journal features

selling ethical diamonds in Japan

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-eight years and a million words

Tokyo, 2010.07.15

As our intern Koki put it, "It seems that usual Japanese do not really know or care about diamond issues."

Sadly, true. He added, "A[n Amnesty International] survey (PDF) shows that staff in 8 out of 16 diamond jewelry stores have at some point been asked about the ethical issues from their customers, but the other 8 says that they have never been asked questions about the issues."

50% of stores surveyed have never been asked about ethical issues.

rand()m quote

The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to such a pass that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love, and in order to occupy and distract himself without love he gives way to passions and coarse pleasures, and sinks to bestiality in his vices, all from continual lying to other men and to himself.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov