Story number 1 for 16 May 2001

(USA)–We begin today in the United States where evangelical leaders are joining members of Congress to make sure diamonds are not used to fund war in Africa. World Vision’s Serge Duss says that’s what’s happening in Congo, Sierra Leone and Angola and that’s why they’re supporting new legislation called the Clean Diamonds Act. “What this legislation would do would require that all diamonds imported to the United States would be subjected to standards that would what country the rough diamond originate from in an effort to keep diamonds from conflict countries from coming to the United States.” Duss says that would put a huge dent in arms funding to these rebel groups. He believes it will have a huge impact on outreach. “The Gospel can be taught and proclaimed much more easily in a country that is at peace than one that is in conflict where people are fleeing for their lives. Where there’s chronic food shortages and enormous suffering.” One-hundred members of congress support the measure.