Where Your $$ Goes

Meant to say ‘MOODY’

WOW. You are a one woman army! Your mission is strong.
I like that! I’m being educated by your work about these blood diamonds..
I’ve never known much about them. Powerful work. Powerful message.
Thanks for sharing it!

Brilliant Helen. Very powerful imagery!!

Hi Helen, you would find the movie Blood Diamond v. interesting if you haven’t already seen it.

I have not seen it, nor will I see it. The reality of a blood diamond is far more horrific than Brad Pitt.

An extremely powerful message. I have never heard about these diamomds before.

Helen, I did not mean to offend. However, coming from Africa, and being against this industry myself I feel this movie is extremely poignant with a very powerful message which reaches the masses. Also, I don’t recall Brad Pitt being in this film.

(And by the way, if you only lost your hand you’d be lucky – it’s a lot worse, trust me.)

Ah yes, it was Dicaprio. Sorry.

Its a very moving story of which we are all guilty of.

You’ve created a powerful image Helen, and a message certainly worth spreading.

I agree, you are successfully spreading the word, where there is poverty there is cruely and greed and more people need to be aware. But then hey, same goes for Fire crackers and the small kids getting their faces blown of in South American jungles while trying to make a pittance. We should all think more about what is behind the ‘beauty’ we desire, often the object is infact very ugly! Keep it up Helen.

Oh I intend to be relentless. I want every one to become ashamed to wear a diamond. Drive down their value, and make it less profitable for the butchers that use the income to fund their war and mutilations.

Just remember, not ALL diamonds are coming from the same market. That is why it is important to find out the origins. There are diamonds being mined in mines in South Africa where workers are working for honest wages in good circumstances. To tarnish the whole industry as corrupt is not fair either. Like with anything one needs to look into the where’s and how’s.

You are right about that, but diamonds are not rare, and the price is artificially inflated. However, in the United States a buyer can request certification that the gem is “conflict free.”

I have never seen an advertisement on U.S. television or in print that conflict free gems are available. Maybe I don’t watch enough television though. If someone knows of a jeweler that offers such wares, I would like to know.

That’s our problem Helen, who do we trust, and what person, earning a huge wad of cash is going to disclose the diamong is ‘blood’ if it compromises their lifestyle. I don’t have diamonds, but I admire them. I have to confess, when looking in jewellery shop windows the point of contention we are discussing is no where near my mind. Maybe conversations, artwork like this and movies like Blood Diamond will help those being exploited in this evil trade and create a demand for jewellers and suppliers to be answerable for the location and history of the diamond before being marketed.

Yes, diamonds are beautiful. That has always been their allure. I do not own a diamond and never will. I prefer amethyst, my birthstone.

I hope the diamond industry goes the way of the fur industry myself. Very, very few people are crazy enough to wear real fur nowadays. Perhaps zircons are the new diamonds?

powerfully provocative portait, well composed

for me, I wouldn’t know a diamond from a piece of glass. I must be a pleb. but I think it is not difficult to live your life and cause little harm to all things that breathe with which we share this planet. the first step is gaining the awareness. we have a responsibility to be aware of the consequences of those things we choose to consume. so my admiration goes out to you helen, for your important role in that process, and for the courage it would have taken to put together what must have been a very confronting and challenging image, and series.

Thank you for your comment Shayne. It was a difficult series. It’s not easy to portray a dismembered baby arm in a way that shocks but still draws attention to the real issue. People MUST become aware of the appalling way human beings treat one another. This is just one horrible example of what evil sons of bitches people can be.

OMG this is kick ass!! great job!!

Helen, this is a powerful and stunning work and the sad thing an all too true immage threw out the world. This is a very emotional work, you did an excellent job.

WOW – you have some great effects happening here.. Loveing your recent work.

A very important message illustrated with an amazing piece of art – well done

this is fantastic….. such a strong message girl…..
and boyyyyyy… wow

again helen…well done. really lovin your work.

You have a gift for translating important issues into haunting visual images Helen – great work!

A powerful and provocative image Helen! .

You really are doing some very powerful work lately, Helen. This is another strong addition to the cause!

great composition, another strong image. db

well done again Helen and bravo to your models!

Very powerful message. Excellent work!

this does say power, i love the title and the hands in the sun shades!

very nice job

Ohhhhh Helen. Wow!! You really know how to evoke emotions in your art- this one makes me angry and sad . . . and reaffirms my aversion to the diamond trade. Awesome stuff!

Powerful and awakening!

You are very talented…powerful message!!!

Powerful message, dramatic and haunting.
Discovery Times aired a series called Diamond Road which revealed the horrific practices of diamond mining. Included were images of men, women and children missing limbs, brutally chopped off by those controlling the diamond mines.
It would be a good thing if businesses advertised that they sell Conflict Free Diamonds!

Stunning in its starkness of what is going on in Africa.

