Lucy in the Sky with Ethically Sourced Gems

We all love beautiful sparkling diamonds and gold, but the social and environmental impacts associated with the $75 billion/year jewelry industry are devastating. Metal mining is one of the most toxic polluters in the U.S. with cyanide, mercury and arsenic contaminating nearby soil and waterways. The gem trade has also long been marked by negative impacts including social disruption, hazardous working conditions, unfair wages, child labor and community displacement.

Grassroots efforts are raising the standard of business in the industry as a whole. Groups like the Madison Dialogue, No Dirty Gold, Earthwatch, and Global Witness are playing an active role in transforming the industry to provide economic opportunities for communities rich in natural resources, the same people who suffer most from existing mining and trade practices. Thanks to these efforts, there are now better alternatives.

Sustainable fine jewelry is an emerging trend that blends traditional jewelry craftsmanship and design with sustainable materials and manufacturing. Using recycled precious metals and ethically sourced gems (including lab-grown) drastically reduces the environmental burden while fair-wages and responsible trade allows for jewelry you can truly feel good about.

While there are no universally accepted definitions or standards, “ethically sourced gems” typically refer to one of two types of stones. The first type is stones that have been extracted from the earth with minimal environmental disruption, where a living wage has been paid to the miner and laborers, and that can often be traced from the ground to the market are considered ethically sourced.

Some argue that the second type, lab-grown gems, are the most sustainable alternative in that their only environmental impact is the energy required to power the lab machine and
there is no social consequence.

Genuine sapphires, rubies, emeralds, alexandrites and now even diamonds are being created identical to their mined counterparts. To be clear, the stones are made by mimicking nature and are not imitations.

Consumers, as well as non-profit organizations, are the driving forces behind industry change and accountability. It isn’t enough for consumers to accept “conflict-free” as a token of sustainability. Conscious consumers should actively seek out sustainable jewelry and support jewelry companies sincerely working to improve conditions for those most affected by the industry.

Idol: The voices of the many become one   The charity event entitled Idol Gives Back ended with something no one will forget for decades to come, “Thank You” from the many children through which peoples donations saved. Every little donation was translated into the precious resources for those starving children in Africa, for the children in impoverished towns here in the states themselves, and for the devastated regions of New Orleans. The event ended with many a thank you from the children those donations saved. The combination of donations from the calls, iTunes downloads, partner corporations, celebrities, and the many non-profit organizations, Idol Gives Back raised an approximate 50 million dollars. If you would like to donate visit One.org or Americanidol.com, or to any local accredited non-profit organization near you.

Living Wills and Health Care Directives – What is Involved?

The following is an example of a Health Care Directive (many people still refer to this as a Living Will).   It is broken down into 3 basic parts.  1) Appointment of the Health Care Agent.  2) Health Care Instructions.  3) Making the Document Legal.   Like most legal documents, it can be a bit confusing and overwhelming.  The purpose for making this easily available to the public is simple.  To help people know what to expect before contacting a lawyer and having him or her draft a directive for them.   Nobody likes thinking about their demise or incapacity.  However, dealing with such issues is a necessary part of life. 

 

This example should not be used as a substitute for getting solid legal advice from a licensed attorney.  Every individual is different.  Please consult a lawyer in your area to discuss your specific estate planning needs.

 

 

HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE

 

I, ___________________________________, understand this document allows me to do One or both of the following:

 

PART I: Name another person (called the health care agent) to make health care decisions for me if I am unable to decide or speak for myself. My health care agent must make health care decisions for me based on the instructions I provide in this document (Part II), if any, the wishes I have made known to him or her, or must act in my best interest if I have not made my health care wishes known.

 

And/or

 

PART II: Give health care instructions to guide others making health care decisions for me. If I have named a health care agent, these instructions are to be used by the agent. These instructions may also be used by my health care providers, others assisting with my health care and my family, in the event I cannot make decisions for myself.

 

 

PART I: APPOINTMENT OF HEALTH CARE AGENT

 

This is who I want to make health care decisions for me if I am unable to decide or speak for myself  (I know I can change my agent or alternate agent at any time and I know I do not have to appoint an agent or an alternate agent)

 

NOTE: If you appoint an agent, you should discuss this health care directive with your agent and give your agent a copy. If you do not wish to appoint an agent, you may leave Part I blank and go to Part II.

