Twenty-four tons of diamonds are winnowed from the earth each year then undertake a highly secretive trans-global journey. By journey's end, these flaming specks of compressed-carbon will have enriched a tiny few beyond measure and made virtual slaves of countless others. Filmed on four continents, and beginning tonight, this thought-provoking but slightly longwinded three-part documentary examines the contradictions inherent in the multibillion-dollar diamond business, one that markets dreams of love but that is drenched in African blood, sweat and tears. While diamonds giant De Beers spends $US56.5 million ($A64 million) on its annual advertising campaign, Mohammed Dabo earns less than $US1 a day panning for the jewels barefoot in a river bed in Sierra Leone. He uses a wooden shovel and sieve. He's as empty as a pocket. He wishes that diamonds never existed.
Twenty-four tons of diamonds are winnowed from the earth
Twenty-four tons of diamonds are winnowed from the earth each year then undertake a highly secretive trans-global journey. By journey's end, these flaming specks of compressed-carbon will have enriched a tiny few beyond measure and made virtual slaves of countless others. Filmed on four continents, and beginning tonight, this thought-provoking but slightly longwinded three-part documentary examines the contradictions inherent in the multibillion-dollar diamond business, one that markets dreams of love but that is drenched in African blood, sweat and tears. While diamonds giant De Beers spends $US56.5 million ($A64 million) on its annual advertising campaign, Mohammed Dabo earns less than $US1 a day panning for the jewels barefoot in a river bed in Sierra Leone. He uses a wooden shovel and sieve. He's as empty as a pocket. He wishes that diamonds never existed.
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