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Russell Simmons To Visit Botswana and South Africa | by Fran Goldstein www.diamond-key.com | Early screening of movie backfires on NGO group closely associated with the film, Blood Diamond.
"'Blood Diamond'' is amazing. It's a very entertaining, dramatic and exciting movie. But it will definitely get
audiences thinking about the problems of conflict diamonds and child soldiers," says Abaunza in a LA Times
interview.
Hip-Hop Mogul, DIC Seek Ways to Help Africa with Diamonds
In a recent article in the LA TIMES, it was noted that Bonnie Abaunza, Los Angeles-based director of Amnesty
International's celebrity outreach program, pointed out, “The media is covering so-called ‘conflict diamonds’
more now than when Sierra Leone's bloody civil wars were actually taking place.”
"It's amazing that all this attention is on conflict diamonds when no one has even seen the film yet," she said.
Celebrity Recruitment
Amnesty International (an NGO that is closely identified with the controversial movie with links from the film’s
internet site) is steadily recruiting celebrities in an effort to use the film to focus attention on human rights
questions that still surround the diamond industry
For example, Abaunza said, she recently screened "Blood Diamond" for hip-hop entrepreneur Russell
Simmons (who works with De Beers on his line of diamond jewelry) before Oscar pundits, awards predictors
and impatient film critics.
Global Initiative
Abaunza first met with Simmons and spoke about the movie with him at a dinner at New York's Museum of
Modern Art for Bill Clinton's Global Initiative.
From this meeting she set up a private screening of the film for Simmons.
This resulted in the fact that the Hip-Hop philanthropist, producer and entrepreneur will go on a fact finding
mission to Africa next month, looking for ways to benefit the continent through diamonds.
He will be joined by the diamond industry’s Diamond Information Center (DIC).
Botswana and South Africa
Simmons will visit South Africa and Botswana November 26 – December 4, and explore how to leverage his
diamond business, Simmons Jewelry Company, to improve educational and economic conditions in distressed
African communities.
Simmons and his delegation team plan to explore how to leverage their relationships in the diamond business
to improve educational and economic conditions in distressed African communities.
Known for its dominant diamond trade, some half a million South Africans, including dependents and
suppliers, currently rely on the industry.
Conflict Free Diamond Jewelry
Simmons Jewelry is a joint venture with M. Fabrikant & Sons, established in early 2004.
The company marketed a number of lines of diamond jewelry, promoted as conflict free. A certain percentage
of the proceeds were reportedly used to benefit communities affected by the diamond trade.
Background Notes:
"Russell Simmons has been at the forefront of many modern cultural movements, driving social change," said Chair
Michael Connor, Editor and Publisher of Business Ethics and The CRO magazines. "His participation will enlighten our
audience, and reinforce the importance of corporate responsibility."
Simmons attended the City College of New York and
quickly became instrumental in bringing hip-hop to every facet of business and media since its inception in the late 1970s.
His success is evident across many industries: music, fashion, TV and film, financial services, and philanthropy.
1] In 1995, along with his brothers Danny Simmons and Joseph "Rev. Run" Simmons, he founded Rush Philanthropic Arts
Foundation.
2] The organization is dedicated to providing disadvantaged urban youth with significant exposure and access
to the arts, as well as offering exhibition opportunities to underrepresented artists and artists of color.
3] Following the historic Hip-Hop Summit he organized in June 2001, Russell founded the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) to
harness the cultural relevance of hip-hop music as a catalyst for education advocacy and other societal concerns
fundamental to the well being of at-risk youth throughout the United States.
4] Currently, Russell also serves as the Chairman of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening relations between ethnic communities.
Source: PDF file
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Readers Comments Add Your Comments
 | Just wanted to say that what your doing is great. I mean dimonds are to everyone has them and knowone really looks into trying to understand what it takes to get them we just buy them and wear them thats how it goes. But knowone truly cares people say they do but they really dont. Anyways im a little hipacritical because im ingaged i bought my wife to be a ring but i mean we dont really think how and where they came from including ME. So good luck and keep it up take care.
Sincerly:Peter J Hammond
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