 

 

When I am unable to decide or speak for myself, I trust and appoint ___________________ to make health care decisions for me. This person is called my health care agent.  Relationship of my health care agent to me: ___________________

Telephone number of my health care agent: _________________________

Address of my health care agent: _________________________

 

(OPTIONAL) APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATE HEALTH CARE AGENT: If my health care agent is not reasonably available, I trust and appoint _________________ to be my health care agent instead.  Relationship of my alternate health care agent to me: ___________________________Telephone number of my alternate health care agent: ___________________________ Address of my alternate health care agent: ___________________________

 

THIS IS WHAT I WANT MY HEALTH CARE AGENT TO BE ABLE TO

DO IF I AM UNABLE TO DECIDE OR SPEAK FOR MYSELF (I know I can change these choices)

 

My health care agent is automatically given the powers listed below in (A) through (D).

My health care agent must follow my health care instructions in this document or any other instructions I have given to my agent. If I have not given health care instructions, then my agent must act in my best interest. Whenever I am unable to decide or speak for myself, my health care agent has the power to:

 

(A) Make any health care decision for me. This includes the power to give, refuse, or

withdraw consent to any care, treatment, service, or procedures. This includes deciding whether to stop or not start health care that is keeping me or might keep me alive, and deciding about intrusive mental health treatment.

 

(B) Choose my health care providers.

 

(C) Choose where I live and receive care and support when those choices relate to my

health care needs.

 

(D) Review my medical records and have the same rights that I would have to give my

medical records to other people.

 

If I DO NOT want my health care agent to have a power listed above in (A) through (D) OR if I want to LIMIT any power in (A) through (D), I MUST say that here:

 

______________________________________________________________________

 

My health care agent is NOT automatically given the powers listed below in (1) and (2). If I WANT my agent to have any of the powers in (1) and (2), I must INITIAL the line in front of the power; then my agent WILL HAVE that power.

 

______   (1)  To decide whether to donate any parts of my body, including organs, tissues, and eyes, when I die.

 

______ (2)  To decide what will happen with my body when I die (burial, cremation).

 

If I want to say anything more about my health care agent’s powers or limits on the powers, I can say it here:  ________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

PART II: HEALTH CARE INSTRUCTIONS

 

NOTE: Complete this Part II if you wish to give health care instructions. If you appointed an agent in Part I, completing this Part II is optional but would be very helpful to your agent. However, if you chose not to appoint an agent in Part I, you MUST complete some or all of this Part II if you wish to make a valid health care directive.

 

These are instructions for my health care when I am unable to decide or speak for myself.

These instructions must be followed (so long as they address my needs).

 

THESE ARE MY BELIEFS AND VALUES ABOUT MY HEALTH CARE

(I know I can change these choices or leave any of them blank)

 

I want you to know these things about me to help you make decisions about my health care:

 

My goals for my health care: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

My fears about my health care: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

My spiritual or religious beliefs and traditions: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

My beliefs about when life would be no longer worth living:

 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

My thoughts about how my medical condition might affect my family:

 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

THIS IS WHAT I WANT AND DO NOT WANT FOR MY HEALTH CARE

 

(I know I can change these choices or leave any of them blank)  Many medical treatments may be used to try to improve my medical condition or to prolong my life. Examples include artificial breathing by a machine connected to a tube in the lungs, artificial feeding or fluids through tubes, attempts to start a stopped heart, surgeries, dialysis, antibiotics, and blood transfusions. Most medical treatments can be tried for a while and then stopped if they do not help.  I have these views about my health care in these situations:  (Note: You can discuss general feelings, specific treatments, or leave any of them blank)

 

If I had a reasonable chance of recovery, and were temporarily unable to decide or speak

for myself, I would want:

 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

If I were dying and unable to decide or speak for myself, I would want:

 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

If I were permanently unconscious and unable to decide or speak for myself, I would want:

 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

If I were completely dependent on others for my care and unable to decide or speak for

myself, I would want: …..

 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

In all circumstances, my doctors will try to keep me comfortable and reduce my pain. This is how I feel about pain relief if it would affect my alertness or if it could shorten my life:

 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

There are other things that I want or do not want for my health care, if possible:

 

Who I would like to be my doctor:

 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

Where I would like to live to receive health care:

 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

Where I would like to die and other wishes I have about dying:

 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

My wishes about donating parts of my body when I die:

 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

My wishes about what happens to my body when I die (cremation, burial):

 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Any other things:

 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

PART III: MAKING THE DOCUMENT LEGAL

 

This document must be signed by me. It also must either be verified by a notary public

(Option 1) OR witnessed by two witnesses (Option 2). It must be dated when it is verified or witnessed.I am thinking clearly, I agree with everything that is written in this document, and I have made this document willingly.

