Originally posted by lakkad: Boys.Girls..i pasted this from an afrikan newspapaer.. check wat iman has in store. Iman and the Bushmen By LIFESTYLE Writer Twenty six years ago, Iman stunned the fashion industry with her great looks and became the first black model to make it big in the international circuit. I think Iman is becautifull, but she took that beauty and put it in the garbage when she decided to show bare skin on the catwalk and newpapers all over the world, quite frankly i find Iman a disgrace rather than an idle, she is no nomand, for it takes a way of life, a religion and culture to produce a nomand. that's my cent on this topic Being a Nomad is way of Life, that includes culture,tradition and religion. But this strikingly beautiful Somali born, Kenyan-bred model now finds herself on the wrong side of fame and is at the centre of a simmering feud between Survival International – a London-based lobby group fighting for the rights of Bushmen in Botswana and De Beers – the South Africa diamond mining giant over the Bushmen’s right to their ancestral home. Essentially, it is all about money. The Botswana government is relocating the Bushmen from their homeland to give way for the mining of huge deposits of diamonds by De Beers. At the same time, Iman has reportedly signed a multi-million dollar contract to promote a new line of high street diamond jewellery shops which the mining company is opening overseas this year. The lobby group has asked Iman to cancel her contract as part of the protest against the plan to evict the estimated 2,500 Bushmen out of their homeland in Gope inside the Kalahari National Game Reserve to New Xade place, 150 miles away. Last week the Sunday Times newspaper quoted Iman who pledged to embark on a mission of truth to discover whether the eviction of the Bushmen – which has already started – is indeed to pave way for the diamond mining. Only then, she said, could she decide whether to severe her links with De Beers, the world’s biggest diamond mining company. This is not the first time that a lobby has focused on rights of an unprivileged community. For years, Hollywood movie star Richard Gere has been the thorn in the flesh of the Chinese government over his support for the rights of the Tibetan people and has used his clout in the movie business to rally support from other movie celebrities. Actor Marlon Brando has also championed the cause for American Native Indians against abuse and exploitation. Born in Somali on July 25,1955, Iman – who is now married to rock star David Bowie – was forced out of her home and settled in Kenya, where she was discovered by fashion photographer Peter Beard. She was walking across the campus at the University of Nairobi where she was a studying political science when Peter Beard spotted her – the rest is history. Her first international modelling job was on the cover of Vogue magazine in 1976 which made her an instant international success. Soon, major designers came calling and Iman spent the next 14 years modelling designs by world renowned Yves St Laurent, Calvin Klein, Versace and Donna Karan. In that period she worked with some of the most renowned photographers in the fashion business. To many, she opened the industry to black women but her more enduring feat is that of helping re-define the concept of beauty. Now retired from modelling, Iman has found new life in the beauty industry. In 1994, she launched her own cosmetic and skincare product line – Iman Cosmetics – exclusive for women of colour. "I have the true sense of who the woman of colour is. She is not merely one ethnic group – she is Hispanic, African-American, Asian and Native American," she told an overseas reporter. The success of her new venture inspired her to launch a second beauty line 'I-Iman' make-up for women regardless of their skin tone. She has also found time to write and has published a book titled I am Iman, which deals with provocative issues about the "unserious business of fashion and beauty and its serious effect on peoples' identity." Iman has two daughters – Alexandra Zahra with her current husband Bowie and Zulekha from a previous marriage. She is also involved in several charities including Mothers Voices, Action Against Hunger, The Children's Defence Fund and All Children Foundation. Widely respected for her personal success and for supporting charities, the current lobby for the Bushmen could tarnish a reputation that she has cultivated through hard work and dedication. Survival International has likened the eviction of the Bushmen to the plight of North American native Indians who were driven out of their land by gold prospectors. More specifically, the lobby group has accused De Beers of being behind the eviction by persuading the Botswana government to move the Bushmen so as to allow it exploit a new mine. "Ever since huge deposits of diamonds were discovered 15 years ago on the land occupied by the Bushmen, the Botswana government has reportedly waged a campaign of harassment to force them out of their ancestral land," Survival’s director Stephen Corry said in a letter to Iman. Corry allegedly met Iman for breakfast in London last month and she appeared genuinely concerned about the whole affair. Both the government and the mining company have denied any wrongdoing. The lobby group concedes that De Beers has not started mining, but notes that being the owners of all world diamond mines, it would be worth the company's wealth to wait a while. On its part, De Beers director of corporate affairs Rory Moore O’Ferrall denies the allegations against the company. "I believe Survival is simply using the diamonds connection as a sexy way to boost its campaign against the removal of the Bushmen from the land of their forefathers."

