Greenland Diamond Engagement Ring 66

Greenland Diamond Engagement Ring.
By Aamir Mannan.
Seeing red - Free Greenland Ruby
Conflict diamonds hit the headlines in a big way - with a little help from Hollywood blockbuster, Blood Diamond - and while few would claim the issues are now resolved (read about the latest upset at the Kimberley Process), at least the word is out there and we know the questions to ask to track down that elusive, ethical engagement ring.
Much less well known is the controversy around the blood-red ruby. A legal war is waging in Greenland as the native Inuit Greenlanders fight for their rights to prospect for the ruby through small-scale, responsible mining just as their ancestors have done for centuries.
The 16th August Union
On 16th August 2007, native Inuit Greenlanders were arrested for mining ruby. True North Gems (TNG), a Canadian mining company, informed on the Inuit to the local police who were told by The Bureau for Minerals and Petroleum (BMP) to stop them prospecting for ruby - even though this violated the Danish Government's own Mineral Code and the UN Declaration of Human & Indigenous Rights.
Soon after, there was a clamp down across the island on the rights of indigenous people to mine. Mr. Lars Lund Sorensen, the head of a division at the Minerals Office at the time, said:
"We don’t want your sort of people having access to this kind of wealth."
The BMP then set about hiring lawyers who would twist interpretations of Danish laws to cover up their behaviour and protect the interests of TNG. They even instructed the Crown Prosecution Service to prosecute local people but offered to drop charges against miners if they signed paperwork stating they will not mine again. Where this bribe was refused, they issued fines.

Greece Diamond Fashion Engagement Ring 65

Greece Diamond Fashion Engagement Ring.

By Farzana Aamir. 

An engagement is a big deal in a Greek family, and a cause for great celebration. In most families, the groom still takes the traditional step of asking the bride's father for her hand in marriage. A charming part of the custom is that the groom will re-ask the bride's parents for permission to marry her on the morning of the wedding. Of course, it is merely a formality at that point, but it is charming all the same. The diamond engagement ring is not customary in Greece. It is traditional for both the man and the woman to wear a simple gold band when they officially become engaged. The rings are blessed by a Greek Orthodox priest before the newly engaged couple slips them on to their left ring fingers. The engagement bands will also serve as the wedding rings, and they are transferred to the right hand during the marriage ceremony. In Greek-American families, the couple may decide to adopt the American custom of a diamond engagement ring worn with a separate wedding band for the bride.

The bride and groom are joined by the traditional crowns called Stefana.

If you are looking for a culture whose weddings are steeped in tradition, full of joy, and lively as can be, look no further than Greece! Greek weddings are big, exciting events, packed with family, food, and dancing, as well as a beautiful marriage ceremony full of meaningful symbolism. These are some of the wedding traditions and customs which are popular in Greek weddings, whether they take place in Greece itself or in the new country of a bride or groom with Greek heritage.

Greek Engagement Customs

Guadeloupe Diamond Engagement Girls Ring 64

Guadeloupe Diamond Engagement Girls Ring.

By Samina Aamir. 

As a Guadeloupe territory just north of Martinique, you won't find many glamorous resorts here -- instead, you'll experience the island by way of small local inns and mouth watering Creole cuisine. And with sugar and rum plantations, secluded beaches, modern cities, tropical rain forests, and a 4,723-foot tall volcano splattered with banana trees, you might just want to kiss your mainland home goodbye and set up shop here.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info

Entry requirements: Valid passport

Language: Guadeloupe

Currency: Euro

Flight time: 4 1/2 hours from NYC

When To Go: Guadeloupe at its best

Best weather: Summer temps usually stay in the low 80s, and in the winter, temps stay within the mid 70s. The rainiest months are June to October, and the driest are February to April -- also the peak tourist season. Note: Try to avoid the July to November hurricane season.

What To Do

Go to the park: Guadeloupe Mountains National Park offers some of the most stunning natural wonders on the island. There, you can hike to see Deux Mamelles, two summits located deep into the jungle; and the Carbet Waterfall. Another attraction: Located in the middle of Basse-Terra is Parc Naturel de Guadeloupe (a tropical forest), brimming with orchids.

Island hop: If you have the time, jet over to one of Guadeloupe's offshore remote islands such as Iles des Saintes -- a collection of eight small islands -- or Marie-Galante. Most of the locals on Marie-Galante make their living on sugar and rum. Check out the Distillerie Bielle for a tour and to sample some of the best rum in the Caribbean.