Beyond Blood Stained Gems: New Science & Standards – Frank Dixon 802

In this program, Hazel Henderson explores with Frank Dixon, MBA, author of Global System Change, the damaging effects of the global gem mining industry, now a case study in transition management.  This industry has been the focus of many NGO critics since diamond mining is not only dangerous and polluting, but has helped fuel armed conflicts in many African countries.  Several UN resolutions have addressed the need to stop the flow of these “blood diamonds” and the global diamond cartel has responded with the Kimberley Certification which only certifies their diamonds are “conflict-free”.  This ignores the much larger problems of miners’ injuries, deaths, low wages and the pollution of water supplies and air in mining areas and communities.  Beyond these hazards is the fact that this gem mining industry is now obsolete and unnecessary, since science now produces identical gems in laboratories in many countries without human and environmental damage.  Thus Dixon examines Ethical Markets transition management tool: its global standard, EthicMark® GEMS which certifies only gems not mined from the Earth.  Dixon asks Henderson how this better standard was developed and how it can challenge this obsolete mining industry by this market-based transition to reform: EthicMark® GEMS can create a healthier new industry and many thousands of new jobs while saving lives, human misery and the environment – an illustration of positive transition management.  Ethical Markets Transforming Finance Series, @2015