In the first century ad, the roman naturalist pliny stated. Angola is the third largest producer of diamonds in africa and has only explored 40% of the diamondrich territory within the country, but has had difficulty in attracting foreign investment because of corruption, human rights violations, and diamond smuggling. Mining in angola is an activity with great economic potential since the country has one of the largest and most diversified mining resources of africa. Production rose by 30% in 2006 and endiama, the national diamond company of angola, ex. Path of the worlds most precious stones basic books 2012 2002. 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. 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. Beginning with this dramatic and revealing story, matthew hart takes readers on a journey far beyond the window at tiffanys, into an obsessive, largely hidden, and utterly.
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. Three specific conflictsin angola, the democratic republic of the congo, and sierra leonedirected world attention to the destructive role of. Angola spans around 481,226 square miles along the southwest coast of africa, and is notably rich in mineral reserves, including oil, iron, copper, bauxite, diamonds and uranium. In response to public concerns that their diamond purchases were contributing to war and human rights abuses in central and western africa, the united nations, the diamond industry and diamondtrading nations introduced the kimberley process in 2002. Find out another precious stone in facts about amethyst here. Conflict diamonds in zimbabwe global witness global.
Most of the time, the people behind these civil wars and rebellions oppose legitimate governments and desire. Before we get into the gruesome details of the corrupt african diamond trade, its important to note two things. Blood diamonds got their start in 1992 in the bush war of angola, where unita leader jonas savimbi, seeking new ways to finance his army, looked to the countrys vast diamond fields to extend the smuggling business that his rebel movement had pioneered in the 1970s and 1980s. And rhinestones from angola, produced by unita were being traded to. The case centred on marquess 2011 book, blood diamonds. More than ten years after the end of a brutal diamondfunded civil war, angola is now a member of the kimberley process and the worlds fourth largest diamond exporter. The book describes the diamond pipeline, from wartorn africa to the. That diamond changed and ended many lives, and the story of that stone carries a strong social message. In certain ways the movie weve made is very conventional, an action drama about three. Blood diamon ds also called confl ict diamo nds, brown dia mond s, hot d iamonds, or red dia monds ar e diamonds mined in a war zone and sold to finance an insurgency, an invading armys war efforts, or a warlords activity. Their usage in engraving tools also dates to early human history.
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. The charges stem from marques 2011 book, blood diamonds. 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 resolutions banned the export of all diamonds from angola that did not have certificates of origin issued by the angolan government, and imposed further financial sanctions on the unita. They can come from angola, sierra leone, cote divoire, liberia, or the congo. Nowhere was their presence more strongly felt than in angola during its bloody 27year civil war. To inform my audience about one of the most bloodiest events in human history. The countries involved in the illicit trading of blood diamonds include angola, the democratic republic of congo, liberia, and sierra leone. Feb 05, 2007 the sad horror of this is that, as diamonds became more precious, efforts to extract them became more violent. They are called either blood diamonds or the much less evocative term, conflict diamonds. The interchangeable terms conflict diamonds and blood diamonds were originally used in connection with the civil war in angola. Rafael marques trial resumes over book on abuses in diamond mining companies urge govt. Diamond is the most valuable, not only of precious stones, but of all things in this world.
The story is interesting fiction, but it is based upon facts. 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. Blood diamond is a 2006 american political war thriller film coproduced and. Diamonds brings together for the first time all aspects of the diamond industry. These awful facts about blood diamonds will make your. Proponents vigorously state that, since the 1990s, blood diamonds have decreased from 15 per cent to just 1 per cent, informed by the kps claim that 99. The central african republic is a classic case of blood diamonds, exactly what the kimberley process was intended to address, says michael gibb of global witness, a u. The campaign was called combating conflict diamonds. As beautiful as they are, diamonds are extracted with a lot of effort. Known as blood diamonds or conflict diamonds, these gems are mined and exported illegally from certain parts of africa by corrupt groups bent on funding bloody rebel conflicts and civil wars. This is why the blood diamonds in africa are raising many questions and other countries political involvement.
