Director Edward Zwick (from R to L), smiles with actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly, and Djimon Hounsou as they arrive to attend a special screening of the movie "Blood Diamond" in New York November 30, 2006.. Photo Credit: REUTERS/Lucas JacksonWashington, Feb 26: Oscar nominees, actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou and Ryan Gosling appeared at the Oscars on 25th February wearing red teardrop pins, designed by Alessandra Gallo Jewelry and hand-made by Ricardo Basta of Beverly Hills, to raise awareness about diamond mining in war zones
The actors have joined the Amnesty International campaign against gem mining industry in troubled areas of the world.
DiCaprio and Hounsou were listed for Academy awards for their role in Blood Diamond, a film set in the Sierra Leone Civil War, in the country torn apart by two sides, unmindful of innocent non combatants,
"Americans buy half of the diamond jewelry sold worldwide -- $33
billion a year in U.S. sales," said Larry Cox, executive director of
Amnesty International USA. "We feel that this industry has an obligation -- and consumers should demand -- that the diamonds that are bought and sold are conflict free, given the devastating human toll blood diamonds extract."
Amnesty International USA and Global Witness partnered in supporting
Warner Bros.' film Blood Diamond to raise awareness about these important human rights issues.
After the Academy Awards, the pins will be auctioned. Proceeds will be devoted to the rehabilitation of child soldiers through the work of
Amnesty International and partner organizations, as well as Global
Witness's work on conflict diamonds. (ANI and Sawf News)
News Copyright © Sawf News. May not be reproduced without explicit written permission