Dec 01, 2010 absolutely chilling thrills grace the pages of the romanticmystery, blood diamond, by riley quinn. Cover image artisanal diamond miner, democratic republic of congo reproduced. Africa congo, democratic republic of the the world. The main source of hard currency in sierra leone consists of the diamond mining.
In recent years the obscure mineral coltangeological name columbite tantalitehas become widely known and politicised for being closely connected with the violence of armed groups in the eastern democratic republic of congo drc. A short history of south africa is a brief, general account of the history of this most complicated and fascinating country from the first evidence of hominid existence to the wars of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries that led to the establishment of modern south africa, the horrors of apartheid and the optimism following its collapse, as well as the prospects and challenges for the future. United states, and the author of the books resource wars and blood. At the time of its independence in 1960, the democratic republic of the congo was the second most industrialized country in africa after south africa. The democratic republic of the congo has a vast resource of minerals under its mountainous terrain that presently brings in large sums of money in the millions of dollars so much so that individuals, companies, and countries have risked everything to enter the dr congo legally and illegally in order to mine out these materials and sell them on. The country is called and known by different name variations. Tim butcher is an excellent introduction to a complicated place.
Karisimbi is the highest of the virunga volcanoes in central africa in the border region of rwanda and dr congo. A catalogue record for this book is available from the british library. If you call it zaire, dr congo, drc, droc, congo kinshasa, east congo or simply the congo. Under the close watch of rebel militias, children as young as ten work the mines hunting for this black gold. Blood diamonds is a thriller fiction book title by jon land, 2002. 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. But the lure of diamonds, for the unscrupulous, as an ideal repository of illicit wealth means the plan will undoubtedly encounter resistance. In the democratic republic of congo, artisanal mining is a. The history of african blood diamonds sierra leone. Cobalt is essential for our new technological world but, like blood diamonds, half of the co supplies come from inhumane child labor practices, not the image sought after by people surfing the. The solution a certificate of origin scheme participants guarantee that diamonds have been handled in accordance with the requirements of the kimberley process certification scheme kpcs requires internal controls tracing diamonds from mine to point of export. One of the richest counties in natural resources, the democratic republic of congo is a force to be reckoned with. What works so well in this book is that butcher fashions the narrative of his own journey through the drc around an elegantly retold history. The wests demand for coltan, used in mobile phones and computers, is funding the killings in congo.
Conflict minerals from dr congo the new blood diamonds. In spite of being talked about, written and documented by prominent personalities, the dark secret history of congo rubber exploitation remained dormant for almost 100. The economy of the democratic republic of the congo has declined drastically since the mid1980s, despite being home to vast potential in natural resources and mineral wealth. Between 1991 and 2000, sierra leone allowed a devastating civil war. The democratic republic of the congo formerly zaire has suffered.
Child labour in diamond mines in the dr congo swedwatch. Apr 16, 2012 since 1998, fighting in the democratic republic of congo has been prolonged as a consequence of the countrys vast mineral reserves, which includes diamonds, gold, tungsten, tin and coltan. Despite an international agreement in 2003 to end the war in the democratic republic of congo and two further agreements at the beginning of 2008 to end fighting in north kivu and south kivu provinces, the drc remains a combat zone. Humanitarian aid worker in africas congo, jillian st.
One of such nation is congo with plenty of diamond deposits all round the country. James goes from ordinary to desperate at remarkable speed. Dr congo struggles to control minerals trade duration. 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. The second congo war also known as the great war of africa or the great african war, and sometimes referred to as the african world war began in the democratic republic of the congo in august 1998, little more than a year after the first congo war, and involved some of the same issues. The definition of conflict diamonds, also known as blood diamonds, is discussed. Conflict diamond mining in the democratic republic of the congo and the effects of the kimberley process certification scheme. It is the 11th highest mountain of africa and currently in. At brilliant earth, we believe it is important to end all violence related to diamond mining, regardless of the circumstances. 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 bbc hears from gabriel osombo, a married father of eight who set up shop in an openair diamond market in kinshasa in the democratic republic of congo. Blood diamond, congo inaugural the latest news from africa includes the release of new movie about sierra leones diamond trade blood diamond and a milestone inaugural in the. Congos electronic blood diamonds john norris opinion.
