I can't tell you all how exciting it was to see so many new and old
faces at our meeting last night. As promised here are the minutes
from our meeting, they are below and are attached as a separate
document. Please let me know if your particularly interested in
working on a specific project or heading a project committee, we need
all the help we can get to achieve our objectives. If you have
already volunteered I will be in touch with you shortly. In addition
I have attached the nation STAND statement, if you have any
suggestions or changes that you would like to see let me know by
Friday so they can be submitted. Following the meeting minutes you
will see links to information on Darfur and upcoming events. I would
like to remind everyone TONIGHT AT 6:00 PM AT MARVIN ROOM 404 JERRY
FOWLER WILL BE SPEAKING. Please join us. I will send out an email
later this week with our next meeting location but it will be Tuesday
at 9:00 PM

o Tsufit- new list of people at other schools to contact, and also
follow up with Penn, Vanderbilt, Harvard, Georgetown, Maryland and
American
o Ryan Spencer Reed- Planning our photo exhibit-Julia to contact agent
and reserve space
o Contact MTV-Julia
o Reaching out to the community- churches, synagogues, mosques, high
schools, writing to our local papers—creating care packages to send
full of supplies and information
o Political Action:
§ Divestment- Justin Zorn
§ Writing letters to papers- Justin Zorn
§ Tabling
§ Flyers
§ National STAND fast April 7th
o Yonit – to sign up more people for collecting, and email everyone
their locations
o Vibes fundraising event---find a new time, Samuel Fitzpatrick
interested in poetry reading sfritzpat@..., anyone else who could
perform, John Baker jbaker08@... to perform reserve Mitchell hall
and sell cds and bracelets
o Applying for grants-Sina print and get letters ready to mail
o $5.00 optional dues- to be used to fund our various projects this
spring, so far we have no budget
o Africa Week responsible for events on April 22nd, creating a refugee
tent and bring a panel of speakers from 7-10pm
§ We need someone to work on finding speakers by MARCH 7th. I have a
few ideas already
§ Plan our refugee tent- Anna heading this project, Charlotte
interested cgrubb@... and Alia alia@... and Alli Greenberg at
asg14@...
o Write a press release on Penny Wars and kick off and give to the Hatchet
o Advertise events on the radio and divestment campaign John Baker
jbaker08@...
o We need a logo, who wants to design- Sarah Benditt Sbenditt@...
and Tara Biller tbiller@... and Phil Chow at chowph@...
o Anna to send information about Iabolish.com sponsor
o Email tara biller at tbiller@... if interested in purchasing
CD's to benefit Darfur

If your interested in winning a trip to Darfur look at Sudan page on
MTVU's website!

Below are articles and upcoming events:
Recent News:
-Sudanese First Vice President Ali Osman Mohammed Taha, thought by
many to be the key architect of the government's genocidal campaign in
Darfur, is in New York and spoke at the UN on Tuesday, February 8. To
protest the Darfur genocide, Darfur Rehabilitation Project sponsored a
rally.

-Analyzing the results of Kofi Annan's report on Darfur:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/africa/02/07/UN.Sudan/index.html

- Darfur Killings Not Genocide, Says UN Group
January 31, 2005

A special United Nations commission has decided that two years of
violence in the western Sudan region of Darfur was not genocide but
"crimes against humanity with ethnic dimensions," according to leaks
of the report in the US.

Read the article:
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/politics/story.jsp?story=606212
Read the report: http://www.un.org/News/dh/sudan/com_inq_darfur.pdf

- UN's Annan Urges Swift Sanctions Action On Darfur
February 1, 2005

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged swift action to stop the
killing in Darfur, calling on the Security Council to consider
imposing sanctions. Annan, along with several council diplomats, also
stressed that the debate over whether genocide had occurred in Sudan
wasn't nearly as important as taking action to stop the killings,
torture, rape and other atrocities in Darfur that were outlined in the
commission's report.

Read the article: http://www.sudantribune.com/article.php3?id_article=7785

- Both Sides of Conflict in Darfur Dispute Findings in U.N. Report
February 2, 2005

The leader of the main rebel group fighting the Sudanese government in
Darfur criticized the United Nations on Tuesday over a report that
found that while the violence in the region included atrocities and
crimes against humanity, it did not constitute genocide. Criticism
also came from the other side of the conflict, with Sudanese
government officials saying that the report was "emotional" and that
there was "no evidence" to back up its claims.

