Apr 25, 2017 civil war in sierra leone and the role of blood diamonds the civil war in sierra leone has been one of the most grotesque ones in history, and the nations rich diamond reserves have driven much of the violence. At one point, he takes the readers focus to a city in sierra leone. In 20, a civil war erupted in the central african republic, with both sides fighting over the countrys diamond resources. Efforts to publicize the link between the atrocities, the warlords and the diamonds paid off. Diamonds that fuel civil wars are often called blood or conflict diamonds. Jul 07, 2008 martin meredith is a journalist, biographer and historian who has written extensively on africa and its recent history. Trace the deadly path of the worlds most precious stones. Civil war in sierra leone and the role of blood diamonds. In addition to articles for world war ii history and military heritage, he is also the author of guadalcanal 9780811716260, new guinea 9780811715560, orde wingate 9781849083232, and archibald wavell 9781849087377. During sierra leones civil war 19912002, the countrys diamonds became. Like latin american farmers who say they wouldnt grow youknowwhat if they could make a livable wage off of legal plants, this work shows west africans mining for diamonds because they are given no other. Someone has rightly said that no one cares about africa and one could clearly see that in either movies or documentaries. South africa to plan a method by which the trade in conflict diamonds could be halted.
December 5, 2003 diamonds are forever it is often said. I used this film with my geography classes and it does an excellent job of showing the results of civil war in sierra leone. The british, the boers, and the making of south africa from the worlds largest community of readers. To avoid buying blood diamonds, time suggests looking for dealers that are certified as complying with the kimberley. Africa that are still ravaged by vicious armed conflicts. These civil wars and brutal armed conflicts usually are instigated by intransigent warlords, renegade militias, and rebel groups that depend on the illegal sale of blood dia monds in exchange for military weapons. More than 50,000 have been killed and about half the countrys 4. The citizens in africa are captured by the rebels, who weeds them out and is then used to mine these blood diamonds.
Martin chungong ayafor, chairman of the sierra leone panel of experts. The themes of the moviewar, violence, amputation, exploitationare negative so. A killer industry final draft the cultivation of blood diamonds have caused violence, warlords, child labor, and violation of human rights which have hindered the development and progress of african countries. Dec 26, 2017 but the diamond trade came to halt in 20 when the kimberley process, an international licensing body that seeks to prevent the sale of diamonds in war zones, banned exports from car after the. Africa supplies the majority of the worlds diamonds, yet consumers generally know little about the origins and history of these precious stones beyond sensationalized media accounts of socalled blood diamonds. The plan named after a diamondmining town in south africa aims to stop the diamond industry fuelling bloodshed in wars like that in the democratic republic of congo. Diamond miners in sierra leone sifting through the sand in search of diamonds. May 17, 20 movies about africa continue to grab my attention. How the diamond trade is enslaving millions of africans. This national geographic documentary, diamonds of war. Blood diamond should have been shot in sierra leone.
Jan 23, 2017 there were also headlines in late 2016 related to the fact that banning and controlling blood diamonds is showing some positive results, according to telegraph showing a reduction in the number of blood diamonds on the market is especially important to the jewelry industry worldwide, since africa produces about 65 percent of all diamonds each year. Between 1992 and 1999, sierra leone was engaged in a civil war which was. Blood diamonds by greg campbell is the eyeopening story revealing the. West african states ceasefire monitoring group to be stationed in freetown. Aug 10, 2010 the war crimes trial of the former liberian leader charles taylor heard more evidence that he gave blood diamonds to the supermodel naomi campbell. Download 5page thesis on blood diamonds of south africa 2020. The story of diamonds in africa began between december 1866 and february 1867, when a 15yearold found a transparent stone on his fathers farm, on the south bank of the orange river. But the lure of diamonds, for the unscrupulous, as an ideal repository of illicit wealth means the plan will undoubtedly encounter resistance. In this book he has a strong start describing the war atrocities. Blood diamonds and africas armed conflicts in the postcold war era article in world affairs 1663. Blood diamonds of south africa the african continent is notorious for the valuable resources that it contains underneath the earths surface and numerous controversies have appeared as a result of people exploiting its riches in unorthodox ways.
