Did you know that in June 2016, Global Witness, a non-governmental organization based in London and Washington D.C., proposed adding Afghan lapis lazuli to the list of "blood" minerals? " 'Blood, or conflict' minerals, are those that are mined illegally in a manner that perpetuates conflict, poverty, corruption, and/or human rights abuse. The list currently includes the 'blood diamonds", cassiterite (tin oxide), wolframite (a series of iron and manganese tungstates), "coltan" (the columbite-tantalite minerals that yield tantalum), and gold that are mined in certain African nations." Rock Science by Steve Voynick, Rock & Gem Vol. 46 Issue 10, October 2016The reason this was proposed goes back to 2013, when Afghanistan's central government announced that controlled mining of lapis lazuli would become part of a the new economic development program. Lapis lazuli, known a "blue treasure" in Afghanistan has been mined for almost 6000 years, much of it from the Sar-e-Sang mines producing the world's finest lapis. In 2013, the government awarded a long-term mining contract to a legitimate independent Afghan owned mining company, but an armed militia took the mines over. The militia has been forced to pay half of its profits from the lapis mining to the Taliban, more than $6 million per year. If Afghan lapis is declared a blood mineral international trade restrictions would be imposed. I have a some lapis lazuli in my stash of beads that I will be using until I run out but I will not be buying anymore any time soon.
Hi and Welcome,
Hi, thanks for stopping by my website. I am hoping to get a regular up date to my blog going. I just recently got an Etsy shop going, so stop by there to see what I've got as there are differentitems posted.
Welcome to VenusRose Designs Blog
Welcome. This is my first entry on the blog for my new website! How exciting! I have so much to share with you. Tips, techniques, information I want to pass along to you as well as some of what goes into creating the pieces I make. Thank you so much for visiting with me. I have making jewelry for over 12 years. I had been selling it part time for more than 5 years. Two years ago I retired from teaching and I finally had more time to devote to making and selling jewelry. Since then I have done a number of local Arts and Craft Fairs and Gem and Mineral Shows. My next show is the SummerFest Arts Festival at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley, CA, June 26-28th. This is a brand new festival. It is going to be a big event and I am very exited about it. You can find out more about it by going to www.nevadacountyarts.org, they will have a page about the festival soon. There will also be Facebook pages for it late in May.
June 13th, I have been busy getting ready for SummerFest the last few weeks. I have been very productive, creating many new pieces I'm excited about. I am not able to take pictures of them as that requires too much standing and I am recovering from a broken toe and joint. I will be up and mobile by the show however, so pictures of new pieces will be on the website after the event. Please go to www.nevadacountyarts.org for all information on the event. It is a large event, tied in with the Music in the Mountains program. It will be held at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley. It combines 3 concerts with an artisans faire. The opening concert on Friday night is Randy Newman, then a concert on Saturday evening with Cirque de la Symphonie, and a matinee on Sunday with a Mozart Requiem, tickets required and an outdoor Family Art Fair that is free on both Saturday and Sunday. The faire runs from 6 pm Friday to Sunday 4pm. It's going to be good.