Blood on the stone is a gripping account of the cartel, warlords, gun runners and shadowy traders. The kimberley process certification scheme kpcs and conflict diamonds. Blood on the stone tells the story of how diamonds they destroyed the lives of millions more and they crippled the economies of angola, the congo, liberia and sierra leone. The same year this movie hit theaters, a documentary called blood diamonds, a madefortv documentary was broadcast on the history channel, giving people more facts on conflict diamonds which also shed light to people who were unaware of this topic. However, the popular movement for the liberation of angola mpla, the national union for the total independence of angola unita, and the national liberation front of angola fnla, fought in a civil war lasting 27 years from 1974 to 2001. Conflict diamonds, or socalled blood diamonds, are rough diamonds used by rebel dictators to fund wars against legitimate governments. Before we get into the gruesome details of the corrupt african diamond trade, its important to note two things.
Ian smillie will tell the story of how diamonds, precious symbols of. Greed, corruption and war in the global diamond trade. Well, good luck naomi, with all that pressure in court you didnt. The film was distributed by titanus in italy, the day after the kidnapping of aldo moro which led to the film grossing only 259,502,900 italian lira. Conflict diamonds, sometimes called blood diamonds, are diamonds sold by rebel and terrorist groups to fund armed conflicts and rebellions against legitimate governments. Multistakeholder initiatives and the evolution of the business and. She didnt know the men who brought the diamonds her way. Blood diamonds poem by raymond farrell poem hunter.
A romantic name for an entirely unromantic subject, blood diamonds refer to the gemstones that are mined in conflict zones, often exploiting the miners and putting them at great risk, and benefiting warlords instead of governments. In diamonds, author ian smillie, renowned expert on all things sparkling, attempts to explain the varied aspects of the diamond industry. Many diamonds are still stained by severe human rights abuses such as forced labor, beatings, torture, and murder. Even though many brutal civil wars have now ended, violence in diamond mines remains a serious problem.
Brilliant earth goes above and beyond the current industry standards to offer beyond conflict free diamonds tm with a listed origin of canada, botswana sort, or russia. Although the documentary had facts on this world issue, the movie is what allowed more. Conflict diamonds may not be on the radar, but theyre. Exposing the blood diamond trade human rights watch. Blood diamonds in africa 2102 words 9 pages edwin lopez ms. Blood diamond twodisc special edition and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
Blood and diamonds premiered in rome on 17 march 1978. Another horrific fact is that the ruf captured children and indoctrinated. In this engrossing, profusely illustrated volume, that history is covered in detail from early discoveries in the golconda mines of india probably the site of the first diamonds ever unearthed and digs in brazil, to the south african diamond rush and development of major mining companies. Ian smillies diamonds is his second book about the diamond industry.
The conditions we uncovered in marange, together with the knowledge that socalled blood diamonds are a key source of revenue for zimbabwes abusive government, prompted human rights watch to take. Ian smillie blood on the stone war and redemption in the global diamond trade. Three specific conflictsin angola, the democratic republic of the congo, and sierra leonedirected world attention to the destructive role of diamonds, though the. Jon land is the author of four previous novels in this series, pillars of solomon, walls of jericho, a walk in the darkness and keepers of the gate. Smillie is perhaps more of a campaigner on this issue than most authors in the series.
These diamonds are mined by civilians who have been ordered by the armed groups to do so most of them are children, and typically if they refuse to do the work they may be possibly raped, abused, or even murdered. Many of the worlds diamonds are harvested using practices that exploit workers, children, and communities. Ians smillies new book, blood on the stone is a compellingly written history of diamonds, colonialism and international trade, told from the point of view of one of. Diamonds by ian smillie used very good world of books. And it was as simple, in a postcold war world awash in illicit weapons, for them to find gunrunners and flybynight airlines willing to accept diamonds in payment. Duffield 2001, forcese 2001, reno 1998, smillie et al. Perhaps the most prized of all gems, diamonds have a long and fascinating history. Awardwinning journalist greg campbell traces the deadly trail of these diamonds. The book describes the diamond pipeline, from wartorn africa to the glittering showrooms of paris, london and new york. But many of the stones are dubious in origin, coming from african countries immersed in civil wars. He has written several books on development subjects, the most. Diamonds processed in surat are sold to jewellery makers in a bazaar, but nearly 90 per cent are couriered to one of the worlds largest diamond bourses in mumbai, and then exported. Ian smillie blood on the stone war and redemption in the global. Nevertheless he provides an excellent and balanced overview of the issues, from the mystique of diamond through to the controversies surrounding blood diamonds and the efforts to regulate the trade.
