Zimbabwe's Diamond Mines

Zimbabwe faces the threat of being suspended from the international diamond trade after allegations of brutality from it's soldiers. Rights groups are lobbying members of the *Kimberly Process, the body that regulates trade in rough diamonds to halt exports from Zimbabwe. Activists say Mugabe's soldiers massacred about 200 people when the troops moved in last year. Witnesses told of how tear gas was thrown from helicopters, policemen opened fire on the diamond mine and raped the women who were caught at the field. Activists say local people are being forced to search for diamonds, with all the profit being taken by Zanu-PF. Human Rights Watch insists the Kimberley Process should ensure diamonds are not mined in areas where human rights are being violated.

Mugabe sympathizers argue that the Kimberley Process is meant only to ensure the profits are not used to fund conflict, so Zimbabwe should not be banned. Namibian MP Bernhard Esau, the current chairman of the Kimberley
Process, told the BBC's Network Africa programme that Zimbabwe had"really serious problems" and needed help to remain "part of the family".

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The Kimberley Process (KP) is a joint governments, industry and civil society initiative to stem the flow of conflict diamonds – rough diamonds used by rebel movements to finance wars against legitimate governments. The trade in these illicit stones has fueled decades o fdevastating conflicts in countries such as Angola, Cote d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sierra Leone.The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) imposes extensive requirements on its members to enable them to certify shipments of
rough diamonds as ‘conflict-free’. As of November 2008, the KP has 49 members, representing 75 countries, with the European Community and its Member States counting as an individual participant. For more information on the Kimberley Process here is the link.

Dona Nobis Pacem. Peace For All, Lift Your Voice

Peace- (n) 1:  Freedom from public disturbance or war. 2: Agreement and harmony among persons.

A very simple prospect don’t you agree? People who are in agreement or harmony. People who are free from war. How do you personally solve issues you may have with your friends, co-workers or family? Do you start hitting the one who disagrees with you? Do you start stabbing each other over who your leader should be? Or do you hear the others side and weigh all your options?

 If you have seen any news in the past few years then you have heard about gangs who are killing each other because the other side is in their neighborhood. Men who kill their wives because she wants to be free to make her own choice. Mothers who kill their children because they want to be unencumbered and party with friends. Don’t you wish they could see what people in other countries live with daily?
There are people dying every day because one group has decided for all how their life should be lived. Here are people in this country who do not see what is in front of their own nose, freedom. The freedom to choose what they want to be in life. The freedom to practice their faith no matter what that faith is. The freedom to work where they want, to live where they want. The freedom to vote for the person they feel will do the best by them in running their country.

Then there are those who are not so lucky, because of being born where they were born. In countries where a leader kills them because they would dare to disagree or just because they belong to a different sect. Where the simple act of getting water for a thirsty child results in death. Where leaders care more about the shopping trips in far away ports then the starving people they govern.

I as a blogger pray for peace and understanding, but if someone who is free does not care then how can I expect the rest of the world to care? To have the gift of choice, the gift of freedom is a precious thing that must be treasured, for there are millions who do not even have the option of choice.