De Beers, Diamonds and the Canadian Third World : Attawapiskat reserve to get Red Cross aid

I am grateful for everything that my parents have done for me to live well in Canada. Although there is little  threat of war, natural disasters or social unrest, I find it shameful to live in a land where disparity and the violation of human rights is ongoing.

Earlier this year, I attended a presentation given by Tom Ornsby from De Beers. He described how his company is dedicated to fair negotiation with communities to get the rights to extract mineral resources, read diamonds, from their land. In return, more than the initial contract obligations are fulfilled. Unfortunately, we see that the living conditions in Attawapiskat are unacceptable. 

If you believe that buying "Blood Diamonds" is a crime, there is apparently little that can be told about the process by which diamonds jewels are identified once on the market. From mining next to communities which remain very poor, to migrant workers being paid just a little above minimum wage even though they have more than 10 years experience, it is difficult for anybody to imagine that Canadian produced diamonds are ethical.

Should Canada lead the world in negotiating human rights, prime examples of functioning democracy are the protection of the vulnerable and assuring the options, choices and well being of its population. More oft than not, I am convinced that the government of Canada has done very little to meet the goals to eliminate child poverty, domestic violence and environmental standards set more than 20 years ago.