Leonardo DiCaprio is backing a company that ‘grows’ ethical diamonds in just 2 weeks

The movie Blood Diamond is almost a decade old, and if you remember it, you know it was a gruesome portrayal of violence in the diamond trade during the Sierra Leone civil war. It also starred Leonardo DiCaprio , who played one of the diamond smugglers. Now, we’ve now learned that the award-winning actor and environmentalist has invested in a Santa Clara-based startup called Diamond Foundry , which says it can grow real diamonds in just a matter of weeks, offering an alternative to draw business away from the brutal conflicts that make warlords rich. Read the rest of Leonardo DiCaprio is backing a company that ‘grows’ ethical diamonds in just 2 weeks

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Leonardo DiCaprio is backing a company that ‘grows’ ethical diamonds in just 2 weeks

Terraced Rienzi House in urban Singapore is so green it feels like the country

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Terraced Rienzi House in urban Singapore is so green it feels like the country

Mysterious ancient stone structure in the Middle East could be 5,000 years old

This might go down in history as the year we discovered more ancient ruins than any other. Okay, so that’s probably not accurate, but there have been quite a few and here’s one more. Archaeologists have uncovered a prehistoric stone monument in the Middle East that is thought to have been created around the same time (give or take 500 years) as Stonehenge, putting its age at up to 5,000-years-old. From ruins submerged underwater to entire lost cities in the jungle, these discoveries illustrate just how little we know about the ancient people who came before us. Read the rest of Mysterious ancient stone structure in the Middle East could be 5,000 years old

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Mysterious ancient stone structure in the Middle East could be 5,000 years old

INFOGRAPHIC: Where do Blood Diamonds Come From?

You may have heard of “ blood diamonds ” before – but do you know where they come from and why the should be stopped? Blood diamonds are gemstones mined in war zones to finance insurgency, an invading army’s efforts, or a warlord’s activity. One fourth of the world’s rough diamonds are blood diamonds, and their sale is estimated to total $3.8 billion dollars every year; a quarter of that figure is enough to buy over 4 million AK-47s. To learn more, check out the new infographic from Master’s in Business after the break! The article above was submitted to us by an Inhabitat reader. Want to see your story on Inhabitat ? Send us a tip by following this link . Remember to follow our instructions carefully to boost your chances of being chosen for publishing! Read the rest of INFOGRAPHIC: Where do Blood Diamonds Come From? Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: blood diamonds , conflict diamonds , conflict gemstones , diamond , environmental destruction , global development , infographic , kimberly process , war , war zone        

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INFOGRAPHIC: Where do Blood Diamonds Come From?

Why Should You Care Where Your Diamond Comes From?

Why do so many couples care where their diamonds come from? Maybe the best answer to that question is that many diamonds are tainted by bloodshed and violence. But the ethical problems facing the diamond industry run deep, and are more varied than some people realize. In too many ways, diamond mining contributes to the exploitation of people and the environment. Hit the jump to learn more. Read the rest of Why Should You Care Where Your Diamond Comes From? Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: blood diamonds , diamond bloodshed , diamond mining , diamond mining damage environment , diamonds , ethical diamonds , ethical mining , green diamonds , unethical diamonds        

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Why Should You Care Where Your Diamond Comes From?

Why "Conflict-Free" Diamonds Are Unreliable: Kimberley Process is "Pandora’s Box" of Ethical Issues

Image: ljv via flickr It’s not exactly breaking news, but this topic is worth a recap. The Kimberley Process was established to prevent diamond sales from funding conflict —” blood diamonds “—but in reality, not a whole lot has changed. Chances are good that those “certified conflict-free” diamonds you might be shopping for as an ethical consumer are just as con… Read the full story on TreeHugger

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Why "Conflict-Free" Diamonds Are Unreliable: Kimberley Process is "Pandora’s Box" of Ethical Issues

Completely Unshocking Study: Air Pollution Drops Dramatically When Ships Use Cleaner Fuel

photo: Glen / CC BY A glimpse of things to come, once new regulations specifying ships use low-sulfur fuels near coastlines comes into effect next year: A new study shows that pollution from ships drops up to 90% when cleaner fuel is used. Based on research done in NOAA airplanes and ships, monitoring emissions from

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Completely Unshocking Study: Air Pollution Drops Dramatically When Ships Use Cleaner Fuel