SW Radio Africa (London)
Alex Bell
4 November 2009
column
The pressure from human rights groups and NGOs across the world is building on the Kimberley Process to ban Zimbabwe from international diamond trade.
A decision is expected from the regulatory body on Thursday, prompting an online petition to be widely circulated across the world calling for a ban. The petition, by online petition group Avaaz, explains how diamond jewellery as a traditional expression of love, is financing and profiting Robert Mugabe's 'vicious political militia'.
"All diamond producing countries know that their profits are dependent on the brand reputation of diamonds, and that increasing awareness of 'blood diamonds' threatens that brand. A massive global petition will show them that the diamond-buying public is demanding action," the petition reads.
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