Nangula Shejavali
24 June 2009
ZIMBABWE'S diamond trade will no doubt feature high on the agenda of the three-day Intersessional Meeting of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), which began yesterday, with the opening remarks of chairperson Bernard Esau setting the tone for this.
The Kimberley Process is a joint government, industry and civil society initiative to stem the flow of and prevent trade in conflict diamonds, and is this year being chaired by Namibia.
Recently, the KP has come under heavy fire from civil society groups, with seven groups on Friday releasing a joint statement saying that despite having the necessary tools in place, "the KPCS is failing to address effectively issues of non-compliance, smuggling, money laundering and human rights abuses in the world's alluvial diamond fields".
With this criticism, much is also expected of Namibia, with Alfred Brownwell of Green Advocates - one of the seven signatories - saying: "Namibia was a founding member of the Kimberley Process and as Chair of the scheme should be a leader in ensuring an effective and efficient diamond certification system.
"The Kimberley Process must be a force for development in Africa's diamond-rich nations and take a clear stand against human rights abuses."
Diamond trade from Zimbabwe, where the government under the leadership of President Robert Mugabe has been accused of fuelling conflict and human rights violations with diamonds from the Marange deposits, is perhaps the most contentious issue in diamond trade at the moment.
At the opening of the Intersessional Meeting yesterday, Zimbabwe formed a major part of Esau's opening remarks, with the Chairperson, Namibia's Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy Bernhard Esau, stating that "there are still gaps that can be strengthened in order to curb the central inflow of illicit diamonds that are being illegally exported from Zimbabwe".
Esau said in achieving the KPCS's aim to curb illicit trade, "we need to continue strengthening the security system and improve our internal controls".
"The Kimberley Process has been monitoring the situation, in the attempt to bring Zimbabwe in level with the KP culture of producing diamonds for development."
Earlier this year, Esau led a delegation to Zimbabwe to engage authorities there, and after the visit, issued a statement noting that "the KP expresses growing concerns at the reports of violence and indications of smuggling in the Marange mining area," and has "stepped up international efforts to prevent the laundering of those diamonds."
To this end, Esau yesterday reported that "all participants as well as the public were informed on the situation on KP's awareness on the matter. Strategies and actions were drawn up to tackle these issues within the KP fraternity.
"Participants were requested to implement measures of enhanced vigilance and were provided footprints of Marange diamonds. The Zimbabwean authorities provided the Chair with a recent report of the state of play on the situation in Marange.
"A call for regional co-operation has been emphasised and technical assistance has been requested in this regard, and these matters will be followed up by the Secretariat."
Civil society groups are, however, calling for a ban on Zimbabwe's diamond trade, with Partnership Africa Canada earlier saying that "when regulators fail to regulate, systems collapse and the people they are designed to protect suffer".
A review mission to Zimbabwe is expected to take place next week, after the Intersessional meeting, which ends tomorrow. The meeting has allocated a session for this morning solely for the discussion of the Zimbabwean diamond industry.
Another concern noted in the Chairperson's speech was the issue of fake KP Certificates.
Esau noted that "the recent fake Guinean and Namibian certificates in the trade show that more approaches to deal with this specific issue are needed," adding that a consistent approach to dealing with the problem was necessary.
"Participants and the public at large have been warned about these activities and guidance on detecting shipments with fake certificates have been made available," Esau said, while providing a full progress report on the work that Namibia has done so far in its term as Chair of the KPCS.
Included in the report were remarks on the effect of the economic recession on the diamond industry, assisting Venezuela in its implementation of the KP's minimum standards, progress made by the Scheme's Working Groups and feedback on review visits to DRC, Turkey Liberia and Sierra Leone
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- THE TRUTH ABOUT DIAMONDS –
Did You Know That The Robbers Have Warehouses Full Of 55 Gallon Drums Each Full Of Raw Uncut Diamonds ?
The Wicked Are Using The Same Schemes On Us. : 1) They Hoard Riches ; Controlling The Supply So We’ll Think The Supply Is Low 2) This Scheme Helps Them To Get A Higher Price & Deceives Most Of Us Into Believing That Things ( Such As Diamonds, Gold, Oil, Etc..) Are In Short Supply & Even Due To Run Out.
Diamonds Are In Abundance And Their Supply Is Being Controlled By Persons Under The Control Of Spiritual Wickedness In High Places (Ephesians 6:12) .
