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I have to say, anything bad happening to De Beers is music to my ears. As you've mentioned they run a cartel to sell worthless rocks at huge markups to irratio

I have to say, anything bad happening to De Beers is music to my ears. As you've mentioned they run a cartel to sell worthless rocks at huge markups to irrational consumers, but my real problem comes from the toll their actions take on human lives in third world countries. The human rights violations of the diamond industry are unparalleled. I'd recommend everyone read up on "blood diamonds" or "conflict diamonds" as well as the diamond market in general before ever purchasing a diamond for jewelry.

die_sekte 17y ago
Hey! Diamonds aren't worthless! One can make knives/scalpels/drills/… out of them!
- gchpaco 17y ago
  Diamonds are superb materials and are used every day in industrial processes all over the world. None of these are gem quality nor does anybody give a rat's arse about their diamond paste or diamond cutting wheel being pretty.
davidmathers 17y ago
I'd recommend everyone read up on "blood diamonds" or "conflict diamonds" as well as the diamond market in general before ever purchasing a diamond for jewelry. I'm guessing most hackers aren't diamond buyers. I recommend everyone read this before buying any computers or electronic gadgets: http://www.johannhari.com/archive/article.php?id=863 http://www.johannhari.com/archive/article.php?id=863
- zby 17y ago
  Why is it so inaccurate? "Coltan is a metal that conducts heat unusually brilliantly." compare to wikipedia: "Coltan is the colloquial African name for columbite - tantalite, a metallic ore from which the elements niobium and tantalum are extracted." Also in wikipedia: "The United States Geological Survey reports in its 2006 yearbook that the Democratic Republic of the Congo produces a little less than 1% of the world's tantalum." - so this implying of guilt for everyone buying electronics is rather silly. He trades truth for rhetorics undermining all the sympathy I might have.

die_sekte 17y ago

Hey! Diamonds aren't worthless! One can make knives/scalpels/drills/… out of them!

gchpaco 17y ago
Diamonds are superb materials and are used every day in industrial processes all over the world. None of these are gem quality nor does anybody give a rat's arse about their diamond paste or diamond cutting wheel being pretty.

davidmathers 17y ago

I'd recommend everyone read up on "blood diamonds" or "conflict diamonds" as well as the diamond market in general before ever purchasing a diamond for jewelry. I'm guessing most hackers aren't diamond buyers. I recommend everyone read this before buying any computers or electronic gadgets: http://www.johannhari.com/archive/article.php?id=863 http://www.johannhari.com/archive/article.php?id=863

zby 17y ago
Why is it so inaccurate? "Coltan is a metal that conducts heat unusually brilliantly." compare to wikipedia: "Coltan is the colloquial African name for columbite - tantalite, a metallic ore from which the elements niobium and tantalum are extracted." Also in wikipedia: "The United States Geological Survey reports in its 2006 yearbook that the Democratic Republic of the Congo produces a little less than 1% of the world's tantalum." - so this implying of guilt for everyone buying electronics is rather silly. He trades truth for rhetorics undermining all the sympathy I might have.