Event Report on “Sustainable Supply Chain to be Constructed by ALL”

Diamonds for Peace (DFP) held an event to discuss “Sustainable Supply Chain to be Constructed by All”, at the Eiji Press Lab located in Tokyo on December 2^nd, 2018. The event welcomed 34 participants, some of whom are interested in diamond-related issues and others involved in international development.

The event started with an update on DFP activities. Chie Murakami, Director General of DFP, presented issues related to diamonds supply chain based on the field study report of “Situation Analysis of the Artisanal Diamond Mining in the Western Region of Liberia” issued by DFP in 2017. Chie also provided details on the self-reliance support activities for the artisanal diamond miners in Liberia and introduced various initiatives in the western countries with the aim of developing transparent supply chain of gemstones and gold.

During the second half of the event, four pro bono members presented interim reports on their work on creating leaflets targeting consumers to change their diamond purchasing behavior. The members are working as pro bono under “Pro Bobo Challenge Kanagawa”, led by Service Grant Japan, Inc and sponsored by Kanagawa Prefecture, which DFP participates in. The presentations were followed by small group discussions on the concept and the design of leaflets. Thanks to the participants with high interest in diamond-related issues, the discussions were lively with an active exchange of opinions.

During the event, DFP served its original drink using honey made in Liberia. While tasting the enriched sweetness, participants could feel more familiar with Liberia and have an opportunity to learn about DFP’s activities. Networking after the event also provided participants and DFP staff members with great opportunities to get to know each other and to exchange information.

The next DFP event will be scheduled in the spring of 2019. This event will include the screening of “Voices from the Mine” to celebrate the completion of Japanese subtitles hopefully. This short film, created by the University of Bath, U.K., consists of interviews of diamond artisanal miners and the parties involved. DFP volunteers are working on translating the scripts into Japanese under the permission of the filmmakers. Further details are to be updated on our website, Facebook page, and our e-newsletters. Join us and we are looking forward to seeing you at the next event!