One of their largest tactics was the threat of amputation. But for years, some diamonds have been sold illegallywith devastating results linking to war, blood and brutality. Tracing the deadly path of the worlds most precious stones. Blood diamonds are diamonds mined in a war zone and sold to finance an insurgency. The following is a list of notable works of fiction which are set in south africa.
Jon diamond has written extensively on military history topics. Dec 06, 2002 the story of diamonds in africa began between december 1866 and february 1867, when a 15yearold found a transparent stone on his fathers farm, on the south bank of the orange river. Testimonies of the sierra leoneans who happened to be caught in the middle of the horrific civil war, provide a. Most of the time, the people behind these civil wars and rebellions oppose legitimate governments and desire. Long a symbol of love, affection and faithfulness, the diamond is now increasingly linked with war, blood and brutality. While germany was receiving its first setback in the battle of britain, fought entirely in the air, the theater of war was widened by the italian attack on the british in north africa see north africa, campaigns in, by the italian invasion oct. Experts claim that the illegal sale of blood diamonds has produced billions of dollars to fund civil wars and other conflicts in various african nations, including sierra leone where conflict ended in 2002, angola, liberia, ivory coast and the democratic republic of congo drc.
But the diamond trade came to halt in 20 when the kimberley process, an international licensing body that seeks to prevent the sale of diamonds. In the diamondrich west african nation of sierra leone, rebels used the precious gems to bankroll a violent tenyear insurrection, leaving a terrorized population and. Blood diamonds are also known as war diamonds or conflict diamonds. These civil wars and brutal armed conflicts usually are instigated by intransigent warlords, renegade militias, and rebel groups that depend on the illegal sale of blood dia monds in exchange for military weapons, guns, fuel, and assorted war materials such as land mines. It is one of 6 edited books on postconflict peacebuilding and natural resource.
Diamonds of war africas blood diamonds available in dvd ship this item temporarily out of stock online buy online, pick up in store is currently unavailable, but this item may be available for instore purchase. Blood diamonds and africas armed conflicts in the post. A graduate of cornell university, diamond is a medical doctor in private practice and has. According to the global news in 20, a civil war was erupted in the central african republic, with both sides fighting over diamond resources. The making of south africa first edition by meredith, martin isbn. There are several african countries that have unstable leaderships as civil wars are common sight in the respective countries. Blood diamonds are also known as conflict diamonds for a reason, because they caused conflicts. African continent is notorious for the valuable resources that it contains underneath the earths surface and numerous controversies have appeared as a result of people. These blood diamonds are smuggled out of west africa and sold to legitimate. The point of this work is to show that even if the diamond industry wants to ban illegal blood diamonds, it would be difficult to do. Memoirs of a boy soldier sarah chrichton books, 2007.
Blood diamonds threat returns to africa washington times. Within the next fifteen years, african diamond mines produced more diamonds than the india, the previous leading producer, had in the last 2,000 years. The story of how south africa came together in a blaze of corruption, doubledealing and brutal war, all centered around diamonds and gold, as well as british imperial ambitions in southern africa. More than three million people died as a result of these wars in the 1990s and the early 2000s. The main reason blood diamond history began is due to the fact that these four african countries needed money to buy military supplies to fight the war, and so those countries started to force its own people to mine diamonds. The war crimes trial of the former liberian leader charles taylor heard more evidence that he gave blood diamonds to the supermodel naomi campbell. A coup overthrew the government in 1999, starting a civil war. List of books and articles about world war ii in africa. Martin meredith is a journalist, biographer and historian who has written extensively on africa and its recent history. The sordid history behind africas conflict diamonds. Much of the war crimes trial of former liberian president charles taylor focused on the role played by socalled conflict diamonds in funding rebels in conflict areas.