 

 

___________________________________

My Signature

  

___________________________________

Date signed:

 

___________________________________ 

Date of birth:

 

___________________________________ 

Address:

 

 

If I cannot sign my name, I can ask someone to sign this document for me.

 

 

_____________________________________________________

Signature of the person who I asked to sign this document for me.

 

________________________________________________________

Printed name of the person who I asked to sign this document for me.

 

 

Option 1: Notary Public

 

In my presence on___________________________________ (date), __________________________________________ (name) acknowledged his/her

signature on this document or acknowledged that he/she authorized the person signing this document to sign on his/her behalf. I am not named as a health care agent or alternate health care agent in this document.

 

___________________________________________ 

(Signature of Notary)

 (Notary Stamp)

 

 

Option 2: Two Witnesses

 

Two witnesses must sign. Only one of the two witnesses can be a health care provider or an employee of a health care provider giving direct care to me on the day I sign this document.

 

Witness One:

(i) In my presence on _______________________ (date), ________________ (name) acknowledged his/her signature on this document or acknowledged that he/she authorized the person signing this document to sign on his/her behalf.

(ii) I am at least 18 years of age.

(iii) I am not named as a health care agent or an alternate health care agent in this document.

(iv) If I am a health care provider or an employee of a health care provider giving direct

care to the person listed above in (A), I must initial this box: [   ]

I certify that the information in (i) through (iv) is true and correct.

 

______________________________________ 

(Signature of Witness One)

 

Address:  ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Witness Two:

(i) In my presence on ________________________ (date), _________________ (name) acknowledged his/her signature on this document or acknowledged that he/she authorized the person signing this document to sign on his/her behalf.

(ii) I am at least 18 years of age.

(iii) I am not named as a health care agent or an alternate health care agent in this document.

(iv) If I am a health care provider or an employee of a health care provider giving direct

care to the person listed above in (A), I must initial this box: [   ]

I certify that the information in (i) through (iv) is true and correct.

 

________________________________________ 

(Signature of Witness Two)

 

Address:

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

REMINDER: Keep this document with your personal papers in a safe place (not in a safe deposit box). Give signed copies to your doctors, family, close friends, health care agent, and alternate health care agent. Make sure your doctor is willing to follow your wishes. This document should be part of your medical record at your physician’s office and at the hospital, home care agency, hospice, or nursing facility where you receive your care.

 

Some of this information was taken from Minnesota statute section 145C.16.  This should not be considered legal advice, it is provided as a public service.

Legal And Ethical Issues Of Organ Transplants

One of the greatest achievements in medical science is organ transplant surgery. People who have failing organs and are doomed to die can now be given a new lease on life by the generosity of organ donors who are giving part of their own bodies to save or enhance the lives of others. However, there are many ethical issues and controversies pertaining to organ transplants.

Discussions on the ethics on organ transplants invariably will attract questions like for instance:-

Can human organs be traded commercially, if not why? Should a person who has already received one transplant be allowed another one? Should alcoholics be given liver transplants, where after all, it was their alcoholism that damages their livers in the first place? What are the sources of organs used in organ transplants operations?

Perhaps the most controversial topics of these ethical debates are about the procurement and distribution of human organs for transplant and are centered on the questions of how do we get the organs and how do we decide who will receive organ transplants?

Since there are always fewer organ donors than there are potential recipients, this fact make the debate on who should get the organ available very emotional and heated which is not surprising because lives are at stake.

To compound the problem, organ transplants are very expensive surgical procedures and only the rich can afford them. Poorer folks may never get the opportunity of a transplant even if they need it more urgently than their richer counterparts. Should the choice of who get the organs be dependant upon who can afford it?

Then there is the issue of not everyone agreeing when death of the donor actually occurs. Is it when the heart and lungs stop functioning or the donor is certified brain dead?

What about consent of the donor? At the present moment, a donor has to expressly agree for organ donor ship in order for organs to be removed except in Singapore which have the controversial Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA). The Act assumed that all Singapore citizens have consented to be organ donors unless opted out. However, Muslims are exempted from the Act for religious reasons.

Which is the better way to get consent from the donors? By enacting legislations or relying on willing donors?

Since most people can live with only one kidney or one eye, which are organs which can be donated while the donor is still alive. Should the donor be allowed to sell his kidney? The argument against allowing commercial trade on human organs is that it may encourage poor people to sell their organs and even may encourage unethical syndicate organ trading rackets.

There are people suffering and are on the death row waiting for organ transplants to save their lives and decisions about the ethics of organ transplants will have a tremendous impact on them. What is your position on these ethical issues of human organ transplants?