The Diamond Diving Industry was a key driver of local economic development in the Namaqualand littoral until the negative impacts of climate change began in 2003.

The industry has not been able to adapt to the challenge of climate change because the concession owners who control access to the ocean's diamonds have refused to acknowledge the problem.

On the contrary, the concession owners have greatly compounded the problem by enforcing commercial terms that are extractive, exploitative and unsustainable.

Despite many well prepared approaches to many organs of state for the problem to be recognized, understood and confronted openly, transparently and responsibly, not one single call has been answered.

The industry has been failed by the concession owners, the Government and Parliament who have stood idly by and watched as a unique maritime industry collapsed, taking the largest and most important company in the region, Alexkor, down with it.

As a consequence, the greatest opportunity the Namaqualand Coastal Community has to develop its local economy and provide better lives for all has been reduced to ashes.

Every person living in the Namaqualand littoral depends on  a new and better diamond diving industry emerging from these ashes. By supporting this petition you will help make that a reality.

Make them listen!