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Brilliant Earth and The Conflict Free Diamond Council Join MedShare to Send Essential Medical Supplies to Sierra Leone

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) October 24, 2007 -- Brilliant Earth, the leader in eco-conscious fine jewelry, and The Conflict Free Diamond Council (CFDC), an advocacy group dedicated to stopping the sale of conflict diamonds, announced a partnership with Atlanta-based nonprofit MedShare International to send essential medical supplies to two hospitals in Sierra Leone. The supplies will bring sorely needed relief to victims of the global conflict diamond trade.

"Conflict diamonds are responsible for decades of violence and thousands of lives in ruin around the world," said Robert Cosentino, Director of the CFDC. "Through our partnership with Brilliant Earth and MedShare, we hope to bring some relief to victims who continue to live in pain, even though the war has ended."

Conflict diamonds helped fuel a decade-long civil war in Sierra Leone that has left lasting scars on victims whose arms and legs were brutally hacked off. Today, thousands of amputees still wait for justice and fair reparations, years after the civil war has officially ended. Supported by the generosity of the CFDC and Brilliant Earth, MedShare is sending two forty-foot medical containers to hospitals in the Kono and Bo regions of Sierra Leone. In addition to receiving prosthetic limbs to help amputee victims, hospitals will be able to choose the supplies in each container that will be most useful to their patients.

"MedShare's sustainable approach to bringing medical supplies to developing countries not only conserves resources but directs them to where they can help most," said Eric Grossberg, Cofounder of Brilliant Earth. "We know our donation will make a difference where it's needed."

The Conflict Free Diamond Council has been working since 2004 to raise awareness about conflict diamonds, empower the conflict-free diamond consumer, and recommend best practices to the diamond industry. Brilliant Earth donates a percentage of their profits from their collection of conflict free jewelry to help communities who have been harmed by the jewelry trade. MedShare recycles surplus medical supplies and equipment for use in developing countries. The two shipments of medical supplies funded by the partnership are scheduled to arrive in Sierra Leone in late 2007 or early 2008.

"Last year, we shipped over $11 million worth of desperately needed medical supplies to hospitals and clinics in over 30 different countries," said A. B. Short, CEO of MedShare. "With the help of our partners and donors, we think we can accomplish even more this year."

For more information on MedShare International, their services, and how you can get involved, visit them at www.medshare.org. For more information on the Conflict Free Diamond Council, visit www.conflictfreediamonds.org. For more information on Brilliant Earth, visit www.brilliantearth.com.

About Brilliant Earth

Based in San Francisco, Brilliant Earth was created by two socially minded entrepreneurs as an alternative to current diamond industry practices. Co-founders Beth Gerstein and Eric Grossberg formed Brilliant Earth based on a passion for fine jewelry and a common belief that socially and environmentally responsible buying choices should be freely available to the consumer.

About The Conflict Free Diamond Council

The Conflict Free Diamond Council raises awareness of conflict and conflict-free diamonds to help consumers make informed purchases, and works with the international community to create safer and more socially responsible business practices in the diamond industry. The CFDC believe that a strong consumer demand for certified conflict-free diamonds will pressure international governments, businesses, and organizations to push through necessary reforms to reshape the diamond industry.

About MedShare International

MedShare International is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to distributing surplus medical supplies and equipment for use by healthcare institutions in economically developing countries. Since MedShare's inception in 1998, the organization has retrieved more than $42M in surplus medical supplies and equipment from U.S. donors and shipped over 300 forty-foot medical aid containers to healthcare institutions in economically developing countries.

Media Contact: Amy Cunha, Big Picture PR, 415.362.2085.

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