Originally posted by lakkad: Boys.Girls..i pasted this from an afrikan newspapaer.. check wat iman has in store. Iman and the Bushmen By LIFESTYLE Writer Twenty six years ago, Iman stunned the fashion industry with her great looks and became the first black model to make it big in the international circuit. I think Iman is becautifull, but she took that beauty and put it in the garbage when she decided to show bare skin on the catwalk and newpapers all over the world, quite frankly i find Iman a disgrace rather than an idle, she is no nomand, for it takes a way of life, a religion and culture to produce a nomand. that's my cent on this topic Being a Nomad is way of Life, that includes culture,tradition and religion. But this strikingly beautiful Somali born, Kenyan-bred model now finds herself on the wrong side of fame and is at the centre of a simmering feud between Survival International – a London-based lobby group fighting for the rights of Bushmen in Botswana and De Beers – the South Africa diamond mining giant over the Bushmen’s right to their ancestral home. Essentially, it is all about money. The Botswana government is relocating the Bushmen from their homeland to give way for the mining of huge deposits of diamonds by De Beers. At the same time, Iman has reportedly signed a multi-million dollar contract to promote a new line of high street diamond jewellery shops which the mining company is opening overseas this year. The lobby group has asked Iman to cancel her contract as part of the protest against the plan to evict the estimated 2,500 Bushmen out of their homeland in Gope inside the Kalahari National Game Reserve to New Xade place, 150 miles away. Last week the Sunday Times newspaper quoted Iman who pledged to embark on a mission of truth to discover whether the eviction of the Bushmen – which has already started – is indeed to pave way for the diamond mining. Only then, she said, could she decide whether to severe her links with De Beers, the world’s biggest diamond mining company. This is not the first time that a lobby has focused on rights of an unprivileged community. For years, Hollywood movie star Richard Gere has been the thorn in the flesh of the Chinese government over his support for the rights of the Tibetan people and has used his clout in the movie business to rally support from other movie celebrities. Actor Marlon Brando has also championed the cause for American Native Indians against abuse and exploitation. Born in Somali on July 25,1955, Iman – who is now married to rock star David Bowie – was forced out of her home and settled in Kenya, where she was discovered by fashion photographer Peter Beard. She was walking across the campus at the University of Nairobi where she was a studying political science when Peter Beard spotted her – the rest is history. Her first international modelling job was on the cover of Vogue magazine in 1976 which made her an instant international success. Soon, major designers came calling and Iman spent the next 14 years modelling designs by world renowned Yves St Laurent, Calvin Klein, Versace and Donna Karan. In that period she worked with some of the most renowned photographers in the fashion business. To many, she opened the industry to black women but her more enduring feat is that of helping re-define the concept of beauty. Now retired from modelling, Iman has found new life in the beauty industry. In 1994, she launched her own cosmetic and skincare product line – Iman Cosmetics – exclusive for women of colour. "I have the true sense of who the woman of colour is. She is not merely one ethnic group – she is Hispanic, African-American, Asian and Native American," she told an overseas reporter. The success of her new venture inspired her to launch a second beauty line 'I-Iman' make-up for women regardless of their skin tone. She has also found time to write and has published a book titled I am Iman, which deals with provocative issues about the "unserious business of fashion and beauty and its serious effect on peoples' identity." Iman has two daughters – Alexandra Zahra with her current husband Bowie and Zulekha from a previous marriage. She is also involved in several charities including Mothers Voices, Action Against Hunger, The Children's Defence Fund and All Children Foundation. Widely respected for her personal success and for supporting charities, the current lobby for the Bushmen could tarnish a reputation that she has cultivated through hard work and dedication. Survival International has likened the eviction of the Bushmen to the plight of North American native Indians who were driven out of their land by gold prospectors. More specifically, the lobby group has accused De Beers of being behind the eviction by persuading the Botswana government to move the Bushmen so as to allow it exploit a new mine. "Ever since huge deposits of diamonds were discovered 15 years ago on the land occupied by the Bushmen, the Botswana government has reportedly waged a campaign of harassment to force them out of their ancestral land," Survival’s director Stephen Corry said in a letter to Iman. Corry allegedly met Iman for breakfast in London last month and she appeared genuinely concerned about the whole affair. Both the government and the mining company have denied any wrongdoing. The lobby group concedes that De Beers has not started mining, but notes that being the owners of all world diamond mines, it would be worth the company's wealth to wait a while. On its part, De Beers director of corporate affairs Rory Moore O’Ferrall denies the allegations against the company. "I believe Survival is simply using the diamonds connection as a sexy way to boost its campaign against the removal of the Bushmen from the land of their forefathers."