We Saints Serve An Infinite God, What He Placed Here On This Earth For His Children Is Also Infinite. When You See A Volcano Or Magma ; The Liquid Land Flowing Out Of Volcanos, Think Of Growth. The Earth Is Steady Growing.
Once God Settles Things With The Rightreous & Un-Righteous . [Definition – Righteous Means The Desire To Do Right ]
Diamonds Are In Abundance And Their Supply Is Being Controlled By Persons Under The Control Of Spiritual Wickedness In High Places (Ephesians 6:12) . [http://janineroberts.org/]
THEY COME TO :
STEAL OUR ECONOMY
KILL OUR INITIATIVE TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT
DESTROY OUR FAMILIES
1) INFERIORITY = CURRENCY EXCHANGE
Currency Exchange is designed to puff up certain peoples and nations over others. The numbers are constantly telling some that they are inferior to others. The problem intensifies when those being manipulated by this financial scam buy in to this wicked scheme.
What’s the solution to INFERIORITY CURRENCY EXCHANGE ? Stop giving away our souls one piece of money ( dollar , pound, franc, rand, deniro, rupal, euro, Chinese renminbi, rupee, Russian ruble,etc..) at-a-time .
Do research on what price your product gets in the so-called First World countries. And demand that price. This will not work unless people at the local areas do this together. Form Co-Ops and agree to charge the prices you deserve.
2) INFERIORITY = Pay by Time
There is another system used to oppress people that feeds the business owners with a lust for MORE profit. One year they may have profits of 50%, the next year they may have profits of 100%, the next year their profits may only be 75%. The system in the world will consider that going from 100% profits to 75% profits is bad for business.
How is that bad ? Profits are profits ! Many businesses have different levels of pay for the same workers.; levels such as :
a) Top Salaries – Private and only known to each individual workers b) Medium Salaries – Private “ “ “ “ c) Lower Salaries – Private and only known to each individual workers d) High Hourly Wages e) Medium Hourly Wages f) Minimum Hourly Wages
I suggest that EVERY WORKER SHOULD BE PAID A LIVING WAGE. The Minimum Wage is like a financial ball and chain ; only giving those receiving it just enough to live to see the next day.
The Living Wage allows workers to live, invest, spend, save, and thrive. We can dream about having our own businesses , then wake up and attain our dreams. This is great for the businesses that pay Living Wages. For this creates new customers and new generations of customers.
As long as the system of Living Wages is in place, there will be a thriving economy and a blooming world full of optimistic activities. But it will only happen when business owners see the benefit of paying more pennies to make more dollars ! Which of you business owners will have the insight, recognition, roots, understanding, initiative, moxy, & compassion to make the step most are afraid to make.
[This inspiring poem was featuring in the movie “Coach Carter ”]
Our Deepest Fear Is Not That We Are Inadequate, Our Deepest Fear Is That We Are Powerful Beyond Measure. It Is Our Light , Not Our Darkness That Most Frightens Us.
We Ask Ourselves, Who Am I To Be Brilliant, Gorgeous, Talented, And Fabulous ?
Actually Who Are We Not To Be ? You Are A Child Of God.
Your Playing Small Doesn’t Serve The World.
There Is Nothing Enlightened About Shrinking So That Other People Won’t Feel Insecure Around You.
We Are All Meant To Shine, As Children Do.
We Were Born To Make Manifest The Glory Of God That Is Within Us.
It’s Not Just In Some Of Us; It’s In Everyone.
And When We Let Our Own Light Shine We Unconsciously Give Other People Permission To Do The Same.
And As We Are Liberated From Our Own Fear, Our Presence Automatically Liberates Others
- Marianne Williamson -
[NOTE – BEING AFRAID AND REFUSING TO GET INVOLVED WON’T STOP US FROM DYING. BUT BEING AFRAID CAN PREVENT US FROM LIVING]
(Nkosi Sikeleli Africa )
God bless Africa May her glory be lifted high Hear our petitions .
God bless us, Your children God we ask You to protect our nation Intervene and end all conflicts Protect us, protect our nation, our nation.
From the blue of our heaven, From the depths of our sea, Over our eternal mountain ranges, Where the cliffs give answer.
Sounds the call to come together, And united we shall stand, Let us live and strive for freedom, In South Africa our land.
[Enoch Mankayi Sontonga]
WAKE UP !!! STAY UP !!!
[http://www.infowars.com/infowars.asx] / [gcnlive.com] / [http://alexjonesringtones.net/] Life Is A Game. Have Fun . Luke 18:17 - Isaiah 11:6