May 28, 2015 the case centred on marquess 2011 book, blood diamonds. Blood diamonds is a madefortv documentary series, originally broadcast on the history channel, that looks into the trade of diamonds which fund rebellions and wars in many african nations. Though ongoing, the issue faded from public awareness until 2011 when angolan journalist and human rights activist rafael marques published blood diamonds. Although many diamondfueled wars have now ended, conflict diamonds remain a serious problem. 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. Currently, the government is fighting national union for the total independence of angola unita rebels. Lets find more facts about conflict diamonds below. The idea of conflictfree diamonds gained currency in 1998, when sanctions were put in place against angola by the united nations, preventing other countries from purchasing. Democratic republic of congo 2000 army claims that rwandan and ugandan troops have massacred civilians around the diamond area in the east of the country. This illegal diamond trade has been used by warlords and rebels in africa to buy weapons. Blood on the stone tells the story of how diamonds came to be so dangerous. A diamond has to go through a lot before it reaches the jewelers display case. Conflicts in sierra leone, eric johnson, edge journals. By the early 1970s angola was less an emerging southern african state than a maelstrom of political chaos.
A civil war has brutalized angola, raging since the 1960s fight for independence from portugal. With the discovery of diamonds in the marange region, zimbabwe became one of the worlds leading diamond producers. First discovered in 1930, the diamonds of sierra leone have funded one of the most savage rebel campaigns in modern history. Diamond has the highest hardness and thermal conductivity of any natural material, properties that are utilized in. These conflict diamonds come from mines all over the african continent, from countries such as liberia, congo, angola, sierra leone, and more. Diamonds have been treasured as gemstones since their use as religious icons in ancient india. There are several african countries that have unstable leaderships as civil wars are common sight in the respective countries. But a flourishing diamond trade has not made angola a more responsible diamond producer. Most of the time, the people behind these civil wars and. Apr 17, 2015 angola is a country which is familiar with the cost of blood diamonds.
Journalist greg campbell leads the reader down the international diamond trail of brutality, horror, and profit providing an ontheground and inthemines story of global consequencefirst discovered in 1930, the diamonds of sierra leone have funded one of the most savage rebel campaigns in modern history. Blood diamonds, also know as conflict diamonds, captured the world attention in the 1990s during the extremely brutal conflict in sierra leone. Blood diamonds, the true story documentary of sierra leone, angola, and the republic of the congo. In 20, a civil war erupted in the central african republic, with both sides fighting over the countrys diamond resources. Sierra leone, ivory coast, angola and other countries are called as having blood diamonds because the diamonds are mined during in the civil wars. Human rights group global witness reports angola is producing diamonds to. Illegal miners in south africa risk death for a share of the diamonds that shaped the continents biggest economy. Profits from this illegal diamond trade in diamonds have been used by warlords and rebels in africa to buy arms. Angola is the third largest producer of diamonds in africa and has only explored 40% of the diamondrich territory within the country, but has had difficulty in attracting foreign investment. The term is used to highlight the negative consequences of the diamond trade in certain areas, or to label an individual. The cash that it earned was used to finance the war. The true story of blood diamonds full documentary youtube. All there is to know about the blood diamonds in africa.
By 1993, savimbi had in place the worlds largest diamond smuggling network, netting. A history of africas diamonds africa in world history 978082142. When autoplay is enabled, a suggested video will automatically play next. The name diamond comes from the greek word, adamas meaning unconquerable. In particular, diamonds that are mined in battle zones and sold to fund war and insurgency are called blood diamonds also known as conflict diamonds. Torture and corruption in angola in portugal in 2011, he knew the book was bound to make wavesbut he. Diamonds start out in the earth, and eventually that earth is part of a country, like sierra leone, angola, or the democratic republic of congo. Blood diamond is a 2006 american political war thriller film coproduced and directed by edward. Conflict diamonds and the angolan civil war 19922002. Blood diamonds, also known as conflict diamonds, are used in the illegal trading of diamonds financing conflict, civil wars and human rights abuses in africa. The rebels sell these diamonds, and the money is used to purchase arms or to fund their military actions. Fittingly diamonds are made of pure carbon, and diamonds are the hardest natural substance known to man. The many ethnic and economic factions of its widely disparate population had been at odds for years.
