We Are Together is a film about children living in the Agape orphanage in Africa. It chronicles their lives, individual personalities, and incredible journeys through life. They are also all part of a choir and have recorded an album that coincides with the film (absolutely beautiful music!), with profits from the both the film and CD going to benefit children in South Africa.
There are lots of ways to support the cause, including joining their email list (which includes getting a free music track download), donating money, or simply by purchasing the CD and watching the film (coming soon to HBO).
The 46664 Foundation, named after the number former South African President Nelson Mandela wore while imprisoned for 27 tears, aims to raise awareness and to educate people about the global HIV/AIDS crisis. The campaign began in 2003, when Mandela realized that to reach the youth of the world he needed to engage the support of the people who most appeal to them. Mandela, supported by Dave Stewart of Eurythmics, Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen, and Bono (natch), persuaded more than 30 of the world's top artists to come together to perform at a global awareness concert for HIV/AIDS in Cape Town.
Mandela will be 90 this year, and to celebrate, as well as to raise funds for 46664, there will be a global launch of limited-edition 46664 wrist bangles during the birthday celebrations in London on June 27. The goal is to create jobs as well as bring at least R1-billion (R=South African Rand, equal to $0.12587 on June 23) to the fight against HIV/Aids. Offered will be 90 platinum bangles (at the cost of R135 660 each), 90 24-carat gold bangles (R67 260), 466 18-carat gold bangles (R54 948) and 46,664 silver bangles (R1 995). The initiative will be a South African effort using metals from local suppliers, the skills of local craftsman and domestic suppliers from the tooling, machining and packaging industries. At least 60 percent of revenues from the sale of bangles will go to the 46664 HIV/Aids prevention campaign.
Greetings from the JCK Jewelry Show in Las Vegas. The show is one of the jewelry world's major events where manufacturers and wholesalers show their latest wares to retailers and industry professionals. The keynote speaker this morning was Russell Simmons, the hip hop impresario behind Def Jam Records and Baby Phat and now Simmons Jewelry and the Diamond Empowerment Fund. Simmons first became interested in the jewelry business a couple of years ago. He began thinking about jewelry when his then wife, Kimora decided it would be a good idea to make jewelry. His initial response was that he would never buy her fur coats or diamonds, two things he associated with hurt and damage to others.
He changed his mind after doing more research with the Clinton Initiative and other groups and taking his own trip to Africa where he met with Nelson Mandela and learned that while diamonds have caused a lot of pain and suffering they also can do good in the world. He found that in some areas people would starve without the sales of diamonds. This led to the formation of the Diamond Empowerment Fund. DEF works to promote higher education for Africans and so far has raised $9 million for a school in South Africa, the CIDA school which serves 3300 students, It is a four-year school,which is basically a college to teach students and send them back to the townships as teachers. It offers liberal arts education and business classes and the students do all the work at the school except teaching.
Hotels are fine as far as they go. For a really luxurious vacation however, renting a private house or villa is much the better choice. Of course the prices at the top-end can be astronomical. If money is no object, however, a new book called Luxury Houses: Holiday Escapes is a perfect guide to the best high-end hideaways around the globe. One of the standouts is Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld's former villa in Monaco (pictured here), which can be yours for a mere €30,000 per week. For that you get six bedrooms, panoramic views of the ocean and the mountains from an enormous terrace, a pool, Jacuzzi, game room and a tent on a private beach. The interior is described unironically as "quasi royal."
Also on display is the Birkenhead House in Hermanus, South Africa (about $7,000 per night) with eleven bedrooms and three pools, dominating a steep cliff above Walker Bay where whales frolic; and Villa Indigo in the Caribbean Sea within a protective reef in Anguilla with two pools and a private beach and sandbar, for $16,000 - $38,000 a week depending on the season; as well as dozens more ritzy rentals from ski chalets in Switzerland to modern palaces in China.
In a revelation that probably surprises none but the most easily duped, it turns out that the "world's largest diamond" is a fraud. The Guardian reports that it was all a scam and the man who first brought the stone to world attention was duped by miners who may have been salting the mine with fakes to get him to buy land in South Africa's North West province. He says he had not seen the stone until a couple of days ago when the miners produced what he calls a lump of plastic, and a phony diamond tester with which they proceeded to test the diamond but didn't even take the cap off. He says he will go to the police on Monday in the article and when asked why not before then, he says it is because he is tired. Indeed.
Could a greenish stone the size of a coconut be the world's largest diamond? The BBC reports that a shareholder in an unnamed mine in South Africa has found the stone shown here. The stone is said to be about 7,000 carats, making it around double the size of the famous Cullinan Diamond. There is some question over whether the stone is a diamond. Brett Jolly, a spokesperson for the company, has said that the stone was taken to a bank vault in Johannesburg and would undergo tests.
So far the only evidence of the stone is a low resolution photo showing a stone that could be anything, another type of crystal or even glass. Not revealing where a stone of this size is found is common for security purposes. If this stone is genuine, it will be one of the most amazing finds in recent times.
UPDATE: The Telegraph reports that the stone, now dubbed the Green Giant is set to be examined by renowned gemologist, Ernest Blom, the president of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses.
