Oscar Attendees Get Gift Bags That Give Back

Oscar Attendees Get Gift Bags That Give Back

Conflict-Free Diamond From Diamonds For Humanity Crowns Eco-Friendly 'SWAGG' Bag Worth Over $5,000

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrities participating in the 3rd annual "Red Carpet-Green Cars" event at this year's Academy Awards ceremony will be treated to a special gift bag that may prove to have greater long-term value than the renowned Oscar basket given to presenters and nominees. The alternative Oscar SWAGG (Sustainability, Wellness And Green Gifts) bag contains only eco-friendly products and the crown jewel of this year's bag is a conflict-free cultured diamond pendant or lapel pin, valued at $2,500 - $3,500, from Diamonds For Humanity, an organization that promotes "luxury with conscience."

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050225/LAFRU5 )

Each year, Global Green, a national environmental organization, arranges to chauffer Oscar-goers to the awards in high-mileage, partial zero emission (PZEV) gas-electric Toyota Prius hybrids rather than gas-guzzling limos. This year, nominees and attendees demonstrating their eco-consciousness include Robin Williams and Tim Robbins.

As a thank-you for their participation in the effort, these celebrities will receive the SWAGG bag filled with gifts from progressive companies whose products promote environmental and humanitarian awareness. The exquisite Diamonds For Humanity "Mandala" pendant and lapel pin feature Gemesis certified cultured diamonds that have the exact DNA structure of earth-mined diamonds -- yet involve no human or environmental sacrifice. For years, civil wars in diamond-rich Africa have impeded development and provoked human, cultural and environmental tragedies as a result of the mining of "conflict diamonds."

As part of its mission to address human rights abuses, Diamonds for Humanity supports programs in conjunction with the International League for Human Rights, the Africa-America Institute, and The Indigenous Land Rights Fund. Net proceeds from every sale help fund existing educational, health and land reclamation programs for the displaced Kalahari Bushmen.

"Every recipient of the SWAGG Bag may not take home a golden statuette, but they'll leave the ceremony with a conflict-free diamond Mandala knowing they've helped raise awareness of important humanitarian and environmental issues," said Sabiha Foster, founder of Diamonds For Humanity.

Additional companies providing products for the SWAGG bag include Natural Home and Garden, Greenfeet.com, Kettle Chips/Bio Diesel, Green Mountain Coffee, Eagle Peak Herbals, EarthPak Back Packs and Forests of the World raffia baskets.

About Gemesis

Gemesis is the world-wide leader in cultured diamonds for the jewelry market. The Gemesis Corporation, a privately-held company founded in 1996, has developed break-through technology to create fancy colored diamonds that are no longer only accessible to a privileged few. Today, Gemesis creates rare fancy-colored diamonds in its state-of-the-art "above-ground" facility in Sarasota, Fla. Gemesis-created diamonds are available in colors ranging from fancy intense yellow to fancy vivid orange, up to two carats in weight, and can be cut into virtually any shape. Gemesis cultured diamonds possess the same physical, optical and chemical properties as earth-grown diamonds. For more information about Gemesis, visit www.gemesis.com.

About Global Green

Global Green works in co-operation with individuals, industry, and governments to create a global value shift toward a sustainable and secure future. For more information, or to join others in signing Global Green's "Pledge of Allegiance to American Energy Independence," please visit www.globalgreen.org.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050225/LAFRU5
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Gemesis

CONTACT: Lisa Bernfeld of Phyllis Klein & Associates, +1-323-655-4200,
lbernfeld@pkapr.com, for Gemesis

Web site: http://www.gemesis.com/
http://www.globalgreen.org/

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