Welcome to the multimilliondollar dealmaking desk of douglas tunga, congo diamond bootlegger. The countries involved in the illicit trading of blood diamonds include angola, the democratic republic of congo, liberia, and sierra leone. Congo s history has a deep relationship with diamonds because the main reason of the civil war in the country is believed to be the diamond trade. The congo possesses 80 percent of the worlds coltan. Mr nkere added that rwanda and uganda will not be able to provide such certification. See also letter signed by president djotodia granting omar sodiam access to diamond mines in car and authority to sell diamonds in sudan, dubai, qatar and china without interference from bedcor, on file with global witness. Ending the democratic republic of the congo s multiple conflicts is the single most important task in improving the lives of congolese, making more lasting. The republic of the congo, originally a french colony, is sometimes called congo brazzaville as opposed to the democratic republic of the congo known from 1971 to 1999 as zaire which is often called congo kinshasa, originally a belgian colony. 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. The diamond industrys attempt to fight blood diamonds led to the establishment of the kimberley process, an international diamond certification scheme, in 2003. Blood diamond by riley quinn grabbed me from the first line and never let go.
The belgian authorities had set up some mines which were small scale like the british did in the south africa. Jul 22, 20 in recent years the obscure mineral coltangeological name columbite tantalitehas become widely known and politicised for being closely connected with the violence of armed groups in the eastern democratic republic of congo drc. A blood diamond or conflict diamond is one mined in a war zone and sold often to finance the continuation of the conflict by one or both of the warring. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading blood gold in the congo. Blood diamond, congo inaugural the latest news from africa includes the release of new movie about sierra leones diamond trade blood diamond and a. Tracing the deadly path of the worlds most precious stones about the author peter eichstaedt is a veteran journalist who has reported from locations worldwide, including afghanistan, albania, somalia, the sudans, uganda, kenya, eastern dr congo, eastern europe, and the caucasus. Republic of the congo that had become so entrenched it came to be. Since 1998, fighting in the democratic republic of congo has been prolonged as a consequence of the countrys vast mineral reserves, which includes diamonds, gold, tungsten, tin and coltan. This morning i requested a dozen books on the history of the congo at the library. James is a dedicated doctor working with doctors without borders. Soldiers of dr congo s national army burst into their shack, sent the husband into another room, and then raped the mother of five at gunpoint. In the democratic republic of congo, almost all diamond mining is done by hand.
A gripping crime thriller kindle edition by ralph, peter. Mining industry of the democratic republic of the congo. Consensus eludes new definition for blood diamonds. Stanleys famous 1874 expedition in which he mapped the congo river. Congos electronic blood diamonds john norris our demand for phones, laptops and digital cameras has fuelled an illicit minerals trade and violence in eastern congo. Buying white rough diamonds in the democratic republic of. Alastair leithead takes an epic journey from the atlantic ocean to the far reaches of the congo. Specifically they were looking for type iib boroncoated blue diamonds used to build a variety of congo was written in 1980 by michael crichton. The west african nation depends on exports of diamonds and iron ore for revenue. However, the movie blood diamond starring the most famous ugandan in hollywood is as political as any ever made. Aug 28, 2012 buying white rough diamonds in the democratic republic of congo drc diamond industry. Profits from this illegal diamond trade in diamonds have been used by warlords and rebels in africa to buy arms. In recent years, diamond miners from the neighboring democratic republic of the congo have been streaming into northeast angola to mine for diamonds.
Diamonds, gold, and war audiobook by martin meredith. Conflict minerals rebels and child soldiers in congo. Several innocent and common citizens are being tortured and separated from their families to mine diamonds. Apr 16, 2001 access to gold, diamonds is driving force in dr of congo war. Like diamond miners in other african countries, gold miners in the democratic republic of congo are paid low wages and the work is dangerous. Diamond mining in the democratic republic of the congo grin. Her brothers unexpected visit, not to mention abrupt departure, set jillian to figuring out a twisty m. Jan 23, 2017 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. Pdf blood diamonds of the digital age researchgate. Conflict diamonds made famous in movie blood diamonds are mainly excavated in angola, dr congo, sierra leone, republic of congo, central african republic and cameroon.
