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| Bushman boys, Namibia
© Mark Håkansson/Survival |
Survival International has organised a protest against De Beers to
coincide with London Fashion Week at the De Beers party today, Tuesday
20 September 7pm – 9pm (De Beers, 45-50 Old Bond Street, London
W1).
The protest against De Beers is in support of the Kalahari Bushmen
in Botswana who have been evicted from their lands, which have been
carved up for diamond exploration. De Beers runs all Botswana's diamond
mines. Several Bushmen have been tortured by wildlife officials for
hunting to feed their families, and one Bushman recently died from his
injuries. The Bushmen's reserve has now been sealed off by the
government.
Survival International is using this protest to bring the Bushmen's
plight to the attention of the fashion elite. The campaign has already
had an impact: supermodel Iman famously 'quit as the face of De Beers
... after letters she received from the charity Survival
International'; British supermodel Erin O'Connor distanced herself from
De Beers stating, 'I don't think that doing a job like (being the face
of De Beers) would in any way add to my life or make me happy. I would
make that stand, and say no', whilst the current face of De Beers, Lily
Cole, has told the press that she would refuse to work for De Beers
again stating 'I was unaware of these matters when I was booked for the
shoot'. De Beers is currently planning to take Lily Cole on a tour of
Botswana.
Survival's director Stephen Corry said today, 'The fashion elite need
to know that it is no longer acceptable to wear De Beers's diamonds.'
Photos and footage available. For more information contact Miriam Ross on (+44) (0)20 7687 8734 or email mr@survival-international.org