Combine wine with anything and it just gets better. Winespring offers two tours this November that include both wine tasting and a safari in South Africa. WineSpring -– together with Cape Town-based luxury tour company Southern Destinations – have created a tour that includes the presence of award-winning wildlife photographer Alex Bernasconi on the photo safari part of the journey for six days in the African wilderness. The journey also includes a wine component with vineyard tours and wine-tasting exclusives at prestigious wineries like Vilafonté, Raats and Lanzerac (shown above). Deluxe accommodations includes stays at Cape Grace, Sabi Sabi Lodge, Londolozi camps, and Singita Ebony Lodge. The total cost is $12,495 per person and includes accomodations, breakfasts, lunches and dinners but not airfare. The tours will be open to just eight people each time.
We've briefly mentioned the Rovos Rail line of trains before but it truly is one of the world's most luxurious ways to travel. Rovos Rail runs through South Africa and is the idea of Rohan Vos, an entrepreneur who made his fortune in car spare parts . He bought up old old railway carriages and converted them to his own specifications. When railway authorities demanded large fees to travel on their rails he decided to make his pet project pay for itself. The company functions like a boutique hotel chain on wheels. Details include under-floor heating, air-conditioning, ensuite shower and toilet, real beds and electric blankets. You can also order complimentary drinks for your mini bar and your suite comes with a bathrobe and slippers, a full-size shower with branded toiletries and flowers and a fruit basket on the table. A 14-day trip from Cape Town to Dar Es Salaam costs $12, 800 for Royal accommodations.
The Cradle of Humankind World Heritage site located about 50 kilometers northwest of Johannesburg, South Africa is a unique tourism spot. The site includes a complex of limestone caves which were home to some of the world's earliest hominids and is called the birthplace of humankind. The area is also home to a luxury boutique hotel so that visitors don't have to rough it as their ancient ancestors did. The Forum Homini Boutique Hotel at the Cradle of Humankind is home to 14 suites including a honeymoon and a presidential suite. The 12 luxury suites that are partly submerged with veld grass roofs and are much like luxury caves with stenciled hand imprints on the walls, stalactite lights, glass fireplaces, open air showers and king size luxury beds. Rates start at around $300.
The word extreme has been used to sell everything form energy drinks to SUVs, now a company called Extreme Group has created a new line of Extreme Hotels. The first 130-room Extreme Hotel is located in Cape Town South Africa. What makes a hotel extreme? It has a climbing wall outside of the hotel as well as a variety of extreme sports adventure packages for thrill-seeking guests. The rooms have showers that are "in suite" rather than en-suite (the toilet however is in its own area). Public spaces include a pool, private sound room and a lounge area called "the teacup." The hotel opened in November.
Cigars and after-dinner sippers such as brandy, port and whisky are a natural pairing but what about cigars and wine. Decanter reports that the South African producer Vilafonte has created a cigar that is meant to match with their wines. The cigars are called 'Series X' and are made lighter style using Cuban seed tobacco and a Sumatran wrapper. The theory is that a lighter bodied cigar will mesh well with red wine without overpowering it. Vilafonte producer Mike Ratcliffe (shown at the right, enjoying a cigar) says that he sees this as an ongoing project but doesn't want to take on the cigar market in any big way. The cigars are available through the Vilafonte website.
Mia & Kompany, a trendy jewelry company in Los Angeles is joining the ranks of companies helping to raise awareness and funds for Africa. Their new Isibindi Diamond Medallion Collection benefits South African orphans whose parents have died or are dying of AIDS. The round medallions are engraved on with the words Isibindi (the name of the project in South Africa) and Dapperheid, which both mean "courage." The collection includes 14-karat gold or sterling silver pieces ranging in price from $195 to $1,540 and can be found at Kitson.
The new luxury tent lodges at the Monate Lodge in South Africa have been deemed good enough for royalty. His Royal Highness Prince Albert, ruler of Monaco, recently spent a week at the Monate staying in the five-star Rushton tented lodge. The Hampton and the Rushton are two five-star lodges that each have a lounge and dining room with open access to a private sun deck and plunge pool. The bathrooms have roll-top baths that extend to an outdoor shower overlooking a waterhole. The canvas walls open out onto the scenic African bush land offering sunset views and the chance to see wildlife up close. The five-star lodges cost around $200 per person per night and include meals, high tea and game drives.
It seems that the fabric company Vlisco is planning to launch the first luxury label based in Africa. The traditional fabrics and designs that the company specializes in are facing competition from inexpensive, imported fabrics and they want to do something to set themselves apart. Creative director Dion Chang said, "The world is ready for a luxury African brand -- an Afro-Gucci." The label has been named Aziza, which means "gorgeous" in Swahili, and will launch in during fashion week in Johannesburg. It will first be sold in South Africa, where the demand for luxury goods is perceived to be the highest. Patterns and styles will be African inspired, but not over-the-top or clichéd.
A 235-ct. diamond was discovered in a recently reopened mine in
South Africa last month. The mine was closed 3 years ago after the firm running it declared bankruptcy. The rough
diamond is octagonal in shape and reported to be of good quality, but its presence was astounding because the mine had
averaged diamonds of 1.14-cts. in the past. A spokesman for the mine reportedly said "it is hard to set a value
for the diamond because typical valuation measures fall away when diamonds reach a certain size."
The Oppenheimer diamond,
pictured, is one of the largest uncut diamonds in the world at 253.7-cts, so it is of similar size.
It seems that the fabric company 
