[Jewelry making - Article 00930] - Re: [Orchid] Expanded sanctions on Burmese gems

[Kim Paluch]

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    Not being an expert in gems, I can't speak much to the specific
    stones. I can speak to the concept of boycotts hurting the people or
    the generals more. The people work as something closer to slaves in
    the mines and the government keeps the profits in the spheres it
    controls, not those of the people. 

    And if I thought that buying Burma's (Myanmar's) gems would take
    care of the people, I'd do it...but then, it hasn't yet. The current
    regime has last faced an uprising in 1988, and then it was quenched
    with blood, as it nearly has been this time. Thanks to the internet,
    sources for information made the beginnings of the uprising viewable
    to the world. The same made it possible to hearten a world shaken by
    the knowledge of so many people (including Buddhist monks) were
    murdered. Some survived...some of the people, some of those who were
    given orders to roust monks and kill them escaped, some monks arrived
    home from where they were supporting the pleas of Burma's monks. 

    There have always been people living on the backs of others. In
    jewelry this is perhaps sometimes much more true than we'd like. I
    know this. But there are some situations I find it appalling to
    ignore. And as I say this there are people in all parts of this
    country standing on this same line with different thinking and making
    their own choices. We all have that right. But remember...me buying
    gems from Burma doesn't necessarily put rice on anyone's table. It
    might put another body on someone's table though. IMHO. 

    Sorry for the rant. I come to this field from an education steeped
    in social awareness and social responsibility. We are always free to
    choose differently, and it's not my place to decide whether you ought
    to follow my steps or not. 

    And thank you for the article. 

Kim
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