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December 06, 2006 @ 8:41 am
Russell Simmons Announces the New D.E.F.
Conference attendees included Kimora Lee Simmons, Co-owner of Simmons Jewelry Co., Scott Rauch<, President of Simmons Jewelry Co., Dr. Benjamin Chavis, President of the Hip Hop Summit Action Network, Joseph “Rev. Run” Simmons, and rapper Jim Jones.
D.E.F is a non-profit international organization whose goal is to support educational and skill development schools in South Africa and Botswana, which will further enhance the economic development and empowerment of Africans. Simmons also officially launched the Green Initiative. The Green Initiative is a specialized jewelry line that will feature green diamonds, and twenty-five percent of net proceeds from the sales will go to the Diamond Empowerement Fund.
The press conference focused on dispelling the stigma associated with conflict diamonds, which are diamonds that are illegally trafficked to finance government opposition. Simmons, Rauch, and Chavis affirmed that Simmons Jewelry Company does not use conflict diamonds and emphasized Diamond Empowerment Fund’s mission.
Chavis declared, “We went to South Africa and Botswana both to see, firsthand, how the diamond industry contributes to the quality of life there, and to listen to the people share with us their aspirations for how this natural resource can help them realize their dreams, hopes, and desires for a better life. We now know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the diamond industry is a strong force that helps to improve the quality of life of the people of Southern Africa.”
Russell Simmons further noted, “I have witnessed, firsthand, that diamonds can be, as they are in Botswana, the difference between extreme poverty and total stability," adding that the company is committed to using non-conflict diamonds and insuring that Simmons Jewelry Company will track their diamond sources.
Article tags: D.E.F., Kimora Lee Simmons, Russell Simmons, Simmons Diamond Company
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Comments
1.
Richard says:
Russell Simmons is a sellout his project is funded by DeBeers which controls 85% of the worldwide diamond trade. Now how can they be paying the people who mine it $15 for a diamond that would retail in Europe or the US for $5,000 and call that fair. What they are scared of is that people will start educating themselves about diamonds so they get a popular black guy to stop the spread of the msg. Thanks for nothing Russell
December 11, 2006 at 9:51 pm
2.
Sheldon says:
The DEF is the best idea simmons has come up with. Mad respect.
December 8, 2006 at 10:28 am
3.
Abena Cole says:
the article was very imformative good job on the article guys
December 6, 2006 at 11:20 am