The “Miss Landmine Survivor” participant from Cuanza Sul

BBC News is reporting that in Angola, landmine victims are going to take part in a beauty pageant limited to those injured by landmines. The beauty contest is being thrown by the de-mining commission, striving to raise awareness about landmines. Millions of mines planted during their 27 year civil war from 1985-2002 have injured or killed tens of thousands.

Eighteen different people are going to take part in the contest, one from every province in the country. The “Miss Landmine Survivor” pageant will be held in a luxury hotel in Luanda, and all the candidates have been disfigured in some way by a landmine.

Even though the war has been over for nearly half a decade, the specter of the war still exists. The millions of mines in the country have caused tens of thousands to lose limbs and suffer other injuries. The plight has touched nearly all Angolans, and even with the efforts of the de-mining commission and the UN millions of landmines remain.

Hopefully the pageant will help raise awareness of the issue. Much of the country is unusable because of the landmines, and a tremendous amount of effort is needed to make the people safe. The de-mining commission hopes that the contestants will be ambassadors for all of those maimed by landmines, reminding the country of the work that remains.

Normally we crack jokes and poke fun, but this isn’t a topic to be facetious with. Let this remind you of the blessings of your own life, as these people have embraced life in spite of some bad luck.

[BBC News]

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