Demonstrators target Graff Diamonds' London store
February 11, 2009
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Survival’s campaign targeting Graff Diamonds over its involvement in a controversial diamond mine planned on the land of Kalahari Bushmen in Botswana has stepped up a gear.
Thirty protestors gathered yesterday outside Graff’s flagship London store holding placards saying ‘Boycott Graff’ and ‘Botswana diamonds: Bushmen despair’.
Photos of the protest are available below.
At the same time, Survival has sent a spoof Valentine’s card to Naomi Campbell, Liz Hurley and Victoria Beckham, who have all worn Graff diamonds.
The card, entitled ‘Pretty/Ugly’, highlights Graff’s 9% stake in Gem Diamonds, which plans to open a mine on Bushmen land in Botswana.
The Bushmen face severe water shortages, and one has died of thirst, since the government closed their borehole. Yet the Botswana government, which is in the process of approving Gem’s mine, has said that the Bushmen will not be allowed to use any water boreholes drilled for the mine.
Gem Diamonds claims that the Bushmen are in favour of the mine, but the Bushmen have had no independent advice on its probable impact.
Download PDF of spoof Valentine's card
–ENDS–
For more information please contact Miriam Ross at Survival International on (44) (0)20 7687 8734 or (44) (0)7504 543 367 or email [email protected]
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