The book describes the diamond pipeline, from wartorn africa to the glittering. Smillies book is a fascinating read about the world of diamonds, war and greed. In diamonds he cuts his way into the myriad facets of the diamond story. The result is invariably excellent, and diamonds is no exception. In the great house, their masters devise a fresher way to kill, scented napalm for. Diamonds brings together for the first time all aspects of the diamond industry. And the children of africa had it far worst than any adult. Blood diamonds also called conflict diamonds, brown diamonds, hot diamonds, or red diamonds are diamonds mined in a war zone and sold to finance an insurgency, an invading armys war efforts, or a warlords activity. Blood diamonds and nonstate actors vanderbilt university.
Tracing the deadly path of the worlds most precious stones. Charmian gooch, cofounder, global witness book description a gripping account of the cartel, warlords, gun runners and shadowy traders who populated africas bloody diamond wars, and the faltering, decadelong effort to clean up an entire industry. First discovered in 1930, the diamonds of sierra leone have funded one of the most savage rebel campaigns in modern history. But behind the sparkle of the diamond lies a murkier story, in which rebel armies in angola, sierra leone and the congo turned to diamonds to finance their wars. Awardwinning journalist greg campbell traces the deadly trail of these. A book on blood diamonds will be published in 2010. A blood diamond, or conflict diamonds, are used in the illegal trading of diamonds to finance conflict, civil wars and human rights abuses in different african countries. These blood diamonds are smuggled out of west africa and sold to legitimate diamond merchants in london, antwerp, and new york, often with the complicity of the international diamond industry. They are known as blood diamonds sold by rebels and governments to fund their war campaigns. During the last 15 years, the illicit trade of blood diamonds has been most prevalent in central and west african nations, and affected mainly sierra leone, angola, liberia. As ivory coasts gbagbo holds firm, blood diamonds flow. Fittingly diamonds are made of pure carbon, and diamonds are the hardest natural substance known to man.
The many diamonds found quickly gained the name of blood and conflict diamonds as the war progressed. Many buyers believe conflictfree must mean the stones are canadian. Ian smillie has lived and worked in africa and asia as a teacher. The name diamond comes from the greek word, adamas meaning unconquerable. The sorry role the diamond has played in the history of sierra leone, stunningly told by journalist campbell the road to kosovo, 1999. Korbelack english 121 november 2012 blood diamonds in africa in sierra leone, more than 10,000 people have suffered amputation because of the diamond trade, which has become a trademark atrocity for the rebels. Profits from the illegal african trade in diamonds have been used by warlords and rebels in africa to buy weapons. A blood diamond, also known as a conflict diamond, is a diamond that came from an area which is controlled by armed groups which oppose the rules and regulations of governments. Conflict diamonds may not be on the radar, but theyre still a worry for some published sun, nov 6 2016 3. Blood diamond wire coathanger, a broad shouldered metal assistant to a wardrobe full of motheaten garments that fail to enthral the butler or the maid, but still they make love with the dustpan and the brush, tidy little extras to help them with their lust.
As ivory coasts renegade president laurent gbagbo shrugs off international attempts to isolate his regime, smugglers continue to export blood diamonds in. Diamonds are a multibillion dollar business involving some of the worlds largest mining companies, a million and a half artisanal diggers, more than a million cutters and polishers and a huge retail jewellery sector. During this time, conflict diamonds represented approximately 4% of. Our select group of diamond suppliers demonstrate a robust chain of custody protocol for their diamonds and have the ability to track and segregate diamonds by origin. Blood diamonds acquired the worlds attention during an extremely brutal conflict in sierra leone in the late 1990s. Aside from the popularity afforded by a leonardo dicaprio movie, the world has largely forgotten about blood diamonds. History of blood diamonds in angola angola gained independence on november 11,1975 from portugal. Buy from sas to blood diamond wars first edition by ross, hamish, marafono mbe, fred isbn.
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