Valentines Day

Originally posted by Triptych@Feb 13 2006, 10:28 PM
Load of commercial crap in my opinion, although I have bought a card to send.
Click to expand...
Agreed, it's a shame not everyone agrees.

Bought a card and a present mind.
 
It didn't use to be a 'load of commercial crap', any more than Christmas or Easter used to. Valentines, usually very beautifully hand-made with lace and pressed flowers, would be sent, or delivered, anonymously to the object of one's desire. Feeling grumpy about 'having' to stump up a gift to someone you know very well, or have been married to for the past 500 years, isn't at all in the romantic, winsome spirit of the day at all. So, feel free to get refunds, guys...
 
Also if anyone plans buying diamonds for Valentines Day please check the stores Diamond Policy before buying, if they can't show you it or don't have one the chances are that the diamonds are being imported from countries in which they are used to finance civil war and crime.

Please bare this in mind when purchasing.
 
Which countries are those, Martin? I'm sure there's a 'Diamond Policy' for South African (de Beers) diamonds, but until relatively recently they financed a racist regime. How would one know what the government of the country with a 'Diamond Policy' stamp was doing to its people - it could use torture, it could starve them, or execute them in jails, for all we'd know.
 
Usually the "genuine" diamond dealers will have the certificate within the store. Regarding the big diamond exporters such as De Beers they are likely to be used in the larger stores in London, Birmingham, Manchester etc as opposed to the smaller dealerships in towns.

That's not to say they are definitely genuine if bought from a large store. The most obvious country for the conflict diamonds to come from is Sierra Leone.

More on Conflict Diamonds can be found below:

http://www.un.org/peace/africa/Diamond.html

http://www.amnestyusa.org/diamonds/index.do
 
A really nice card (which unusally wasn't sarky, rude or amusing!), a dozen red roses and a box of chocolates from Mr GG :wub:
 
Originally posted by Diminuendo@Feb 14 2006, 09:55 AM
GriffIn, what did you give him?
Click to expand...
Erm.......nothing :shy: I have a card for him but he'll have that later. He bought the flowers yesterday and gave them to me last night while I was reading in bed because he was worried about them dying in his car. He couldn't find a vase so he put them in a pint glass :lol:
 
Until the 18th century, India was the only supplier of diamonds in the world. Diamonds were discovered in Africa in the early 19th century and subsequently became the largest producer worldwide, relying on Zaire for industrial diamonds and South Africa for gem quality diamonds. Since the early 80's, Australia has been producing the most diamonds worldwide.

Amnesty International is one of a number of organisations leading the "conflict diamonds" campaign. Here are extracts from that organisation's literature:

"To many people, diamonds symbolise love, happiness or wealth. But for many, they mean conflict, misery and poverty. In African countries such as Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone, the profits from unregulated diamond trade are used to obtain weapons and fund armed conflicts. As a result, tens of thousands of civilians have been killed, raped, mutilated or abducted.

Can this be stopped?

Over the past two years, the diamond industry, some governments and international organizations such as the United Nations (UN) have begun to take steps towards ending the deadly trade in 'conflict diamonds'. However, progress has been too slow and further delays could mean more people killed, tortured or abducted.

Amnesty International, along with dozens of other organisations, is calling for decisive and immediate action to control the diamond trade. Action is needed at both the international and national levels. All countries involved must play their part."

Admirable sentiments and I guess that every little helps, but I have a couple of comments. I believe that many of the diamonds mined in the countries mentioned are for industrial purposes and I don't believe that multi-natuionals ask the origin of raw material supplies. More importantly, those who want to campaign against the purchase of diamonds from these countries are free to do so and should continue with their stand but perhaps they should also consider what action they should take against their own governments who are sanctioning the supply to these countries of the weapons used to kill and torture
 
Lidl were doing a dozen roses for €19.99, but when I got there they were all gone. I got some in one of the stalls in Moore Street instead, with a free card, but, in my innocence, hadn't realised how vulgar the card was until I had got home. I dispensed with that and, so far, have got no reprimands, though I'd better produce one this evening.
 
We decided on not buying anything but a card for each other this year. He is taking me out to dinner tonight at the local Harvester but we are having to eat early, so he can be back in time to watch the footie! <_<

It's a good job I love him! :D
 
No card but a promise of this saturdays Racing Post (sometimes have to travel far afield to find one, so fair enough!) Present wise i got a Cross Trainer/Magnetic Strider..... still trying to work out if that is good or bad or even worse, a hint :cry:

I suppose it is not too bad though as it came from the same guy who once got me a horse wormer for xmas :cry: :cry:
 
Back
Top