Bushmen appeal to Leonardo DiCaprio for help on land

JOHANNESBURG – The Kalahari Bushmen want US movie star Leonardo DiCaprio to help them stop diamond companies exploring on their land, said Survival International on Tuesday.

“We just learned that the Botswana government gave out more of our land to a company called Petra Diamonds which is exploring for diamonds right now,” wrote the Bushmen to DiCaprio, after earlier appealing to him through an advert in a magazine. “These are conflict diamonds because diamonds are the root of our sorrow and pain.”They caused us to be moved from the land of our ancestors.We say these diamonds are killing us the Bushmen.”DiCaprio’s film ‘Blood Diamond’ is to be released in the US on today.Survival International did not say whether there had been a response from DiCaprio.The Bushmen have taken the Botswana government to court over their eviction from the land and the Botswana High Court is due to rule on this on December 13.Survival International, which helps tribal people around the world, is assisting the Bushmen in the case.Sapa.”These are conflict diamonds because diamonds are the root of our sorrow and pain.”They caused us to be moved from the land of our ancestors.We say these diamonds are killing us the Bushmen.”DiCaprio’s film ‘Blood Diamond’ is to be released in the US on today.Survival International did not say whether there had been a response from DiCaprio.The Bushmen have taken the Botswana government to court over their eviction from the land and the Botswana High Court is due to rule on this on December 13.Survival International, which helps tribal people around the world, is assisting the Bushmen in the case.Sapa.