Auction at GeoDomain Expo provides opportunity to shed light on atrocities.
The 2008 GeoDomain Expo kicks off Thursday night in Chicago. Moniker will hold a live auction Saturday evening with geo gems such as SanMateo.com and Yemen.com. But one domain draws special attention and an opportunity for a wealthy domain investor: Zimbabwe.com.
I’m not talking about an opportunity to make a lot of money. After all, the domain has a reserve of over $500,000 (after selling for only $130,000 last year). But it’s an opportunity to shed more light on the atrocities in the African nation.
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country of 13 million people under the authoritative rule of Robert Mugabe. Mugabe has been president since 1988 and refuses to cave to the will of the people. While his people suffer and starve, he has undertaken a campaign of fear, rape, and murder to retain his power.
Its people are poor and getting poorer thanks to harsh economic realities and hyperinflation. Greater than 1 out of 10 people live with HIV/AIDs.
As a result, the life expectancy for males has dropped from 60 to only 37 and 34 for women since 1990. Think about that number for a minute: a life expectancy of 34-37 years.
Zimbabwe’s people have called for change, but it’s not forthcoming. Mugabe just stole the latest presidential election by continuing his campaign of violence and intimidation against the opposition. This included murder and cutting off voters’ hands so they couldn’t cast a vote. A week before the run-off election his opponent withdrew and sought protection in an embassy, citing the violence. Mugabe tries to suppress the press to keep information about the state of his country from leaking.
Fortunately, international pressure is mounting on Mugabe. Ownership of Zimbabwe.com would help drive more awareness of the plight of the country. It won’t make a huge impact, but it will make some. And any impact right now is welcome.
Alec says
Just a point of cerrection,Robert Mugabe has not been in power since 1988 but since 1980 when Zimbabwe got its indepenndence.