List of books and articles about sierra leone history. The ruf was a highly barbaric, taking villages by heavy artillery to gather men for sifting through infested lakes, rivers and digging to find diamonds. The blood diamonds in sierra leone sparked major social implications for its country and contributed to the downfall of sierra leones social structure. Blood diamonds and millions of other books are available for instant access. Life in postwar sierra leone in sierra leone there is a dark history. The major focus of the ruf and afrc campaign was to take control of the countrys diamond mines. Sierra leones traffic in diamonds has left a trail of carnage. Kanye west diamonds from sierra leone lyrics genius. What is the history behind blood diamonds sierra leone. Leone have funded one of the most savage rebel campaigns in modern history. And as a result, the war was funded by human labored blood diamonds. Civil war in sierra leone and the role of blood diamonds. Blood diamonds, child soldiers and cannibalism, 19912002 history of terror.
Ishmaels village was attacked and he was separated from his parents. After a pastor found the secondlargest diamond ever in sierra leone this month, echoes have been heard of government corruption and the nations legacy of conflict or blood diamonds, leading to rampant speculation about the precious gems sale. Blood diamonds sierra leone geography bibliographies. Mar 21, 2017 a fortuitous pastor in sierra leone has discovered the second largest diamond ever found in the country, a 706carat hockey puck sized diamond. Tracing the deadly path of the worlds most precious stones 9780465029914. African blood diamonds blood diamonds in africa howstuffworks. 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. Mar 25, 2017 sierra leone allows miners to sell diamonds up to a certain size, but requires them to turn over larger stones to the government to sell, with the proceeds, in theory, going to the ones who found. Borat isnt the only movie hated by underdeveloped, thirdworld countries. The track features a sample of the song diamonds are forever by shirley bassey. Bordered by liberia and guinea, its porous boundaries have long been a popular route for smuggling raw materials, weapons and most significantly. May 21, 2012 as sierra leone sheds its image of war and blood diamonds the bbcs mark doyle visits the east of the country to see how investment is helping transform lives. And recently, the term blood diamonds has become commonplace, representing the fact that many armed conflicts in africa have been funded by the sale of diamonds.
The search for africas fighting spirit by tim butcher, a long way gone by ishmael beah, sierra leone by k. 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. In sierra leone the diamond industry was dominated by the sierra leone selection trust slst, a branch of the london based west african selection trust. Jan 18, 2001 london, england cnn following is a timeline of recent major events in three african countries sierra leone, angola and the democratic republic of congo involving conflict diamonds. Sierra leone s traffic in diamonds has left a trail of carnage. Sierra leones diamonds still a source of contention blood diamonds, as they were once known, helped fuel atrocities in both sierra leone and neighboring liberia. Diamonds from sierra leone is a song by american hiphop artist kanye west. The result of war blood diamonds the war lasted 11 years and resulted in over 50,000 people losing their lives including children.
Child soldiers at the age of, ishmael beah was given a gun, drugged up, and brainwashed to kill. Iryna marchuk is a phd fellow affiliated with the faculty of law, university of copenhagen denmark. Diamonds were found in the early 1930s, from 1934 to 1956 the sierra leone selection trust slst held the monopoly for mining, prospecting for and marketing diamonds throughout sierra leone. Bordered by liberia and guinea, its porous boundaries have long been a popular route for smuggling raw materials, weapons and most significantly uncut diamonds. Although fighting in the dutch consortium for rehabilitation dcr has decreased over time, blood diamonds, also referred to as conflict diamonds. Mineral resources are fairly well distributed and include diamonds, chromite, and reserves of rutile titanium dioxide that are among the worlds largest.
Is blood diamond 2006 movie a true story based on the. This will segue into the postconflict challenges and opportunities faced by sierra leone, as well as a discussion of relevant policy. Pastor discovers 706carat diamond in sierra leone village. Until recently sierra leone was exporting millions of dollars worth of gems but most were smuggled, many blood diamonds from the rebels. This clip which i segment produced takes a look at the impact of conflict diamonds in sierra leone. The sordid history behind africas conflict diamonds blood diamond shows how industry leaders turned a blind eye to the atrocities funded by their policies. First discovered in 1930, the diamonds of sierra leone have funded one of the most savage rebel campaigns in modern history. These diamonds should have made sierra leone rich and famous but however in 1991 to 2001 a war broke out.
Sierra leones diamonds still a source of contention. Antwerp belgium, liberian diamond exports between 1990 and 1999 were. Sierra leone fortunes change as diamond trade brings back investment. Blood on the stone tells the story of how diamonds came to be so dangerous. Pastor in sierra leone has recently unearthed the secondlargest diamond in the countrys history. Sierra leone was in the grips of a bloody civil war from 1991 until 2002. Oct 19, 2001 until recently sierra leone was exporting millions of dollars worth of gems but most were smuggled, many blood diamonds from the rebels. A decadepast the dreadful war, sierra leone is trying to break the dark image of blood diamond. It was released on july 4, 2005, as the lead single of his second studio album, late registration. Sierra leones leading trade partners are belgium, germany, the united states, and cote divoire. Blood diamonds, child soldiers and cannibalism, 19912002 history of terror venter, al j on. At brilliant earth, we believe it is important to end all violence related to diamond mining, regardless of the circumstances. New york, usa, 2 may 2007 theres no end to cliches about diamonds.
The book describes the diamond pipeline, from wartorn africa to the. Africas blood diamonds video by national geographic video. Blood diamonds are diamonds mined in a war zone and sold to finance an insurgency, an. Dec 05, 2017 diamonds fueled a decadelong civil war in sierra leone, ending in 2002, in which rebels forced civilians to mine the stones and bought weapons with the proceeds, leading to the term blood diamonds.
