Report/photos by London BDS and IPSC
Saturday 4 February 2012
Members of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign joined London human rights campaigners in Hatton Garden, the centre of London’s jewellery trade, to raise awareness among shoppers and jewellers about the continuing sale of Israeli blood diamonds.
Israel is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and exporters of cut & polished diamonds which generate more than US$ 1 billion (about UK£ 600 million) a year for the Apartheid State. Many jewellers falsely claim Israeli diamonds are “conflict-free” which is totally unjustified, given Israel’s blatant violation of international laws.
Campaigners successfully engaged with and distributed flyers to both shoppers and jewellers informing them why they should avoid purchasing diamonds that were processed in Israel.
Large, colourful banners reading “ISRAELI BLOOD DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER…ON YOUR CONSCIENCE” and “DON’T ENGAGE WITH ISRAELI BLOOD DIAMONDS” were also displayed that attracted attention from both pedestrians and motorists.
Sean Clinton, a leading campaigner against Israeli blood diamonds and one of the activists present said:
“While there is some public awareness about the trade in blood-tainted, rough diamonds from Zimbabwe, the media in general ignores the far larger trade in blood tainted diamonds from Israel.
According to evidence presented at the London session of the Russell Tribunal on Palestine last year, the Israeli diamond industry generates about US$1 billion in funding for the Israeli military each year. So when someone buys a diamond from Israel they are helping to fund war crimes and other human rights violations in Palestine.”
WHAT YOU CAN DO
- Urge people who are shopping for jewellery not to purchase a diamond that was processed in Israel. Diamonds that are cut and polished in Israel help fund war crimes, apartheid and oppression.
- Find out more in Sean’s Electronic Intifada article here.
- Visit the Boycott Israeli Blood Diamonds Facebook page.
Great work guys – a perfect next step in the BDS campaign
Thanks Mostly.
There are so many ways for people to get involved: Take part in or organise a protest, demonstration or action, send an email to your elected representatives, find out about and boycott goods that come from Israel and its illegal settlements. Contact retailers that sell them and tell them why they shouldn’t.
Learn more about the Palestinian struggle for independence and BDS, talk to people, write a letter to your local newspaper, attend a lecture or cultural event, link up with other activists. If you live in the UK, then join the Palestine Solidarity Campaign or another solidarity group. If there are no groups where you live, then start one.
An excellent place to find out what’s happening in the London area is the “London Palestinian Rights Meetup Group” calender of events link.
Above all, keep up the momentum. The resistance must be continuous.
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