1% of diamonds on the market are from African countries that are engulfed in civil war. This number as fallen since 1999 when it was 3% according to The World Diamond Council. These “conflict diamonds” are mined to support the civil war in countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone (South Africa), Zimbabwe, and the Congo.

These countries are plagued by civil wars. These diamonds fund the rebel groups to get their weapons and other means of war. The diamonds are found by workers in the mines, and then the rebels are paid by smugglers so they can take them to the big dimaond companies for a hefty price. So when weathly Americans want their fiances to buy them a big shinny rock, to go with their shinny marriage, that diamond could cost someone their life in a civil war.

Today the  Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) has been set in place to try and limit these “blood diamonds” from entering the diamond market. It is nearly impossible to tell where a diamond came from, but some blood diamonds do find their way on to the market even with the KPCS in place. If a smuggler is caught with these diamonds, they can face criminal charges. Now diamonds need a certificate before the diamond buyers can purchase them, to prove that they arent smuggled from a country that is going through turmoil.

The KPCS stands in the US. Presidents Clinton and Bush both banned the shippment of diamonds from  Seirra Leone and Liberia. Liberia stands as the pipeline for Sierra Leone to get its illegal diamonds out and into the mainstream market. So this helps prevent Americans from buying conflict diamonds, but they are still out there. So make sure to ask your jewler if your diamond is conflict free!

Conflict free diamonds are diamonds that are labelled as stones that profits dont go to fuel wars and are produced and mined under ethical conditions, or are grown in a lab. So next time you go to buy a diamond, ask and make sure that it is conflict free. Otherwise, you are fueling the fire for death, just so you can have a shinny new rock on ur finger!

By: Ashley Reinke

“Love is always patient and kind; it is never jealous, love is never boastful or conceited; it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offense, and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people’s sins but delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes. Love does not come to an end.”

But I want ellie and tj to know… U two are like my sisters, I love u more than anything else. U two are the first people on my list, and you know that. Im always gonna be here for u, and love u no matter what!!!!!! Just keep it in mind and i will be waiting for that phone call!!! hopefully it will come soon! Cuz i seriously miss u!

Kevin Kyle, You will always have a special place in my heart. I have told u a lot of things that i have never told anyone. And I love that you always come to me when u need to talk. I got to know you thru wrestling, but now that its over, i feel we have become good friends. You mean a lot to me, and u will always be in my thoughts! Be safe out there, and come home to us safe!!!! And we best be kickiin it when u come home!!!!!

All my love!!!!

Also i want to remember the 341 FDNY firefighters that perished during the attacks. You will forever be in our hearts. Also, to all the volunteers that helped clean up the mess that was left in the aftermath.

9/11 is possibly the worst tragedy that has happened on American soil. And something that will forever be ingraved into the hearts of millions of Americans. The New York City skyline will never be the same. Every picture, every postcard and every view just seems a little empty now.

Thank you to everyone that was involved in 9/11, the 341 perished firefighters, the firefighters that survived, the 23 NYPD that were lost, and everyone that was involved, plus the 2,974 civilians that fell that day with the 24 still missing. My heart goes out to everyone of these people and their families! I can’t even begin to imagine how much heartbreak was caused in just an hour of terror.

I spend every wednesday night at midnight listening to Dark Matter for 2 hours… Wow that makes me seem like a loser, but its amazing!!!!

So mos def check it you!!! Get back to me if you dont know how to find it!!!!! I would be happy to get Dave more listeners!   LOVE U NAVARRO!

He has turned into my best friend. I feel like I can tell him anything and everything. He the only person that im 100% honest with. He knows everything that goes on in my life. He prolly knows me better than anyone had ever and will ever. And I feel like I know him better than anyone does. Its just so easy with him. Well at least when it doesnt involve a certain someone. Its never been this easy before. I never believed in love before him. I thought love was something that people made up, just to say they have experenced it. But I am starting to realize what everyone has been talking about. Its the greatest feeling in the world. But when it goes sour it hurts like hell. But now that everything is fixed between us, It feels better than it every did. Even thou we arent together, it still feels amazing, to know that he’s always there!

So i just want to say… Thank you Brett for everything!!!!!!! U know I love you and would do anything for you!!!! And I hope that one day u will take me up on my offer and you will realize whats in front of u!!!! Because you deserve the world!!!!!

You’re amazing at a lot of things… And drumming is one of them! So keep it up! Dont forget ur dreams of being a rockstar, lol. You can be a teacher during the day and a rockstar at night! Trust me it will pay off in the end! Lots of love!!!!

I miss the way you rock out in the car, and drum on the steering wheel. Remember when you wrote my name into it, because u said “Now it will be there forever.” I remember when you went to band practice and i texted u and said “text me,” and you said “of course i will because i’ll be thinking about you the whole time.” I miss the way you call me babe at the end of the night before you go to bed. The way you fall asleep on the phone with me while watching That 70′s show.

I miss the way you were always looking after me. And how I was the last person you would talk to before you went to bed. I miss everything about you! I miss you every day! I wish those nights would of never ended. Our first kiss was on Becker’s car, after we had to move it. I remember thinking “wow this is the best thing ever” I miss cuddling in your bed when we would get back from class, before you had to go to work. The way you would kiss my neck and keep your hand on my stomach.

I realize more and more that I fell in love with you. And how I dont want to let go. You know I am always here for you no matter what. Because your voice saves me! You helped me believe in love and you make me want to be better.

Every time i see you, my heart just drops, beacuse the feelings I have for you wont go away. Even thou I have tried so hard to make them go away. And I know that you have someone, but it kills me to know that you are getting hurt over and over again. I get hurt when u get hurt. I wish you didnt have to go thru that. Because we both know whats gonna happen in the end. And i really dont want to see you get your heart broken again. But you know I will never break your heart!!!

Im always here no matter what about or what time. So just take the time and look around and see whats there. Call me when ever u need me. Or if you just want to talk! You know im here and I love you!

Every time I hear the song “Those Nights” by skillet, i get a tear in my eye. Because you posted it on your facebook, and i asked about it and you said “its there for a reason because its the way i feel.” Stay up late and talk all night in the dark room lit by the tv light, all the hard times in my life, those nights kept me alive” And every since then, i think about you whenever I hear that song. It took me a while to be able to listen to it without crying thru the whole thing. But now i just get a glistening tear, because its exactly how I feel.

I wish things were different, because then it wouldnt be this hard. I have writen so many songs about you, about how much i love you, hate you and everything in between. Our picture is above my bed, and I see it every day. Because its hard for me to go a day without seeing your smile. And now I get to see it every day.

Maybe someday you will realize whats right in front you. But for now I will wait around until that day comes. And do everything that I can for you. Because you mean that much to me! And I cant bare to lose you again! <3 <3 <3