Read the article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/02/international/africa/02sudan.html?oref=login

- U.S. Remains Convinced of Darfur Genocide
February 1, 2005

The U.S. is standing by its claim that Sudan is committing genocide in
the Darfur region, despite a UN report stopping short of using the
term. Washington called for the United Nations to set up a special
court to try those accused of war crimes in the conflict in Sudan. It
also urged the Security Council to consider imposing sanctions on
Sudan.

Read the article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4227835.stm

- Gunmen Shoot at AU Monitors in West Darfur
February 2, 2005

Gunmen in the western Sudanese state of Darfur on Monday opened fire
on two African Union (AU) teams investigating reported cease-fire
violations, AU officials said. The first incident occurred in the town
of Jayjay, south of the capital, Nyala, where AU monitors were
investigating an alleged attack on a village. The second occurred near
Shangil Tobai, where another team was looking into reports that aerial
bombings had taken place. No casualties resulting from either incident
were reported.

Read the article:
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/9692796155d3121daefbbb29b71aae00.h\
tm

- Why Should We Shield the Killers? (By Nicholas D. Kristof / New York Times)
February 2, 2005

Two weeks ago, President Bush gave an impassioned speech to the world
about the need to stand for human freedom. But this week,
administration officials are skulking in the corridors of the United
Nations, trying desperately to block a prosecution of Sudanese
officials for crimes against humanity. [This article has a nice
mention of the Save Darfur Coalition wristbands. – DCR]

Read the Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/02/opinion/02kristof.html

- NATO Could Play Role in Darfur Crisis if Asked
February 4, 2005

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) could play a role in
the conflict in Sudan's troubled Darfur region if asked by Africans
and the United Nations, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
said Thursday… "As far as Darfur is concerned, NATO is not involved,
because the African Union is trying to set up a peace-monitoring
mission. The (UN) Security Council is divided, and NATO will not go
and rush into Darfur," said the NATO chief.

Read this Article:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/04/content_2546344.htm

- UN Suspends Its Road Movements in Part of West Darfur After Attack On Truck
February 3, 2005

United Nations road movement has been suspended on the route between
two of the main towns in West Darfur state in Sudan after armed men
yesterday fired at a clearly marked UN truck and looted all the
personal belongings of the driver and passengers

Read this Article: http://allafrica.com/stories/200502030469.html

- Darfur Rebels Kill Nephew of Arab Tribal Chief Musa Hilal
February 2, 2005

Darfur rebels killed a nephew of the man heading the U.S. State
Department's list of suspected Jnjaweed militia leaders who stand
accused of human rights abuses in the remote west of Sudan, relatives
said on Wednesday.

Read the article: http://www.sudantribune.com/article.php3?id_article=7794

Take Action Now:
Go to the Global Rights website and write a letter to the President,
Kofi Annan, and the Sudanese government:
http://www.globalrights.org/site/PageServer?pagename=wwcd_dev_darfur&JServSessio\
nIdr012=4n6f94axt1.app8b

You can write even more letters through Africa Action:
http://capwiz.com/africaaction/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=6748316

Upcoming Events:
1. Jerry Fowler, speaking on Darfur
Wednesday, February 9, 2005
6pm Marvin Center 404

2. Iraq, Sudan, Tsunami: What are America's Responsibilities in the
World What: Iraq's current instability and history of dictatorship,
the genocide in Sudan, and enormous suffering from the tsunami -- all
present tremendous challenges for the United States. Campus Progress,
the new campus arm of the Center for American Progress, kicks off its
campus speakers program with a panel discussion addressing the
benefits, costs, risks, and moral dimensions of various forms of U.S.
engagement in today's world. When and how should the United States
respond to developments overseas? What price are we prepared to pay
for the promotion of democracy, the prevention of genocide,
humanitarian relief, economic advantage, and other goals?

Featuring:
Dr. Susan Rice, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution, and former
Assistant Secretary of State

Gayle Smith, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress, and former
Special Assistant to President Clinton for National Security Affairs

Helle Dale, Director, Foreign Policy and Defense Studies, Heritage
Foundation

Moderated by
Ambassador Karl Inderfurth, Director, MA Program in International
Affairs, Elliott School, George Washington University, and former
Assistant Secretary of State

When:
Friday, February 11, 2005
Program: 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Admission is free, but offered on a first come first served basis.

For more information please call Keisha Senter at 202.741.6256

Where:
George Washington University
Elliot School of International Affairs
1957 E Street, NW Room 213
Washington, D.C. 20006

Nearest Metro: Foggy Bottom/GWU

--
Sara Weisman

2222 Eye Street NW
Room 312
Washington, DC 20052
609-937-3190