Diamonds

Ian Smillie currently chairs the Board of the Diamond Development Initiative, a non-governmental organization working to improve the condition of Africa’s 1.5 million artisanal diamond diggers. He has written extensively on the issue of conflict diamonds and was directly involved in the negotiations leading to the creation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.

"Fifteen years ago Ian Smillie looked at a diamond and saw blood, and he rallied civil society and the diamond industry to address the blood diamond challenge. In Diamonds he cuts his way into the myriad facets of the diamond story — from geology, to mythology, to development and more. Diamonds is information-packed and inspirational, as is Smillie."—Stephen D'Esposito, president of RESOLVE, and former director of Greenpeace International and EARTHWORKS"Ian Smillie examines the messy diamond trade from the soil upward in this valuable book. He knows far more about diamonds than any dealer, and he cuts through decades of haze to tell you the truth."—Tom Zoellner, author of The Heartless Stone: A Journey Through the World of Diamonds, Deceit and Desire"Ian Smillie has produced a remarkably concise yet insightful look into the diamond industry – science, commerce, conflict, activism, Kimberley Process regulation and the ongoing challenge of international development – based on his years of first-hand experience on the front lines."—Matt Runci, retired CEO of Jewelers of America, and founding board chair of Responsible Jewellery Council"The author's eloquent and accessible style prevents the material from seeming dry, and his discussions of the potential for socioeconomic benefits in poorer countries and the complex political, social, and economic issues surrounding blood diamonds are particularly insightful. This informative primer will be highly valuable to readers interested in geology and earth sciences, business and economics, and history and sustainability studies."Library Journal"Ian Smillie comes across very effectively as a committed and experienced activist with relevant expertise. For those interested in the long arc of Africa's so-called 'blood diamond' issue, this book provides that story, explaining how diamonds became an almost ideal vehicle for money laundering and the archetypal case for how governments and independent militias have used natural resources to finance war and violent repression."Journal of Agrarian Change

• Abbreviations page viIntroduction 11 The Geology and History of Diamonds 62 Supply and Demand – The Business of Diamonds 163 Blood Diamonds 434 Activism 685 Regulation 886 Power and Politics 997 Development 1428 Loose Ends 164Notes 171Selected readings 180Index 184