* Our next meeting is Tuesday at 9 pm in MC 310
We are looking for 1-2 people to be our Treasurers. They will help us to create and manage our budget and apply for grants and co-sponsorship. If interested, contact Kate at
khoops@... for more information on how to apply.
*
Monday, February 12 at 8:30 pm in the 2nd Floor of the Marvin Center Lobby, join students and DC residents to
discuss our strategy for divesting $150,000,000 of DC's funds from companies whose business funds the genocide in Darfur. We are setting up meetings with the mayor, councilmembers, the DC congresswoman, and others and we need you out there to make this work. If the legislation passes (DC bills have to go through Congress) it will set a precedent for National Divestment (for which Senator Durbin is currently drafting a bill). For more information, contact Adam Zuckerman at
zmaineman@... or Sonya Naganathan at
sonya.naganathan@...
* We are hosting an information session about Banaa at the GW Marvin Center room 310, this Tuesday, February 13th from 6pm-7:30.
Please come and ask questions about GW's policies on the Darfur Genocide, and help disseminate our vision for Banaa.
Participants in the evening's discussion include Mohamed Yahya, founder and executive director of Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy; Carolyn Garber, a program manager at the Academy for Educational Development (AED); Lamar Thorpe, GW SA president; Dr. Gerry Kauvar, special assistant to GW President Trachtenberg; and members of Banaa and GW STAND.
* The next rally at the Sudanese Embassy is this Wednesday, February 14th from 12 - 1. The embassy is located at 2210 Massachusetts Ave, NW.
* Our Wacky Wednesday Event is Feb 21 from 9 - 11 in the Mount Vernon Pub. We will be showing two short DVDs from the Holocaust Museum: "Defying Genocide Choices that Saved Lives," about how individuals can impact the lives of thousands during genocides; and "Witnessing Darfur," which describes and shows in depth the destruction and horrors of the current genocide in Darfur, Sudan. The DVD's will be followed by a discussion on what we can do to combat genocide.
* Global Rights event: Lunch discussion on Wednesday February 22 from 12:30 - 2 pm at the Global Rights building (1200 18th st NW, Suite 602). Features Souleymane Guengueng, founder of the Chadian Association of Victims of Political Repression and Crimes (AVCRP).
Souleymane has worked to record and publicize the human rights atrocities of Hissène Habré's regime in Chad (1982-1990). He will share his journey from prison to activism and the role that victims and survivors are playing in seeking justice, truth and reconciliation for human rights atrocities.
* We are planning Dodgeball for Darfur at the end of March to raise money and awareness about the genocide in Darfur. We need lots of help with planning and logistics. Please contact Caitlin at cdimino@... if you're interested in helping.
* Darfur fundraiser: Thursday March 29th at 7 PM at Guapo's restaurant (right next to the Tenley town metro), featuring John Stone Roots Reggae band. Tickets will be $12 and $8 for students ("minimum suggested donation"). Cash bar and food available. Contact Kimberly Siegal ksiegal@... if you would like to get involved in the planning or
promotion of this event
* We will be lobbying our senators and representatives on April 15 to tell them we want them to do more to stop the genocide in Darfur. On April 14 we will host an all day training session to prepare for lobbying. We encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about Darfur and to learn how you can effect change. Please contact Katelyn kpayne@... if you're interested in learning more, want to help plan the event or would like to participate.
* We are participating in Africa Week sponsored by Books for Africa and the Organization for African Students. We will be planning a panel on April 17 and need help finding speakers, please contact Caitlin at cdimino@... if you have suggestions or can help out.
* A message from our Mid-Atlantic STAND Coordinator:
Our power as informed student advocates for Darfur lies in our ability to hold our representatives accountable for creating, supporting, and passing legislation that actually affects people on the ground. A recent study by the Genocide Intervention Network found that 65 percent of voters surveyed say they have heard a lot or some about the situation in Darfur, which means that the genocide is on the radar of our legislators.
But what can they do for Darfur? Unfortunately, most legislators don't know! If we want to take action that produces tangible results for the people of Darfur, our top priority must be telling our legislators what to do, and putting pressure on them to make sure they take action!