The diamond industrys attempt to fight blood diamonds led to the establishment of the kimberley process, an international diamond certification scheme, in 2003. Sierra leones bitter experience with civil war garnered international attention only after the may 1997 coup, though the conflict between the revolutionary united front ruf and successive governments has raged for at least a decadeagainst the backdrop of more than three decades of progressive state collapse. This book was wellwritten by a native of sierra leone and it depicts the most important events in the countrys history from prehistorical times until the 1990s. This bibliography was generated on cite this for me on monday, march 7, 2016. Dec 10, 2011 blood diamonds are mined and then sold to finance corrupt regimes or warlords.
Discover librarianselected research resources on sierra leone history from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines, newspapers and more. Diamonds are forever they wont leave in the night ive no fear that they might desert me diamonds are forever forever, forever throw your diamonds. Remote work advice from the largest allremote company. Sierra leone allows miners to sell diamonds up to a certain size, but requires them to turn over larger stones to the government to sell, with the proceeds, in theory, going to the ones who found. Jun 10, 2012 sierra leone fortunes change as diamond trade brings back investment. Blood diamonds is a thriller fiction book title by jon land, 2002. The diamond mines have been the source of corruption and personal gain by government personnel since the 1930s. In 1993, his native country, sierra leone, was in a large civil war over blood diamonds. London, england cnn following is a timeline of recent major events in three african countries sierra leone, angola and the democratic republic of congo involving conflict diamonds.
Everything you need to know about blood diamonds world news. A fortuitous pastor in sierra leone has discovered the second largest diamond ever found in the country, a 706carat hockey puck sized diamond. Aug 05, 2010 everything you need to know about blood diamonds this article is more than 9 years old what is the background to naomi campbells appearance at charles taylors war crimes tribunal. Home browse history african history african countries sierra leone history. While they may seem a symbol of happiness, the reality of the gems is far from. Blood diamond war in sierra leone the ongoing wars in angola and sierra leone, west africa, may be over, but they have left the west african region with numerous lingering problems.
These are the sources and citations used to research blood diamonds sierra leone. If you are asking whether the film is a sort of documentary, the answer is no. Tracing the deadly path of the worlds most precious stones new edition by greg campbell isbn. See more ideas about sierra leone, history and sierra leone civil war. Rebels used civilians to unearth the gems, they later sell to buy more weapons. Sierra leone feels sucker punched by blood diamond. 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. Fittingly diamonds are made of pure carbon, and diamonds are the hardest natural substance known to man. Everything you need to know about blood diamonds world. It is bordered by the atlantic ocean in the west, by guinea in the north and east, and by liberia in the south. Tracing the deadly path of the worlds most precious stones. The sordid history behind africas conflict diamonds. Everything you need to know about blood diamonds this article is more than 9 years old what is the background to naomi campbells appearance at charles taylors war crimes tribunal.
It shows that the production of conflict diamonds still exists in sierra leone. A political history by david harris examines 225 years of the countrys history and fifty years of independence, placing statesociety relations at the centre of this investigation of those who have tried to rule or change sierra leone. All books set in sierra leone on mappits literary map. It was the government against the rebel forces the ruf. Organised mining began in the 1920s with bauxite first being recorded in 1920 along the falaba to waia road.
Nov 23, 2012 sierra leone s diamonds still a source of contention blood diamonds, as they were once known, helped fuel atrocities in both sierra leone and neighboring liberia. Inappropriate the list including its title or description facilitates illegal activity, or contains hate speech or ad hominem attacks on a fellow goodreads member or author. Inside the war provides readers with an detailed overview of the 19912002 civil cluding descriptions of sierra leones culture and prewar history, a yearbyyear account of the civil war, and narratives from 30 people who describe their experiences as both civilians and fighters. The consolidated african selection trust ltd cast, which owned mining operation. The name diamond comes from the greek word, adamas meaning unconquerable. Sierra leone fortunes change as diamond trade brings back. Diamonds from sierra leone peaked at number 43 on the billboard hot 100, and peaked at number 8 on the uk top 40. This will segue into the postconflict challenges and opportunities faced by sierra leone, as well as a. Sierra leone feels sucker punched by blood diamond cinemablend. 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. There are iron ore reserves, but these are no longer commercially mined. As sierra leone sheds its image of war and blood diamonds the bbcs mark doyle visits the east of the country to see how investment is helping transform lives. 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. Blood diamonds are mined and then sold to finance corrupt regimes or warlords.
Most of the time, the people behind these civil wars and. Incorrect book the list contains an incorrect book please specify the title of the book. Spam or selfpromotional the list is spam or selfpromotional. Diamond miners in sierra leone sifting through the sand in search of diamonds. Diamond smuggling has been a problem since the 1960s, and during the civil war much of the diamondmining area fell into the hands of rebel groups. Books set in sierra leone 57 books set in sierra leone. John hirsch traces sierra leones downward spiral, drawing on his firsthand. After blood diamonds the moral economy of illegality in. Diamonds fueled a decadelong civil war in sierra leone, ending in 2002, in which rebels forced civilians to mine the stones and bought weapons. Now its sierra leone complaining, about the way their country is portrayed in blood diamond. Lenneke sprik finds that this read is useful for scholars and students with a specific. The narrative ends just before the civil war breaks out but for those interested in the war, the issues leading up to it are very well covered. To do so, i first present an economic history of the conflict in sierra leone that focuses on the role of diamonds and other natural resources in initiating, perpetuating, and ending the conflict.
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