Protesters handed out leaflets on July 1 outside of a meeting called by the government of Botswana with De Beers and World Diamond Council officials to push its Diamonds for Development campaign. The demonstration, organized by the Indigenous People’s Working Group of Belgium, sought to raise awareness of Botswana’s program of forced resettlement of San communities from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Protests have also taken place in Canada, France, Spain, Britain, and Italy, and more are scheduled for the United States. While Botswana has cited wildlife protection and improved access to health care as reasons for the San’s removal, it is widely believed that the government’s real motive involves gaining access to large diamond deposits within the Reserve.