Our top three priorities for the coming months are:
1) More money for peacekeepers in Darfur
2) Federal protection for divestment
3) Increased sanctions on the Sudanese government
These three priorities support the implementation of UN Res.1706, which calls for UN peacekeepers on the ground in Darfur. Pushing for these things lays the groundwork for the deployment of a UN force, so they are extremely important!
For more detailed explanation of these asks, and a list of supporting legislation, please visit http://www.standnow.org/take_action/advocacy/push_them_into_action and http://darfurscores.org/darfur -legislation
How can we put the pressure on?
Use Darfur Report Cards to show legislators you're watching - and holding them accountable. Have they voted for more money for peacekeepers? For increased sanctions? Their "grade," available on http://www.DarfurReportCards.org, will tell. Congressional reps have already shown to be highly sensitive to their grades. Would you want an "F" in genocide? "I am proud to have earned an A on the Genocide Intervention Network's Darfur scorecard. This is an important tool for people to use to learn what their elected officials are doing to end this atrocity."
- Rep. Robert Andrews (D-NJ)
Darfur Report Cards Action Idea!
Write to your Editorial Board! Every newspaper has an editorial board whose members write their opinions on issues of importance of the local community. Click the link below to find a template letter to send to the editorial boards of your local papers, letting them know how your Congressperson's grade when it comes to stopping genocide. Every Congressperson receives a folder each week containing all the clippings that include his or her name, so this is a highly-effective method of getting their attention! Check out http://www.standnow.org/take_action/advocacy/push_them_into_action for a template letter.
From STAND National Newsletter
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Friend, As the genocide continues to worsen, we must continue to fight with a renewed sense of hope. When we realize that this battle is full of smaller victories that contribute towards the ultimate objective of stopping genocide, it proves easier to continue the push towards the world we all envision—one where genocide no longer exists. The many small victories allow us to realize that we are moving forward—from Americans ensuring that Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir did not become leader of the African Union to Miliken High School students in St. Paul, MN packing presents for Darfur. The victories continue, as 35 universities have divested from Sudan, over 600 students from more than 180 schools attended six regional conferences throughout the country, President George Bush mentioned Darfur in his State of the Union address, and UC-Berkeley staged a successful die-in last Sunday to culminate their conference. There are many victories, occurring each day, that allow us to recognize that progress is possible.
Keep on fighting,
Erin Mazursky
Executive Director
Georgetown '07
| Sudan Will Not Chair the African Union | ![]() | Last week, it appeared certain that the genocidal regime of Sudan would become the new Chair of the African Union (AU). As the AU is the only force currently protecting civilians in Darfur, this would have been disastrous . All hope for Darfur might have been lost. Yet, largely thanks to your calls and e-mails to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the Unites States helped to ensure that Sudan did not win control of the AU! Ghana, a key contributor to the AU peacekeeping force in Darfur, will head the African Union instead. Although this is a small victory, it is an incredibly important one for the anti-genocide constituency. We demonstrated that our voices can be heard. Your efforts last week were crucial in securing continued support and protection for the people in Darfur. Thank you and congratulations on your victory! |
| Join STAND's National Leadership | ![]() | This semester, STAND will be choosing a new Managing Committee to develop and implement a national strategy for the student movement. If you will be a student during the 2007-08 academic year, you are eligible to apply for one of these positions. STAND's leadership is made up of a Managing Committee of 15 students from around the country in collaboration with task force members made up of students like you. This is an exciting chance to be part of the fastest growing student movement in the world. Take the opportunity to have a leadership role today in a national student anti-genocide coalition! |
| Darfur Report Cards Released | | STAND will be officially launching our "Darfur Report Cards"campaign next week. Using www.DarfurReportCards.com, you will be able to create and use customized report cards grading your members of Congress on their action (or inaction) to stop the genocide in Darfur! Please be on the look out for an action alert next week announcing the launch of the campaign. If you have any questions, or want to get further involved, please visit Darfur Report Cards or email info@.... |
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