Wow this photo is a true wake up call… Well done Helen!!!

fantastic

awesome work

Helen – as you know this is truly deeply moving and horrific! I cried and cried after I saw the shot you did with the african boy with his hands chopped off…and my heart bled a little for hm that day(no a lot).....and all I can say is EVERYBODY TAKE HEED!!! LISTEN TO WHAT THIS WOMAN IS SAYING – SHE MAKES GOOD SENSE!

And…I hope too that diamonds will become like fur and that everybody will realise the price has a hidden agenda! Tonnes and tonnes of coffee is thrown into the sea each year in Brazil (depriving people who grow it of profit) simply to get rid of the surplus so that they can keep the artificial prices inflated! ....Nice world we got going here!

Thanks for all your consciousness -raising work Helen – You Rock Babe!!!

Suzannex

strong work helen – am glad to have found you on here and always love seeing what you’ve come up with next. I admire your stance on these issues.

GOOD ADD…........ART….LOVE IT…

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

PAUL ROMANOWSKI

PS:
IF YOU WANT TO DO THE SAME JUST VISIT THIS

Again, close to my heart, having lived in the land called Rhodesia now known as Zimbabwe Ruins :) Powerful image Helen

That’s one picture that says more than words.

Helen!!!! Incredible work here. This is so powerful, I am at a loss for words….....

It is very strong composition!

Striking and meaningful image.

powerful, and one that could easily send you to a state of Despair

this is so powerful, great awareness

WoW, very powerful image, well done

love your work here Helen. Wonder why the hell I didn’t look sooner. Thanks for the slap in the face

Hi Helen, I just wanted to check in on this image and see what other responses you have had. I am so glad it’s message is getting across. Can I ask you to please start on the anti-whaling next because we need some help in this dept. Seriously! Actually I will bubblemail you with a list of requests (I can’t paint the messages the way you seem to capture them.) Well done you are doing a wonderful job.

Wow, this is one powerful image!!!! Brilliantly done! A very powerful message as well. This series would make a great exhibition somewhere!!!

Hi Helen….this is such a strong and powerful portrait/image.
It speaks volumes.
I’m proud to have you as a friend…someone that speaks up for the injustices in this world and isn’t afraid to say exactly what they feel.

Well done

Powerful message!

frightening concecpt and well conceived. great representation of the violence and terror.

stunning and powerful, well done!

Very powerful.

Helen again I just have to say excellent…..

Moody, Emotive and fully Creative indeed.
Take care of yourself!

brillant

OK. NOW YOU REALLY HAVE TAKEN YOUR ART , IN MY MOST HUMBLE OPINION, TO A LEVEL THAT SO POWERFUL, THOUGHT PROVOLKING, THAT IT REALLY IS A HONOR TO BE A FRIEND. THIS NEEDS, NEEDS TO BE SEEN HELEN.
I HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THIS, AND I AM NOT EVEN PLAYIN’. THAT CHILD, PLEADING FOR HELP, BUT WITH HOPE AS WELL.

Excellent, very powerful

Helen: Wonderful exposition. Great text and image.

Thank you to everyone who has commented and favorited this work. Please take note of the links to learn more and give to help make a difference.

uauuu fantastic

Another powerful shot – full of impact – Well done Helen

Hello Helen: This image is very powerful. The blood and the diamonds reflected in his shades: POWERFUL.

Helen your passion is infectious, the world needs more people like you. God bless you.

brilliant image. love the message.

Brilliant and powerful work!

I like to see pretty pics of pretty women but I love to see pics of political importance.
You rock!

thats why I don’t posess diamonds and I never will!

great work!!!!!!!!!!

What a powerful image. Fantastic.

Powerful and emotive. You go girl.

but i LIKE keeping 90% of the population opressed and downtrodden..
:(
your no fun helen.

great shot and message!

Great image to get the message across – good on you!

An extraordinary powerful image Helen.
It made me remember and cry.
If I was handing out Pulitzer Awards…...this would get one!!!!!!!!!!

Thank YOU

congrats on the Home Page,wonderful comp and Techs, well done Helen scares the sh-t out of me

Who’s on fire this week! Congrats Helen. Powerful statement piece with that unmistakable HBascom flavour.

Very powerful image Helen.

Incredible, amazing, brilliant, horrifying, what a nightmare image this photo evokes. Well done!

Yeah that’s the type of art I’m talking bout, with the power to grab you and make you rethink your actions and correct them. Righteous.

Really really great concept and image! Very powerful message.

Hey, This is a Truth not often mentioned these days! I love your image and photo, I also watched the movie about this and was amazed, Great work and Great Message!!!

A strong hitting image, horrifying to the core really, Helen!
Very powerful in its message and delivery!
I am always so amazed by you, Helen. And it is not so much in “a cursing the darkness” way, rather how you are that one light in the darkness, Helen. Your faith and hope and the way you raise your children each day….that is powerful!
Rice or diamonds? C’mon. Shouldn’t even BE a question, should it? Give ‘em hell, Helen!
I love you, Helen.

AND Congratulations on the Homepage spot!!!!

Brilliant…a real punch in the face image! Kudos!!