Blood Diamonds and LOHAS Consumers

Last weekend I watched Leonardo Dicaprio’s film, Blood Diamonds. My 16-year-old daughter sat with me and began to watch the movie, too. She bailed out after about 30 minutes or so saying the movie was “horrible,” not in a cinematic sense, but in her ability to absorb what was portrayed. I then tried to recruit my wife, Adele, to watch it with me; she bailed out after a couple of scenes for the same reason.

The movie made me think of LOHAS and what it’s all about. LOHAS consumers are supposed to be conscious of the world around them, and awakened to what is going on in today’s society. Although I don’t like labels, I guess I fall into this category. I ate a heritage turkey at Thanksgiving, have gone from a 6 to 4 cylinder car, and from now on will be very conscious of any diamonds I purchase.

As I watched the film it struck me just how ignorant and naïve I am to some of the happenings in the world, and I believe I’m actually more informed them many people I come in contact with. I understand the challenge in Darfur and other issues of today, but the absolute disregard for human life as portrayed in the film stuck with me. How can we, humans have such little regard for one another?

During the movie I thought back to when I was buying a diamond engagement ring for Adele. I recall saying “let’s pick a bigger one,” and Adele said “no, I don’t want an obnoxious ring with a diamond that too big for my hand.” I couldn’t understand her logic then, but I’m happy with her thought processes now.

I’ve learned that Adele was LOHAS long before we were together and probably long before the label existed. I’m sure had she known of blood diamonds at the time she would have declined a diamond of any kind. I guess LOHAS means continuing to learn about things affecting our world and trying to do something to try and change them for the positive. It also means questioning things, not just accepting them at face value—even if we’re desensitized.

As we move toward the New Year, an election year, it’s important we ask more questions, not take things at face value, and make the effort to push for positive change.

Tom Pellicane – Publisher, canvas Magazine