Even worse, because the existing kimberley process certification system has so many loopholes, it can be almost impossible. What this definition leaves out is large numbers of diamonds that are tainted by violence, human rights abuses, poverty, environmental degradation, and other issues. Decimated conflict diamond trade survives in europe. James is a dedicated doctor working with doctors without borders. Blood diamonds, also referred to as conflict or war diamonds, are diamonds that originate from war zones and end up being traded on the black market to fund reb.
As a consumer, it is important to limit your shopping to those companies that are willing to certify that their diamonds are nonconflict. Consumers need to ask questions when they shop, and to resist the easy answer, says ian smillie, a conflict diamond expert and author of several books on blood diamonds, including blood on. 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. The blood diamonds are smuggled to other countries and mixed with clean diamonds there. Worst of all, guerrilla rebels, in their lust for the resourcerich land, have sunk to depravity and terrorism to. Is there a way to differentiate blood diamonds from other. Apart from the innocent people caught up in the conflicts that the trade fuels, thousands of men, women and children in countries such as sierra leone are used as slaves to extract diamonds writes paul armstrong of cnn news. Up to 20 books are listed, in descending order of popularity. Aug 27, 2015 consumers need to ask questions when they shop, and to resist the easy answer, says ian smillie, a conflict diamond expert and author of several books on blood diamonds, including blood on. In the movie blood diamond, the characters choices and actions are limited by outside events such as the diamond trade, the fight for independence, the corruption of the government in sierra leone, the decisions of the united nations, and the complexities of international politics.
Only about 90 firms from about 15,000 big and small diamond companies. The story is interesting fiction, but it is based upon facts. But certification of cut and polished diamonds given by the global non profit responsible jewellery council rjc is optional. Oct 16, 2015 a critical reading of blood diamond 2006 in the context of transnationalism article pdf available in african identities 4. The kimberley process kp regulations govern the trade in rough unpolished diamonds. Imagine a rebel group in the jungle headed by general mosquito executing operation no living.
May, 2008 is there a moral difference between buying blood diamonds and buying goods produced in sweat shops d in the future, kpcs may serve as a model for other international frameworks designed to prevent trade in natural resources that is used to finance terrorism and human rights abuses. The term is designed to dramatically emphasize that behind the glamorous image of diamonds lies a web of corruption, influence peddling and brutality in some parts of the diamondproducing world. Blood diamonds still exist, and the industry as a whole is still beset by problems over conflict, smuggling and child labor. First discovered in 1930, the diamonds of sierra leone have funded one of the most savage rebel campaigns in modern history. The truth about the diamond industry wake up world.
There is a chapter on the hazards and thrills of cutting and polishing diamonds, including the 274carat, 247facet centenary diamond, cut by gabi tolkowsky in 1991. With civil war ripping the heart out of the country, all aspects of life there are unstable. Blood diamonds, also known as conflict diamonds, are stones that are produced in areas controlled by rebel forces that are opposed to internationally recognized governments. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The chapter discusses the role of conflict diamonds in exacerbating armed conflict. Id read books about the colonial scramble for africa, about the exploitation of its ivory, rubber and gold, but to learn the history of diamonds was to learn the story of africa all over again. The term is used to highlight the negative consequences of the diamond trade in certain areas, or to label an individual. It should be no surprise then that the trade in blood diamonds remains fully legal. If you work with a jeweler you trust and research before you buy our list of useful links is a good start you can know youve done your part in being a responsible diamond shopper. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading blood diamonds.
Blood diamond by riley quinn grabbed me from the first line and never let go. Blood diamonds in africa 2102 words 9 pages edwin lopez ms. The history of diamonds is thoroughly covered but there isnt a boring word in this book. Many diamonds are still stained by severe human rights abuses such as forced labor, beatings, torture, and murder. Looking for these three things in a jeweler can help you to ensure they know what diamonds are not blood diamonds. Blood diamonds and millions of other books are available for instant access. 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.
Many jewelers are committed to ensuring that all their diamonds are ethically sourced. The rebels sell these diamonds, and the money is used to purchase arms or to fund their military actions. Dec 03, 2001 perhaps the most prized of all gems, diamonds have a long and fascinating history. Essay on the truth about blood diamonds 2849 words bartleby. In 2017 it will be australias turn to chair the kimberley process certification scheme. The jeweler can track the path of their diamonds from the mine to the store. Are there non conflict options already on the market for. Aug, 2017 blood diamonds still exist, and the industry as a whole is still beset by problems over conflict, smuggling and child labor. 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.
Best books about diamonds part 1 news from all diamond. Photos of famous diamonds, rings, bracelets, tiaras and other pieces as well as stories of such famous jewels as the hope, the orloff, and the kohinoor. Fascinating, profusely illustrated volume covers complete history and lore of diamonds from early discoveries in indias golconda mines to the development of major mining companies. Many of the worlds diamonds are harvested using practices that exploit workers, children, and communities. The angola government had purchased diamonds from unita a rebel group supported by the united states which would then be exported as their own, with both parties profiting off blood diamonds. Search the worlds most comprehensive index of fulltext books. Essay on the truth about blood diamonds 2849 words. Europe decimated conflict diamond trade survives in europe. Turning necessity into a virtue with the same skill it has used for decades to promote. Too often, the worlds diamond mines produce not only. In this book he has a strong start describing the war atrocities. The west african country of sierra leone has long been known as a diamondrich area.
