Wednesday November 4, 2009, 8:36 am
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.

Zimbabwe's diamonds used to be mined by local people. But in the last several months, Mugabe's thugs have brutally taken over, murdering up to 200 civilians. An international investigation in July found "horrific violence against civilians".

The profits from these blood diamonds are being used to finance a political militia that has already killed thousands of Zimbabweans, and threatens the fragile unity government in the country. Letting Mugabe keep these diamonds could finance a whole new war.

All of us are learning the ways in which our decisions about what we buy and do can affect the lives of our fellow human beings half a world away. An engagement ring should be something given and worn out of love, let's tell diamond regulators to keep it that way:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/diamonds_for_love_not_hate

With hope,

Ricken, Alice, Benjamin, Graziela, Luis, Milena, Paul, Ben, Paula, Pascal and the whole of the Avaaz team

PS:

Once you've taken action, vote for Avaaz on the influential Huffington Post "New Media Game-Changers" poll!
http://www.avaaz.org/huffpo (vote 10 for Avaaz as the ultimate game changer)

Wednesday November 4, 2009, 9:21 am

Thanks for posting this, Jelica!

Wednesday November 4, 2009, 6:26 pm

87,677 people have signed the petition. Let's get to 100,000

Wednesday November 4, 2009, 6:29 pm
This is one dude I just want to die...thats it. All know how I feel about him....

Big Gorilly Huygs

Wednesday November 4, 2009, 6:35 pm
Thanks J!!

Already signed with my pleasure, will check on the ##87841!

We need more on this one guys...I did forward this and hope all of you will too...

Important!!!

Wednesday November 4, 2009, 6:46 pm
Already signed. Good grief, why is this guy still around doing all this damage?

Wednesday November 4, 2009, 7:01 pm
care2 is weird today
I wanted to send stars to you dear girls, and apparently I already did it past week. I don't remember, maybe it's me

88.474 people have signed the petition. Let's get to 100,000

Wednesday November 4, 2009, 7:11 pm
This is from the mail I received from Ricken Patel, about 18 hrs ago:
"The group of countries that regulate the global diamond trade are right now meeting in Namibia to decide whether to suspend Mugabe and stop him selling his blood diamonds on the world market.

We have just two days to persuade these countries to act - let's get a flood of signatures on a petition and deliver it directly to the meeting in Namibia. Sign at the link below and forward this email to anyone who doesn't want our gifts of love to finance hate:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/diamonds_for_love_not_hate

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."

Did you vote for Awaaz on the influential Huffington Post "New Media Game-Changers" poll! ? (vote 10 for Avaaz as the ultimate game changer)

Wednesday November 4, 2009, 7:22 pm
Thanks Jelica.....signed earlier today. Mugabe is tenacious about clinging to power no matter what he has to do to keep it. Worst of all, it isn't Zimbabwe that's getting rich off these diamonds and off the backs of the exploited miners, it's Mugabe himself.

Thursday November 5, 2009, 1:05 am
Have noted & signed Jelica

Thursday November 5, 2009, 1:28 am
Noted, signed and shared on Facebook. Thanks Jelica.

Thursday November 5, 2009, 1:46 am
Enthusiastically signed. Thanks Jelica . Unable to send you a green star because I did this week. I am sending you a gold star instead. Please accept it.

Thursday November 5, 2009, 7:14 pm
Thank you for your support

On Huffington's Game Changers list, Awaaz is currently on the 3rd place. You can vote here, top right, give them 10. Keep voting 'till Nov, 10.

Petition status: 123.750 have signed this petition. Let's reach our new target of 200,080

Friday November 6, 2009, 8:32 pm
Lets put a stop to the mining of these diamonds so ROBERT MUGABE can get rich. STOP the killing of these people, their lives are more important than this SORRY man profiting from someone else's BLOOD AND SWEAT to make him rich.

Saturday November 7, 2009, 6:57 am
Thannxxxx.. he is a true dictator... and of course he needs the bucks.. his wife spends a million dollars a day in a shopping spree... and she needs her Dolce and Gabbana, Gucci and all her designer friends in her cupboard... have you seen his mansion.. tis better than Buckingham Palace... he needs to pay all his staff, butler included and driver