Originally posted by lakkad: Boys.Girls..i pasted this from an afrikan newspapaer.. check wat iman has in store. Iman and the Bushmen By LIFESTYLE Writer Twenty six years ago, Iman stunned the fashion industry with her great looks and became the first black model to make it big in the international circuit. I think Iman is becautifull, but she took that beauty and put it in the garbage when she decided to show bare skin on the catwalk and newpapers all over the world, quite frankly i find Iman a disgrace rather than an idle, she is no nomand, for it takes a way of life, a religion and culture to produce a nomand. that's my cent on this topic But this strikingly beautiful Somali born, Kenyan-bred model now finds herself on the wrong side of fame and is at the centre of a simmering feud between Survival International – a London-based lobby group fighting for the rights of Bushmen in Botswana and De Beers – the South Africa diamond mining giant over the Bushmen’s right to their ancestral home. Essentially, it is all about money. The Botswana government is relocating the Bushmen from their homeland to give way for the mining of huge deposits of diamonds by De Beers. At the same time, Iman has reportedly signed a multi-million dollar contract to promote a new line of high street diamond jewellery shops which the mining company is opening overseas this year. The lobby group has asked Iman to cancel her contract as part of the protest against the plan to evict the estimated 2,500 Bushmen out of their homeland in Gope inside the Kalahari National Game Reserve to New Xade place, 150 miles away. Last week the Sunday Times newspaper quoted Iman who pledged to embark on a mission of truth to discover whether the eviction of the Bushmen – which has already started – is indeed to pave way for the diamond mining. Only then, she said, could she decide whether to severe her links with De Beers, the world’s biggest diamond mining company. This is not the first time that a lobby has focused on rights of an unprivileged community. For years, Hollywood movie star Richard Gere has been the thorn in the flesh of the Chinese government over his support for the rights of the Tibetan people and has used his clout in the movie business to rally support from other movie celebrities. Actor Marlon Brando has also championed the cause for American Native Indians against abuse and exploitation. Born in Somali on July 25,1955, Iman – who is now married to rock star David Bowie – was forced out of her home and settled in Kenya, where she was discovered by fashion photographer Peter Beard. She was walking across the campus at the University of Nairobi where she was a studying political science when Peter Beard spotted her – the rest is history. Her first international modelling job was on the cover of Vogue magazine in 1976 which made her an instant international success. Soon, major designers came calling and Iman spent the next 14 years modelling designs by world renowned Yves St Laurent, Calvin Klein, Versace and Donna Karan. In that period she worked with some of the most renowned photographers in the fashion business. To many, she opened the industry to black women but her more enduring feat is that of helping re-define the concept of beauty. Now retired from modelling, Iman has found new life in the beauty industry. In 1994, she launched her own cosmetic and skincare product line – Iman Cosmetics – exclusive for women of colour. "I have the true sense of who the woman of colour is. She is not merely one ethnic group – she is Hispanic, African-American, Asian and Native American," she told an overseas reporter. The success of her new venture inspired her to launch a second beauty line 'I-Iman' make-up for women regardless of their skin tone. She has also found time to write and has published a book titled I am Iman, which deals with provocative issues about the "unserious business of fashion and beauty and its serious effect on peoples' identity." Iman has two daughters – Alexandra Zahra with her current husband Bowie and Zulekha from a previous marriage. She is also involved in several charities including Mothers Voices, Action Against Hunger, The Children's Defence Fund and All Children Foundation. Widely respected for her personal success and for supporting charities, the current lobby for the Bushmen could tarnish a reputation that she has cultivated through hard work and dedication. Survival International has likened the eviction of the Bushmen to the plight of North American native Indians who were driven out of their land by gold prospectors. More specifically, the lobby group has accused De Beers of being behind the eviction by persuading the Botswana government to move the Bushmen so as to allow it exploit a new mine. "Ever since huge deposits of diamonds were discovered 15 years ago on the land occupied by the Bushmen, the Botswana government has reportedly waged a campaign of harassment to force them out of their ancestral land," Survival’s director Stephen Corry said in a letter to Iman. Corry allegedly met Iman for breakfast in London last month and she appeared genuinely concerned about the whole affair. Both the government and the mining company have denied any wrongdoing. The lobby group concedes that De Beers has not started mining, but notes that being the owners of all world diamond mines, it would be worth the company's wealth to wait a while. On its part, De Beers director of corporate affairs Rory Moore O’Ferrall denies the allegations against the company. "I believe Survival is simply using the diamonds connection as a sexy way to boost its campaign against the removal of the Bushmen from the land of their forefathers."