A history of fifty years of independence, this is not a book to read if you wish to feel warm and. Blood diamonds are diamonds used to fund violent events such as civil war and terrorism. We must spare people the ordeal of war, mutilations and death for the sake of conflict diamonds. Conflict diamonds in west africa stanford university. The term is used to highlight the negative consequences of the diamond trade in certain areas, or to label an individual diamond as having come from such an area. The trade in the conflict or blood diamonds of africa, including those from sierra leone, was banned by the world diamond council in january of 2003 when the the kimberley process certification scheme, or kpcs, was created to fulfill an international certification system strictly regulating the export and import of diamonds, to introduce legislation in all countries to accept only officially. Although many diamondfueled wars have now ended, conflict diamonds remain a. The horrors of that war shocked the public, especially the scenes of innocent men, women and children with their limbs cut off by rebels, and youngsters being forced into combat. Blood diamonds refer to illegally traded diamonds that are used to monetarily support war in africa. Profits from the diamond mines supported by child soldiers, child laborers, and adult slaves finance armed wars and conflicts. The interchangeable terms conflict diamonds and blood diamonds were originally used in connection with the civil war in angola.
Blood diamond testimony as it happened world news the. African blood diamonds blood diamonds in africa howstuffworks. In the diamondrich west african nation of sierra leone, rebels used the precious gems to bankroll a violent tenyear insurrection, leaving a terrorized population and a ravaged landscape in its wake. Diamonds are symbols of affectionwidely thought to be as pure as love itselfand the vast majority are legal stones that are mined, exported and sold in the clear light of day. For years rebel forces forced people to dig for diamonds to fund their militias under threat of extreme violence and death. Africas blood diamond shame by paul armstrong, cnn charles taylor is accused of fueling a bloody civil war in neighboring sierra leone through the sale of conflict diamonds.
Jun 24, 2014 africa supplies the majority of the worlds diamonds, yet consumers generally know little about the origins and history of these precious stones beyond sensationalized media accounts of socalled blood diamonds. It intrigues me that how such a rich continent for most part has nothing but misery and victims. 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. These wars involve inhumane practices such as rape, torture, and. The blood diamond workers are mostly under thirty years old, including children. And it explains the rise of the virulent afrikaner nationalism that eventually took hold, with repercussions lasting nearly a century. The trade in blood diamonds was the focal point of the trial, which demonstrated how natural resource exploitation can serve to fund armed conflict and lead to the abuse of human rights. It follows the diamonds from mines to shady dealers to smugglers to belgium. Most of the time, the people behind these civil wars and.
The sordid history behind africas conflict diamonds blood diamond shows how industry leaders turned a blind eye to the atrocities funded by their policies. Although many diamondfueled wars have now ended, conflict diamonds remain a serious problem. The story of diamonds in africa began between december 1866 and february 1867. Diamonds, gold, and war is a tale of high adventure, high fi nance, and high politics that also shows the massive impact of white expansion on indigenous african societies. They are mined in angola, sierra leone, liberia, and the democratic republic of the congo but mostly in africa. Just click the edit page button at the bottom of the page or learn more in the plot summary submission guide. Apr 26, 2012 much of the war crimes trial of former liberian president charles taylor focused on the role played by socalled conflict diamonds in funding rebels in conflict areas. Blood diamonds and millions of other books are available for instant access.
They mined blood diamonds and sold them to fund money to buy weapons and other military efforts to fight in the civil war that lasted about 27 years. Maddy publishes a book exposing the culprits involved in trading blood diamonds. Apparently, some people are upset that blood diamond gave a negative portrayal of sierra leone i think its ridiculous for people to argue over whether or not the movie is positive or negative. Since the civil war began, sierra leone has suffered complete desolation.
This book is about how diamonds fuelled some of the most brutal wars in africa. Blood diamonds is a thriller fiction book title by jon land, 2002. In sierra leon 60% of the diamonds that enter the market are illegal. These blood diamonds are smuggled out of west africa and sold to legitimate diamond merchants in london. In it, leonardo dicaprio plays an exmercenary who sells arms to sierra leone rebels in. Dec 11, 2006 the sordid history behind africa s conflict diamonds blood diamond shows how industry leaders turned a blind eye to the atrocities funded by their policies. A critical reading of blood diamond 2006 in the context. The unita was a rebel group that fought for total independence against the government. It looks like we dont have any plot summaries for this title yet. Diamonds in subsaharan africa 2005 1 african journal of legal studies 80, 9495.
1026 735 335 110 110 699 1379 1162 571 1337 1197 1308 902 211 59 1039 633 402 379 1026 1402 1488 120 1562 1190 315 83 1301 948 391 334 1476 932 460 1126 1564 951 733 745 1054 1144 84 1128 308 322 392 269 1170 645