Conflict Sapphires and Conflict Gemstone Issues
Learn about the historical and current challenges that face sapphire and colored gemstone mining communities. Conflict sapphires and other conflict gemstones are associated with child labor, funding military regimes, and harming the environment.
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Environmental Concerns
While sapphire and colored gemstone mining has led to environmental damages, the impacts are generally due to lack of planning and poor understanding of sustainable environmental practices.
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Labor Concerns
The global colored gemstone sector is largely unregulated and suffers from labor practices that offer little security for small scale miners and endanger lives.
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Community Concerns
Even as diamonds have been used to fund violent conflicts in parts of Africa, conflict rubies currently support the military regime of Myanmar, the country formerly known as Burma.
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