Just wanted to update you guys on my Haiti trip so far. The situation here is pretty sobering...Lots of people living in ramshackle displaced persons camps in Port-au-Prince and Leogane. The sanitation and water provision sector is woefully weak, and almost every other house looks like it's been bombed.
I'm here with International Action (www.haitiwater.org) to network with other groups in need of clean water and conduct a 6 month assessment of our work thus far. Before the earthquake, International Action provided clean water to over 400,000 Haitians previously exposed to deadly waterborne diseases like cholera, typhoid, and chronic diarrhea. We do this through the installation of simple, easy to maintain gravity fed chlorinators that do not require electricity or have any moving parts. These are attached to public water tanks and tanks in schools, orphanages, hospitals, and clinics. The earthquake destroyed 80 or so of our chlorinators on public water tanks in Port-au-Prince, so we are starting over with new installations and working to rebuild the public water infrastructure.
I've linked some photo galleries for you guys below. The Day 3 gallery is of us inspecting a surviving public water tank and doing household chlorine residual testing in Mont Jolly, Port-au-Prince. The Day 7 gallery is of us installing 2 chlorinators to provide clean water for 13,000 - 19,000 people in Thiotte, Sudest Department, rural Haiti.
Get in touch with me if you are interested in helping put a Haitian kid through a year of school.
Days 1 - 2
http://picasaweb.google.com/tharsis133/Days12Haiti62262310?authkey=Gv1sRgCPKmuvfglrDxAw&feat=directlink
Day 3
http://picasaweb.google.com/tharsis133/Day3Haiti6242010?authkey=Gv1sRgCKa78PDf3MeI9AE&feat=directlink
Day 3 UNICEF Distribution in Delmas
http://picasaweb.google.com/tharsis133/62410Delmas21UNICEFHygieneSuppliesDistribution?authkey=Gv1sRgCITIuJi66LqKeg&feat=directlink
Day 4
http://picasaweb.google.com/tharsis133/20100625?authkey=Gv1sRgCI7lmvvO2qTNCg&feat=directlink
Day 5
http://picasaweb.google.com/tharsis133/20100626?authkey=Gv1sRgCLSB64vy1qqzxgE&feat=directlink
Day 6
http://picasaweb.google.com/tharsis133/20100627?authkey=Gv1sRgCPzN2OS9kqqBPQ&feat=directlink
Day 7
http://picasaweb.google.com/tharsis133/20100628?authkey=Gv1sRgCKinpbSK9uS7FQ&feat=directlink
Day 8
http://picasaweb.google.com/tharsis133/20100629?authkey=Gv1sRgCO6po4b2pq-mag&feat=directlink
Day 9
http://picasaweb.google.com/tharsis133/Day963010IA?authkey=Gv1sRgCL7E7viaqa-_9gE&feat=directlink
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Preparing for Haiti
Going in a couple of weeks.
Latest e-newsletter that I wrote about our recent activities in Haiti HERE.
Latest e-newsletter that I wrote about our recent activities in Haiti HERE.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Organizations Supporting Women
From Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn's Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide. This book is awesome, a must read that chronicles the cultural, social, and economic inequalities faced by women worldwide, and how women are transcending these challenges to persevere:
These are some of the groups that specialize in supporting women in developing countries. In addition, of course, there are many outstanding aid groups such as International Rescue Committee, Save the Children, and Mercy Corps, that are not listed because women are not their focus. This list is not exhaustive but a rather quirky compendium of groups we've seen in action. It's a starting point for further research. Two useful Web sites to consult for more information about aid groups are www.charitynavigator.org and www.givewell.net.
34 Million Friends of UNFPA, www.34millionfriends.org, supports the work of the UN Population Fund. It is similar to Americans for UNFPA, www.americansforunfpa.org.
Afghan Institute of Learning, www.creatinghope.org, operates schools and other programs for women and girls in Afghanistan and in the border areas of Pakistan.
American Assistance for Cambodia, wwww.cambodiaschools.com, has fought trafficking and now has a program to subsidize poor girls so that they remain in school.
Apne Aap, www.apneaap.org, battles sex slavery in India, including in remote areas in Bihar that get little attention. Apne Aap welcomes American volunteers.
Association for Women's Rights in Development, www.awid.org, is a global organization focused on women's rights.
Averting Maternal Death and Disability, www.amddprogram.org, is a leading organization focused on maternal health.
BRAC, www.brac.net, is a terrific Bangladesh-based aid group that is now expanding in Africa and Asia. It has an office in New York City and accepts interns.
Campaign for Female Education, www.camfed.org, supports schooling for girls in Africa.
CARE, www.care.org, increasingly has focused on women and girls.
Center for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA), www.cedpa.org, works on issues related to women and development.
Center for Reproductive Rights, www.reproductiverights.org, based in New York, focuses on reproductive health worldwide.
Central Asia Institute, www.ikat.org, run by Greg Mortenson (author of Three Cups of Tea), provides education in Pakistan and Afghanistan, for girls in particular.
ECPAT, www.ecpat.net, is a network of groups fighting child prostitution, particularly in Southeast Asia.
***Edna Adan Maternity Hospital, www.ednahospital.org, provides maternity care in Somaliland. It welcomes volunteers.
Engender Health, www.engenderhealth.org, focuses on reproductive health issues in the developing world.
Equality Now, www.equalitynow.org, lobbies against the sex trade and gender oppression around the world.
Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association, www.etwla.org, mobilizes Ethiopian women to fight for equal rights.
Fistula Foundation, www.fistulafoundation.org, supports the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia, established by Reg and Catherine Hamlin.
