Washington, DC — Greg Campbell's Blood Diamonds is a detailed and long needed look at blood/conflict diamonds. The book inspired the film Blood Diamond, and research from the book was used in the short documentary Bling: Consequences and Repercussions.
Campbell's book is primarily set in Sierra Leone and traces the history of diamond mining and its link with the civil war that ravaged Sierra Leone for over a decade. In this version, Campbell's book is in audio format and is read by Tom Weiner, whose voice gives life to Campbell's story. In the re-telling of the horrors experienced by the people of Sierra Leone one is transported to one of the bloodiest conflicts Africa has seen. The child soldiers, killings and amputations that characterized the conflict are vividly recalled by Campbell through the voice of Tom Weiner. Weiner is also able to place the reader/listener in Sierra Leone where you can almost see, hear and smell the places and scenes witnessed by Campbell. The amputations, fighting, fear and desperation come through vividly in a way that lends to the gravity of the stories.
The strength of the story lies in the colorful people whose stories are told, whether they be innocent civilians, RUF soldiers, or diamond traders. The book also excels in its portrayal of the impact and use of conflict diamonds in Sierra Leone as well as in its telling of the story of the diamond industry as a whole, especially the exploits of Cecil Rhodes and the De Beers company. Campbell takes us into a world that puts great effort into staying in the shadows and exposes the industry and all of its secrets. What will be especially shocking to readers/listeners is the carefully crafted marketing campaign De Beers created to make a stone that is actually not that precious, into a sought after and rare stone that symbolizes love, wealth and status. The ways in which diamond prices and production are controlled have meant that a few wealthy companies, like De Beers, determine how much consumers pay for diamonds and the amount of diamonds on the market. It will also be shocking for readers/listeners to hear how easy it is to “launder” conflict diamonds. The trail Greg Campbell tells of the “world's most precious stone”, from the diamond mines of Sierra Leone into the jewelry store at the local suburban mall is complex, but surprisingly easy. Afraid of a backlash against the diamond industry, many have urged consumers to ask for a certificate of authenticity to make sure they are buying legitimate diamonds. This certification process, according to Campbell, was a voluntary process companies agreed to undergo to avoid backlashes such as those against the fur industry in the 1980s. What Greg Campbell carefully and honestly shows us, however, is that a certificate is often no guarantee of a diamond's origins, origins that are impossible to determine once a diamond has been polished and cut.
Another important piece of Campbell's story is his investigation of the link between the Al-Qaeda terrorists who committed the 9-11 attacks on the United States and conflict diamonds in Sierra Leone. This link is not one that is well known to those in the West, but Campbell goes into great detail in discussing the dealers and buyers who were involved.
Campbell does not call for a boycott of diamonds, in fact he points out that peaceful diamond producing nations like Botswana would suffer under a boycott. He does, however, point out the glaring holes in the current certification process. For example, while diamonds from Sierra Leone had been essentially banned from the legitimate market, diamond exporting from non-diamond producing nations such as The Gambia dramatically rose during the civil war.
Activists themselves are sometimes split. When the film Blood Diamond was released the World Diamond Council, an organization consisting of representatives from diamond manufacturing and diamond trading companies, launched an expensive public relations campaign to educate the public about blood diamonds. Entertainers like Oprah Winfrey and rap mogul Russel Simmons also spoke out on the need for consumers to educate themselves.
Then there are the activists who call for tighter controls on conflict diamonds or less control by companies like De Beers on diamond production and prices. There are also those who, because of the price fixing, the continued presence of conflict diamonds, and the violation of the rights of mine workers (even in peaceful countries like South Africa), call for a boycott of diamonds.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
This issue is extremely divisive and will not be resolved to everyone's satisfaction. One thing Greg Campbell's book does is provide some of the best and most detailed information on the diamond industry and how it works. Having the book on CD allows listeners to pop the CD into the car, home or work stereo and listen while driving, relaxing or working. For those who want to know more about the diamond industry or the conflict in Sierra Leone, the 6-disc set provides a clear picture, free of any agendas or scripts.
The book can be found at Blackstone Audio
Blood Diamonds
by Greg Campbell
read by Tom Weiner
Unabridged
Prices start at $24.95 (Digital downloads and CD Rental available!)