Corruption and torture in angola, which detailed more than 100 killings and hundreds of cases of torture allegedly perpetrated by. Blood diamonds ks3 geography conflict diamonds tanglin. Angola is the third largest producer of diamonds in africa and has only explored 40% of the diamondrich territory within the country, but has had difficulty in attracting foreign investment because of corruption, human rights. But instead of using diamond wealth to drive the countrys development, there is a very real risk that diamonds sourced from marange are funding human rights violations. Diamonds sold through this process are known as conflict diamonds or blood diamonds. Awardwinning journalist greg campbell traces the deadly trail of these. Blood diamonds are diamonds mined in a war zone and sold to finance an insurgency, an. The term is used to highlight the negative conseq uences of the diamond trade in certain areas, or to labe l an indi vidual diamond as having come from such an area. Although the exact date that blood diamonds have been a problem is not known, it is thought to have become a prominent issue around the 1980s. Based on this act, it violated 1991 bicesse accords. Cafunfo, angola on paper, angola is a poster child for the global effort to keep blood diamonds out of the worlds jewelry stores. Its a tough argument to make, given its warridden past that is marred with a history of conflict diamonds. Cafunfo, angolaon paper, angola is a poster child for the global effort to keep blood diamonds out of the worlds jewelry stores. Diamond is a solid form of the element carbon with its atoms arranged in a crystal structure called diamond cubic.
History of blood diamonds in angola angola gained independence on november 11,1975 from portugal. After it was recognized that unita used the money from the sales of diamonds to fund. The plaintiffs took exception to marques tales of systematic torture, murder and land dispossession in his 2011 book, blood diamonds. The book about angolan blood diamonds that landed rafael marques in court.
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. Angola is a country which is familiar with the cost of blood diamonds. Rafael marques trial resumes over book on abuses in. Diamonds that fuel civil wars are often called blood or conflict diamonds.
Despite this, according to amnesty international, the modern blood diamonds or conflict diamonds have a history in the democratic republic of congo, angola, zimbabwe, and sierra leone. Memoirs of a boy soldier sarah chrichton books, 2007. Following is a timeline of recent major events in three african countries sierra leone, angola and the democratic republic of congo involving conflict diamonds. The program was initially successful but quickly fell apart after corruption saw most governments bribed to allow the sale of blood diamonds. On a hot morning in may 1999, three brazilian garimpeiros smallscale miners found a large pink diamond in the muddy waters of the abaete river, a discovery that captivated the diamond trade.
Over the years, other countries, including cuba and south africa, have funded the rebels or fought in angola. In those countries, desperate battles for control have been going on for decades, and the armies that fight the battles finance their ambitions with diamonds. African blood diamonds blood diamonds in africa howstuffworks. Diamonds which are traded for this purpose are known as blood diamonds. 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. In fact, it was angolas civil war in the nineties, during which unita rebels gained control of the alluvial diamond areas along the kwango river, which led to the first diamond embargo and the introduction of the certificate of. 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. When i first read about sierra leone, i was shocked. Angolas resource wealth became a means of funding the ongoing war between the mpla and unita, with both parties extensively exploiting the countrys oil and. 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. The history of african blood diamonds sierra leone.
Conflict diamonds in west africa stanford university. Angolas diamond fields are once again the scene of horrific violence. Torture and corruption in angola in portugal in 2011, he knew the book was bound to make wavesbut he could have little idea how drastically it would shape the next several years of his own life. Liberia supported sierra leones rebels by supplying weapons and a retreat for rebels to stay for safety. Jun 19, 2012 please subscribe to my channel if you like this documentary. Blood diamonds is a thriller fiction book title by jon land, 2002.
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. Three specific conflictsin angola, the democratic republic of the congo, and sierra leone directed world attention. These blood diamonds are smuggled out of west africa and. Diamonds have a long history as beautiful objects of desire. The worlds toughest prisons colony 100, kharkiv, ukraine prison documentary duration. He has been a fulbright scholar in both angola and ghana. This issue has now spread to other countries in africa as well. Global witness organization tries to reveal to the world the role blood diamonds played in funding civil war in africa. Blood diamond regulation system broken angola al jazeera.
The countries involved in the trading of blood diamonds are angola, the democratic republic of. Angolan journalist given suspended jail term over blood. The story of diamonds has often been told, and with good reason. 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. International pressure helped end a vicious civil war a. An angolan journalist goes on trial on charges of defaming military generals after he accused them of links to the blood diamond trade. Download 5page thesis on blood diamonds of south africa 2020. They are mined and sold by rebel armies such as the revolutionary united front largely to finance the purchase of arms, arms that will be. Dec 24, 2011 blood diamonds, the true story documentary of sierra leone, angola, and the republic of the congo.
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