For decades, the world’s been inundated with news about how the diamond trade has contributed to civil strife in Africa, especially in Liberia and Sierra Leone; but what we haven’t heard about has been the good news. And the fact of the matter is, there’s more than enough of that to go around, though it’s hardly as titillating as the bloody bad news. When was the last time you heard about the ways that diamonds have helped the countries of Africa and their citizens?

Well, you’re hearing it here! Like most things in nature, diamonds aren’t good or evil; they just are. Despite what you’ve heard about “blood diamonds” generating and perpetuating war in various countries, the diamonds can’t be blamed. Indeed, in many ways they’re just an excuse observers have used to simplify what are, in most cases, extremely complex conflicts. It’s easier to blame diamonds than to look beyond the superficial and realize that the internecine fighting is caused not by shiny rocks but by all those hateful things that have always caused wars, civil or otherwise: greed, stupidity, bad government, poor leadership, and pure corruption.

It’s easy enough to find proof that that equation that goes “African Diamonds = War” is flawed. What the naysayers don’t tell you is that so-called “blood diamonds” make up less than 0.2% of the modern African diamond trade. A coalition of private and public organizations has formed a regulatory partnership known as the Kimberly Process, which makes sure that the diamonds passed on to the rest of the world are clean, legally produced, and benefit the countries where they’re mined. Take the example of Botswana, which in its 40 years as an independent nation has used its diamond supply to increase per capita income more than 120-fold. A partnership with diamond powerhouse DeBeers, combined with good governance and careful leadership, can be thanked for Botswana’s success. Tanzania has also benefited from the Kimberly Process, and is currently part of a pilot program to ensure that the million or so independent diamond miners in Africa can get fair prices for the fruits of their labors.

It’s easy to understand why anyone might look at their diamond engagement ring, or their diamond pendant, and wonder if it might have helped fuel a civil war. But the truth is, most diamonds are mined safely and fairly. Nowadays, the governments of mineral-rich nations like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Botswana, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania are working with private companies and non-government organizations to endure that standards of ethical treatment for the diamond miners and the people around them are high and remain high, as they have for so long in places like South Africa and Botswana. It’s the mineral wealth they control that will help the developing countries of the Third World take their place on the world stage, and become the major players they deserve to be.

When you buy African diamonds today, you can buy them with a clear conscience, knowing that every carat helps the people of Africa reach their development goals. The past is behind us, and the future beckons. Wouldn’t you like to contribute?