Diamonds, Friends and Sierra Leone

Last night I had the distinct pleasure of viewing the North American premier of a new documentary entitled "Pride of Lions", depicting the plight, passion, and pride of the people of Sierra Leone.

This film was developed and produced by John and Louise Woerhle, a brother and sister team from Minneapolis who, through a very unsuspecting set of circumstances, found themselves drawn into the story of Sierra Leone, its 10 year civil war, and its people. We in the jewelry industry are quite familiar with Sierra Leone because of its diamond resources and are painfully aware of blood diamonds, Leonardo DiCaprio's film, and the highly charged spotlight which has been cast on a seamier side of the diamond trade. http://www.prideoflionsfilm.com/

This story, however, is not about diamonds. It is about the resiliency of a people and their country coming out from the depths of a hell. Diamonds happen to be a great natural resource of this country and for many of its people, provide an opportunity to earn a living---difficult work as it may be.

I have another set of friends, Julie Watts and her husband Sam from Sacramento. Julie is an Emmy Award winning reporter/meteorologist and Sam is an industry veteran and former business associate of mine. Julie and Sam combined their compassion for humanity and their passion for diamonds to take a trip and follow a diamond from its source in Sierra Leone to the market in Sacramento.

What they discovered on that journey was far beyond their expectations and has been documented in a piece by Julie now being aired on select PBS stations. You can visit http://www.juliewatts.net/ for more information.

As jewelry professionals it is our responsibility to know and understand as much about our industry as possible. More importantly, as people it is incumbent upon us to be as conscious about our impact on others and the world, as we are about our customers and our own little worlds.

I am moved by the sincerity and zest for life of the people of Sierra Leone. The horrors they have endured have not dampened their spirit, ingenuity, or quest for peaceful living. But they can use some help. I strongly encourage each of you to take a moment to visit the websites noted above. Keep an eye out for an opportunity to view these compassionate and heartfelt works, produced and developed by real people with no agenda other than to shine a different kind of spotlight on an area and a people living too long in darkness.

Surely the world, even through the small avenue of the jewelry industry, can become a better place because of those who care to make it so.