Most of the artisanal diamond workshops are unregistered and unregulated. Awardwinning journalist greg campbell traces the deadly trail of these. Many jewelers that specialize in purchasing loose diamonds track their sources. Tracing the deadly path of the worlds most precious stones. The diamond industry is still tainted by conflict, but its possible to buy a. Diamond has the highest hardness and thermal conductivity of any natural material, properties that are utilized in major. At room temperature and pressure, another solid form of carbon known as graphite is the chemically stable form, but diamond almost never converts to it. No discussion of diamonds would be complete without mentioning its timehonored culture of brigandage, as hart puts it, so he regales us with tales of modern diamond crooks.
As i write in the cover story in this weeks time international, blood diamonds still exist, and the industry as a whole is still beset by problems over. In certain ways the movie weve made is very conventional, an action drama. A critical reading of blood diamond 2006 in the context of transnationalism article pdf available in african identities 4. Diamond is a solid form of the element carbon with its atoms arranged in a crystal structure called diamond cubic. Blood diamonds greg campbell published by basic books. When her brother is accused of stealing a diamond from the sadistic general mutambe, jillian is forced to go on the run. Blood diamonds are synonymous with conflict diamonds. This map shows which countries are buying most of the worlds. Unfortunately, diamond purchases go beyond just the 4 cs. Some of those who drafted the kp regulations would lose the most if all blood diamonds were banned. The book blood diamonds written by greg campbell is a great book that really opens up your eyes to see what has been happening in sierra leone in the 90s and 2000s. Tracing the deadly path of the worlds most precious stones kindle edition by campbell, greg.
Over 99 percent of the worlds supply of diamonds now comes from sources free of conflict, according to the world diamond council. Dec 01, 2010 blood diamond by riley quinn grabbed me from the first line and never let go. But for many people in diamondrich countries, these sparkling stones are more a curse than a blessing. Three specific conflictsin angola, the democratic republic of the congo, and sierra leonedirected world attention to the destructive role of diamonds, though the. Learn about conflict diamonds and what you can do to avoid buying one with bloodshed. Level 1 reader diamonds smuggled from the bloody civilwar zones of africa and traded illegally for weapons are known as blood diamonds. The book also served as the basis for the 2006 film blood diamond starring. The movie blood diamond traces the path of a large pink diamond found in sierra leone in the 1990s by a fisherman working as a slave in a rebelcontrolled diamond mine. The only way that the blood will finally be washed away from conflict diamonds is if there is a true fairtradecertification process that allows conscientious consumers to buy congos artisanal. There are many different factors that can make a diamond pricier, but being conflictfree certified should not be one of them. The book of diamonds introduces the reader to the world of fascinating gems. Although campbells work is in some ways directly tied to the history that was unfolding around the turn of the century, its by no means so dated as to no longer. Mar 24, 2016 most of the blood diamonds originate in africa. Have you heard the arthurian legend, the romance of the stone.
Unless you know a diamonds origin, your money could be helping fund civil wars in africa. This narrative became especially popular in the 1990s and early 2000s, as a result of journalism covering blood diamonds. London journalists harley kirkpatrick and annie shepherd sense the scoop of a lifetime when they try to trap a smuggler. Blood diamonds won the colorado nonfiction book of the year award in 2002. 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. Diamonds are forever, ian fleming 1956 by no coincidence, the james bond movie of the same title also made it into many lists about diamond movies. Due to these reasons, kimberley process has been moderately successful in limiting the number of conflict diamonds entering the market. Pdf a critical reading of blood diamond 2006 in the.
Our beyond conflict free diamonds have been carefully selected for their ethical and environmentally responsible origins. Turning necessity into a virtue with the same skill it. 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. Blood diamonds really shone light onto the issue bringing more awareness to it, just like the move did aswell. Jewelers that offer conflict free diamonds are limiting themselves to the kimberley process definition, which narrowly defines conflict diamonds as diamonds that finance rebel movements against recognized governments. Diamonds brings together for the first time all aspects of the diamond industry. Another practical reason that they are bad is that people are forced through violence to dig for these diamonds.
Tracing the deadly path of the worlds most precious stones from the worlds largest community of readers. That diamond changed and ended many lives, and the story of that stone carries a strong social message. There were times in the book where i thought that campbell started. Even though many brutal civil wars have now ended, violence in diamond mines remains a serious problem. However, a major publication such as blood diamonds cant always engage the reader. There is no way to verify a diamond is not a conflict diamond. The following list is about great books featuring diamonds, a mix of fiction and non fiction. In may of 2012 cnn did an article on blood diamonds coming out of africa and there roll in funding rebels. 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.
1547 1529 1524 349 135 114 1633 564 231 1444 157 861 1009 525 336 1399 145 804 781 991 1626 1303 458 1326 778 1346 1091 359 582 921 1126 925 5 706 776 271 953 300