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| Bushman elder, CKGR, Botswana 2004
© 2004 Stephen Corry/Survival |
Kalahari Bushmen
have condemned the 'Diamonds' exhibition opening this week at London's
Natural History Museum with De Beers sponsorship. The museum has
refused the Bushmen's request for the issue of their eviction from
their land – which many believe was to make way for future diamond
mining by De Beers – to be included in the exhibition.
Bushman supporters are protesting outside the exhibition's celebrity
opening party on Wednesday evening, 6 July. Celebrities invited to the
opening are reported to include Nicole Kidman, Gwyneth Paltrow and
Scarlett Johannson.
Supermodel Iman famously 'quit as the face of De Beers … after
letters she received from the charity Survival International.' British
supermodel Erin O'Connor similarly 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.' Survival is now urging the new face of De
Beers, British model Lily Cole, to quit.
Last month Survival and pioneering American feminist Gloria Steinem
picketed the opening of De Beers's first US store in New York. Survival
supporters urged US celebrities Teri Hatcher and Lindsay Lohan not to
cross the picket line.
Bushman Roy Sesana wrote to the Natural History Museum, 'The whole
world has heard our cries. They know that we have been thrown off our
land – the land where we have lived for thousands of years – because of
the diamonds underneath….. Please do not help De Beers keep our
suffering secret.'
Survival's director Stephen Corry said today, 'Most of the world's
quality gem diamonds come from De Beers in Botswana. When the Bushmen
were evicted, they were told it was to make way for diamonds. How can
their destruction be completely ignored by one of the world's foremost
museums without us thinking commercial sponsorship has taken precedence
over objective education? It's just another big advert for diamonds at
the public's expense and the museum should be ashamed.'
Seven Bushmen were tortured last month by wildlife officials in Kaudwane eviction site, Botswana.
PROTEST
WHERE: Natural History Museum
WHEN: Wednesday 6 July, 7-8.30pm
For more information contact Miriam Ross on (+44) (0)20 7687 8734 or email mr@survival-international.org
