Kalahari Bushmen Try To Enlist DiCaprio

The Kalahari Bushmen of Botswana have made a “desperate appeal” for help to Leonardo DiCaprio, who stars in the upcoming film ‘The Blood Diamond'. The appeal appears today as a full-page advert in Variety magazine and follows a letter the Bushmen have sent to DiCaprio.

According to Survival International who are supporting efforts of Kalahari Bushmen to return to their land, Bushman Roy Sesana wrote to the actor: “Friends have told us that you are in a film, ‘The Blood Diamond', which shows how badly diamonds can hurt. We know this. When we were chased off our land, officials told us it was because of the diamond finds.”

The Botswana government has evicted the Gana and Gwi Bushmen from their land in the Central Kalahari. According to the government, to supply water and health care. According to Survival International, to allow De Beers to explore for diamonds there, something De Beers and the government deny.

The Bushmen are calling for a boycott of De Beers and Botswana diamonds until they are allowed back on their land.