffee
industries ranging from tea and coffee planting all the way to even gold and
planting all the way to even gold and
planting all the way to even gold and platinum mining I actually got into
platinum mining I actually got into
platinum mining I actually got into contact with the director of fair trade
contact with the director of fair trade
contact with the director of fair trade in the Czech Republic and asked her
in the Czech Republic and asked her
in the Czech Republic and asked her whether or not there whether or not fair
whether or not there whether or not fair
whether or not there whether or not fair trade would be expanding their standard
trade would be expanding their standard
trade would be expanding their standard to diamond mining in the near future the
to diamond mining in the near future the
to diamond mining in the near future the director’s answer unfortunately was what
director’s answer unfortunately was what
director’s answer unfortunately was what the process is really complicated and
the process is really complicated and
the process is really complicated and requires a lot of time I was mildly
requires a lot of time I was mildly
requires a lot of time I was mildly disappointed by this answer I still
disappointed by this answer I still
disappointed by this answer I still strongly believe that if we support this
strongly believe that if we support this
strongly believe that if we support this idea of ethical diamonds change will be
idea of ethical diamonds change will be
idea of ethical diamonds change will be inevitable no matter what because
inevitable no matter what because
inevitable no matter what because ultimately it’s us the customers who had
ultimately it’s us the customers who had
ultimately it’s us the customers who had the power to change the world for the
the power to change the world for the
the power to change the world for the better or for the worse I mean do what I
better or for the worse I mean do what I
better or for the worse I mean do what I did maybe if one person contacts
did maybe if one person contacts
did maybe if one person contacts Fairtrade nothing will happen but if
Fairtrade nothing will happen but if
Fairtrade nothing will happen but if many people do something probably will I
many people do something probably will I
many people do something probably will I mean if one day I fall in love with a
mean if one day I fall in love with a
mean if one day I fall in love with a woman and want to marry her I want to be
woman and want to marry her I want to be
woman and want to marry her I want to be able to buy her an engagement ring
able to buy her an engagement ring
able to buy her an engagement ring knowing that no water was polluted no
knowing that no water was polluted no
knowing that no water was polluted no soil was eroded no ecosystem was
soil was eroded no ecosystem was
soil was eroded no ecosystem was destroyed that no child suffered
destroyed that no child suffered
destroyed that no child suffered secondly I
secondly I
secondly I asking myself is there anything that I
asking myself is there anything that I
asking myself is there anything that I could do about this because I mean I’m
could do about this because I mean I’m
could do about this because I mean I’m just a kid right and then I realized
just a kid right and then I realized
just a kid right and then I realized that maybe just maybe speaking about
that maybe just maybe speaking about
that maybe just maybe speaking about this issue aloud would already be
this issue aloud would already be
this issue aloud would already be helping and so here I am on the TEDx
helping and so here I am on the TEDx
helping and so here I am on the TEDx stage ethical diamonds should and if we
stage ethical diamonds should and if we
stage ethical diamonds should and if we make the right decisions will be the
make the right decisions will be the
make the right decisions will be the future of our diamond mining industry
because ultimately it’s you the buyer
because ultimately it’s you the buyer who can make the real difference you are
who can make the real difference you are
who can make the real difference you are the one who can demand Fairtrade
the one who can demand Fairtrade
the one who can demand Fairtrade diamonds and therefore stop non ethical
diamonds and therefore stop non ethical
diamonds and therefore stop non ethical diamonds from being produced which means
diamonds from being produced which means
diamonds from being produced which means that one day all these kids could go to
that one day all these kids could go to
that one day all these kids could go to school where they belong as does any kid
school where they belong as does any kid
school where they belong as does any kid in the world I mean we are all so
in the world I mean we are all so
in the world I mean we are all so fortunate to be able to go to school and
fortunate to be able to go to school and
fortunate to be able to go to school and so I strongly believe that it is our
so I strongly believe that it is our
so I strongly believe that it is our duty to help those less fortunate than
duty to help those less fortunate than
duty to help those less fortunate than us now before I leave you I’d like to
us now before I leave you I’d like to
us now before I leave you I’d like to remind you all of a dr. Jane Goodall
remind you all of a dr. Jane Goodall
remind you all of a dr. Jane Goodall told us earlier this year when she
told us earlier this year when she
told us earlier this year when she visited our school what you do makes a
visited our school what you do makes a
visited our school what you do makes a difference and you have to decide what
difference and you have to decide what
difference and you have to decide what difference you want to make and so I ask
difference you want to make and so I ask
difference you want to make and so I ask you all what difference do you want to
you all what difference do you want to
you all what difference do you want to make thank you
make thank you
make thank you [Applause]
”
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