First discovered in 1930, the diamonds of Sierra Leone have funded one of the most savage rebel campaigns in modern history. 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. Eventually, these very diamonds find their way into the rings and necklaces and brides and spouses the world over. Blood Diamonds is the gripping tale of how diamond smuggling works, how the rebel war has effectively destroyed Sierra Leone and its people, and how the policies of the diamonds industry,institutionalized in the 1880s by the De Beers cartel,have allowed it to happen. award-winning journalist Greg Campbell traces the deadly trail of these diamonds, many of which are brought to the world market by fanatical enemies. These repercussions of diamond smuggling are felt far beyond the borders of the poor and war-ridden country of Sierra Leone, and the consequences of overlooking this African tragedy are both shockingly deadly and unquestionably global. In this newly revised and expanded edition, investigative journalist Greg Campbell returns to West Africa ten years later to reveal how despite widespread exposure to the corruption and greed of the diamond trade, it continues unabated as the region struggles politically, ecologically, and economically.

About the Author
Greg Campbell is an award-winning journalist and author who has written for such publications as The Atlantic, The Economist, WSJ Magazine, Paris Match, Foreign Policy, Salon.com, The Christian Science Monitor, USAToday, CNNMoney.com, the San Francisco Chronicle, The Guardian and Lonely Planet, among others. He lives in Fort Collins, Colorado.


Book Information
ISBN 9780465029914
Author Greg Campbell
Format Paperback
Page Count 336
Imprint Basic Books
Publisher Basic Books
Weight(grams) 292g
Dimensions(mm) 208mm * 140mm * 23mm