A new report from swedwatch and afrikagrupperna shows that the sustainability certification that many jewellery companies rely on does not protect those who are most vulnerable. The mining industry of the democratic republic of the congo is a significant factor in the worlds production of cobalt, copper, diamond, tantalum, tin, and gold. When her brother is accused of stealing a diamond from the sadistic general mutambe, jillian is forced to go on the run. Many of the african countries, which are called developing and under developed nations, have plenty of natural resources which can turn around their economy and make them into developed countries.
Child labour in diamond mines in the dr congo report 21 december 2016 children are the most vulnerable in the drcs diamond regions. It is the democratic republic of the congo s largest source of export income. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Dark history of congo rubber exploitation rubber asia. Jan 19, 2019 the democratic republic of the congo is a vast, mineral rich country the size of western europe. The plan named after a diamond mining town in south africa aims to stop the diamond industry fuelling bloodshed in wars like that in the democratic republic of congo. Like sierra leone with its notorious blood diamonds, drc congo has been blighted by the stigma of conflict minerals where the proceeds from resources extracted from mines controlled by. After years of ignoring the problem, the international community should acknowledge this fact and take action. The international boundary follows the south shore of the pool roughly 30 km in diameter. The term is used to highlight the negative consequences of the diamond trade in certain areas, or to label an individual.
In just the past two decades, seven african countries have endured brutal civil conflicts fueled by diamonds. Its a laborintensive process that requires hauling away layers of dirt and rock, sometimes 50 feet deep, to expose ancient beds of gravel where the crystals are found. I believe this was the beginning of what we now know of as conflict diamonds in the congo, says blood diamond expert and investigative journalist janine roberts, author of the book glitter and greed. Global witness interviews, central african republic, 2014. Nov 27, 2019 conflict diamonds made famous in movie blood diamonds are mainly excavated in angola, dr congo, sierra leone, republic of congo, central african republic and cameroon. Access to gold, diamonds is driving force in dr of congo war. Diamonds commodities and golden parachutes dream desire and desperation in the diamond business flow of diamonds in the market fluorescence and how it affects the value of rough and polished diamonds jokerbroker. Blood diamonds are diamonds mined in a war zone and sold to finance an insurgency, an. Another horrific fact is that the ruf captured children and indoctrinated. Jun 09, 20 aside from the popularity afforded by a leonardo dicaprio movie, the world has largely forgotten about blood diamonds. Democratic republic of congo amnesty international usa. Sierra leone, liberia, angola, the republic of congo, cote divoire, the central african republic, and the democratic republic of congo. The controversy surrounding blood diamonds was brought to light in the 1990s with civil wars in sierra leone, angola, the republic of congo, and liberia.
Taylor stands accused at the hague of using blood diamonds to fuel an insurgency in sierra leone that cost tens of thousands of lives in the 1990s. Mar 07, 2017 the dark story of ruthless exploitations, human right violations, torture, rape and murder occurred on a very large scale just to collect some natural resources, mainly rubber. Diamonds democratic republic of the congo kinshasa youtube. Counting the cost of zimbabwes blood diamonds world. I came to tunga as a last resort, one final attempt to find someone, anyone, who could give me a lead on the cowboy hatwearing kingpin reputed to be the kinshasa scarface of the blood diamond trade. In 1979, due to the increasing demands of the computer industry there were a large number of companies that were seeking to find industrial grade diamonds, as opposed to the jewelry type of diamonds. Inside the democratic republic of congos diamond mines. 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. 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. Jew that made billions on blood diamonds and congo s minerals duration. Conflicts in dr congo, liberia and sierra leone have been funded by diamonds.
Blood coltan exposes the web of powerful interests protecting this blood trade. On 23 june 2011, at kinshasa in the democratic republic of congo drc, civil society delegates staged a dramatic walkout. Diamonds intensify civil wars by financing militaries and rebel militias. The diamonds they smuggle from the dr congo will subsequently be difficult to sell, he said. Blood diamonds are diamonds mined in a war zone and sold to finance an insurgency, an invading armys war efforts, or a warlords activity. Similar to campaigns about blood diamonds in connection to conflicts in west africa, the term conflict minerals became somewhat synonymous. Diamonds mined during the recent civil wars in angola, ivory coast, sierra leone, liberia, guinea, and. Electronics makers are pressed to stop using conflict minerals from mines controlled by armed groups in dr congo. Return of the blood diamond and lessons for congo the. Nov 30, 2009 of course, action depends upon knowledge.
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