Red Technopolitics
May 26, 2008
Diamond Mines and Appropriated Feminism
M Murphy
Here’s a new disturbing twist on reproduction/Production and the entanglements of feminisms in global capital. The International Women’s Health Coalition, the New York based transnational feminist NGO that was so influential in reappropriating international policy language towards feminist projects of “reproductive health and “reproductive rights” have themselves become entangled with diamond mining in South Africa, particularly De Beers Group and Anglo American.
How to make sense of this conjuncture of necropolitical accumulation of diamonds and feminist biopolitics?
Signs of the conjucture start in 2006 when Jennifer Oppenheimer, Chair of the De Beers Fund “the vehicle for the company’s social investment throughout South Africa and particularly in the communities around its operations” and wife of diamond exec Johnathon O. of De Beers became a IWHC board member. By the 2007 fundraising gala, De Beers was announced as IWHC’s major “underwriter,” first in their list of donors. At the gala, two De Beers Spokespersons were given the opportunity to speak, ending on this note:
“As a woman I am very proud that De Beers is supporting IWHC. Almost as proud as I am as an African to be working for De Beers. I am proud because my father said, “I have seen what diamonds can mean for Africa,” and because De Beers as a company believes and practices the principle that Africa needs a hand up, not a hand out. I have seen more than a glimpse of Africa developing to its full potential. I believe that being here, you, the individuals and companies represented in this room, are demonstrating that you are not satisfied with a tiny glimpse. You, like us at De Beers, are finding new ways to grow potential by supporting the health and rights of young girls worldwide….. I hope that our support of IWHC would encourage and inspire other companies to do the same. At De Beers we call this `living up to diamonds.’ “
“Living up to Diamonds” is perhaps a good name for this necro/biopolitical conjuncture of mutual appropriation.
By June 2007, a new chair of the board of directors was announced. Brian Brink, “”As Senior Vice President: Health at Anglo American plc, the largest listed company in South Africa, Brian Brink, MD advises Group companies on the funding and delivery of health care benefits as well as on occupational health and community health issues. Dr. Brink has been with Anglo American for 20 years.”
Brink is yet a further wrinkle in this circuit of appropriation.
De Beers and Anglo American have both set up corporate programs that either test or give drugs to employees with HIV.
From the IWHC side, I would guess that they’ve convinced themselves that they can appropriate the funds of these diamond companies and do good work with it. From their side, the extra million dollars goes a long way. For the Diamond Minds, this is “feminist washing” and ethical capital cheaply bought.
for Human Rights.
