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| Lucie Diamond Joins The Sole Of Africa Alongs British country star Lucie Diamond has been appointed an Ambassador for the International humanitarian organisation The Mineseeker Foundation and their Sole of Africa campaign - standing alongside such eminent Patrons as Nelson Mandela, Queen Noor of Jordan, Sir Richard Branson and movie idol Brad Pitt. In September and October this year, Lucie will travel to South Africa and Mozambique to visit areas devastated by landmines, meeting victims - many of them young children - and the aid workers on the ground. A film crew will follow Lucie as part of major documentaries being produced for US television. The Mineseeker Foundation has helped to develop cutting-edge mine seeking technology mounted on airships, and has offices in the UK, USA and South Africa. Dedicated to the seeking out and removal of landmines around the world, starting with Mozambique at the personal request of Nelson Mandela and his wife Graca Machel. They have launched The Sole of Africa campaign - to step in behind landmine removal and reclaim the land, to turn minefields into farmland. Sending in specialist support teams to teach the communities to sow, grow and sell their own produce, empowering people to self-help for long term solutions to the mine and famine problems. Also working with victims to provide artificial limbs, plus other practical and immediate help. The organisation has united with other agencies including The Salvation Army, Feed the Children, Nourish the Children, Operation of Hope, Real Medicine Foundation, RainCatcher.org, Kenya Water Well Trust, International Youth Foundation, Iris Ministries and The Pacific Institute. This project has led Nelson Mandela as Patron of the Mineseeker Foundation, to make a plea to businesses and Captains of Industry to join with him, requesting: "World business leaders and statesmen to support a new technology that can hasten our quest to rid the world of landmines." At this time, Lucie is one of only two British Ambassadors for the charity, with successful businesswoman Penny Streeter (OBE) already on board. Lucie said: "It is just appalling and beyond belief to think that literally every 19 minutes, someone is maimed or killed by a landmine on our planet, planted deliberately by another human being to do exactly that, in cold blood. I am told there are an estimated 100 million landmines in Africa, and Mozambique is the worst area affected. "With all the investment in HIV/Aids, Malaria, TB and other dread disease programmes, there will be a lot more people to feed. Where will they get the land from to sustain themselves if it is full of landmines? The Mineseeker Foundation and The Sole of Africa are both lifesaving and much needed initiatives, working hand in hand with the people their work directly helps, and the agencies who make all the difference. "This is not just another cause to take people's money, it is much more than that. That is why I am humbled and honoured be asked to become an Ambassador, and I gladly accept. I will do everything I possibly can in my own small way, to help raise awareness, and that is why I am going to see for myself the misery and suffering caused to innocent victims, and the good that can be done after we rid the land of these evil things." Lucie and her management met with Chairman and Founder of The Mineseeker Foundation, Mike Kendrick this week at his UK headquarters, to welcome her into the team. Mike has set several world records for hot air balloon and air ship pursuits, and he was the project director of all Richard Branson's world record attempts. The pair have been friends and business partners for 20 years. "We already have some very successful people from different walks of life as our Ambassadors and Patrons. Lucie is a hugely talented artist and she is doing brilliantly and deservedly so. As a young, energetic performer who has a growing International profile and travels consistently to the US, across UK and Europe, she has a big fan base and appeals to more and more young people all the time. We are delighted to have Lucie helping us, and I hope she will get even more involved when she sees for herself what the situation is out in Mozambique." explained Mike. Sole of Africa managing director Kai Von Pannier, speaking from his Durban office in South Africa, added: "We felt Lucie would make a perfect Ambassador for The Sole of Africa and the work we do at the Mineseeker Foundation, and when we spoke with her about becoming an Ambassador, it was clear she was a caring person and passionate about not just being a name on a list, genuinely wanting to make a difference. We are therefore thrilled she has accepted our invitation, and very much welcome her on board." Lucie Diamond shot to fame in the country music world with her debut single - featuring guitar legend Albert Lee - in January 2005, when it spent a record 10 consecutive weeks at number one in the British country chart and reached number 5 in the European chart. Four more hits followed, inc 2 consecutive number ones in the European country chart. Today her records are played on radio in up to 60 countries worldwide. In July last year, she won 3 of her 4 nominations in the annual European country music awards, including European Artist of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year (beating superstars Dolly Parton and Faith Hill to the award.) The only British artist to win, and taking home more awards than any other artist. This year she was invited by the Country Music Association in Nashville to represent the UK at the annual CMA festival in June, and won rave reviews for her performance. Her new CD "I Wanna Be Rich" has just been released, featuring a duet with multi-Grammy winner Delbert McClinton and the talents of guitar legend Albert Lee. She has just headlined to 45, 000 people in France, at the biggest country music festival in Europe. write your comments about the article :: © 2007 Jazz News :: home page |