Martin Rapaport began a 3-day fast at sundown Sunday, June
20 outside the Kimberley Process Meetings. The water-only fast will continue
until sundown Wednesday, June 24 following the close of the KP meetings in Tel
Aviv, Israel.

Rapaport is fasting to protest the issuing of Kimberley
Process Certificates for blood diamonds and to draw attention to the fact that
it is unethical for the diamond and jewelry trade to rely upon the Kimberley
Process Certificate Scheme or System of Warranties to ensure that diamonds are
not involved in severe human rights violations such as murder, mutilation, rape
and forced servitude.

JCK