Girls Helping Girls, www.empoweragirl.org, was founded in 2007 by a fifteen-year-old California girl, Sejal Hathi. It builds relationships between girls across continents and supports education and health programs in fifteen countries.
Global Fund for Women, wwww.globalfundforwomen.org, operates like a venture capital fund for women's groups in poor countries.
Global Grassroots, www.globalgrassroots.org, is a young organization focused on women in poor countries, particularly Sudan.
Grameen Bank, www.grameen-info.org, pioneered microfinance in Bangladesh and has now branched into an array of development programs.
***Heal Africa, www.healafrica.org, runs a hospital in Goma, Congo, that repairs fistulas and tends to rape victims. It welcomes volunteers.
Hunger Project, www.thp.org, focuses on empowerment of women and girls to end hunger.
International Center for Research on Women, www.icrw.org, emphasizes gender as the key to economic development.
International Justice Mission, www.ijm.org, is a Christian-based organization that fights sex trafficking.
International Women's Health Coalition, www.iwhc.org, based in New York, has been a leader in the struggle for reproductive health rights around the globe.
***New Light, www.newlightindia.org, is Urmi Basus' organization to help prostitutes and their children in Kolkata, India. It welcomes volunteers.
Population Services International, www.psi.org, is based in Washington, D.C., and makes fine use of the private sector in reproductive health.
Pro Mujer, wwww.promujer.org, supports women in Latin America through microfinance and business training.
Safer Birth in Chad, wwww.saferbirthinchad.org, supports maternal health programs in Chad.
***Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA), www.sewa.org, is a huge union for poor, self-employed women in India. It accepts volunteers.
Shared Hope International, www.sharedhope.org, fights sex trafficking around the world.
Somaly Mam Foundation, www.somaly.org, led by a woman who as a child was trafficked herself, fights sex slavery in Cambodia.
***Tostan, www.tostan.org, is one of the most successful organizations in overcoming female genital cutting in Africa. It accepts interns.
Vital Voices, www.vitalvoices.org, supports women's rights in many countries and has been particularly active in fighting trafficking.
White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, www.whiteribbonalliance.org, campaigns against maternal mortality around the world.
Women for Women International, wwww.womenforwomen.org, connects women sponsors with needy women in conflict or postconflict countries.
Women's Dignity Project, www.womensdignity.org, cofounded by an American woman, facilitates the repair of obstetric fistulas in Tanzania.
Women's Learning Partnership, www.learningpartnership.org, emphasizes women's leadership and empowerment in the development world.
Women's Refugee Commission, wwww.womensrefugeecommission.org, is linked to the International Rescue Committee and focuses on refugee women and children.
Women's World Banking, www.womensworldbanking.org, supports microfinance institutions around the world that assist women.
Women Thrive Worldwide, www.womenthrive.org, is an international advocacy group focused on the needs of women in poor countries.
Worldwide Fistula Fund, www.worldwidefistulafund.org, works to improve maternal health and is building a fistula hospital in Niger.
Worth, wwww.worthwomen.org, runs literacy and microsavings programs in Nepal and Africa, with the aim of helping women earn their own incomes.
These are some of the groups that specialize in supporting women in developing countries. In addition, of course, there are many outstanding aid groups such as International Rescue Committee, Save the Children, and Mercy Corps, that are not listed because women are not their focus. This list is not exhaustive but a rather quirky compendium of groups we've seen in action. It's a starting point for further research. Two useful Web sites to consult for more information about aid groups are www.charitynavigator.org and www.givewell.net.
34 Million Friends of UNFPA, www.34millionfriends.org, supports the work of the UN Population Fund. It is similar to Americans for UNFPA, www.americansforunfpa.org.
Afghan Institute of Learning, www.creatinghope.org, operates schools and other programs for women and girls in Afghanistan and in the border areas of Pakistan.
American Assistance for Cambodia, wwww.cambodiaschools.com, has fought trafficking and now has a program to subsidize poor girls so that they remain in school.
Apne Aap, www.apneaap.org, battles sex slavery in India, including in remote areas in Bihar that get little attention. Apne Aap welcomes American volunteers.
Association for Women's Rights in Development, www.awid.org, is a global organization focused on women's rights.
Averting Maternal Death and Disability, www.amddprogram.org, is a leading organization focused on maternal health.
BRAC, www.brac.net, is a terrific Bangladesh-based aid group that is now expanding in Africa and Asia. It has an office in New York City and accepts interns.
Campaign for Female Education, www.camfed.org, supports schooling for girls in Africa.
CARE, www.care.org, increasingly has focused on women and girls.
Center for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA), www.cedpa.org, works on issues related to women and development.
Center for Reproductive Rights, www.reproductiverights.org, based in New York, focuses on reproductive health worldwide.
Central Asia Institute, www.ikat.org, run by Greg Mortenson (author of Three Cups of Tea), provides education in Pakistan and Afghanistan, for girls in particular.
ECPAT, www.ecpat.net, is a network of groups fighting child prostitution, particularly in Southeast Asia.
***Edna Adan Maternity Hospital, www.ednahospital.org, provides maternity care in Somaliland. It welcomes volunteers.
Engender Health, www.engenderhealth.org, focuses on reproductive health issues in the developing world.
Equality Now, www.equalitynow.org, lobbies against the sex trade and gender oppression around the world.
Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association, www.etwla.org, mobilizes Ethiopian women to fight for equal rights.
Fistula Foundation, www.fistulafoundation.org, supports the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia, established by Reg and Catherine Hamlin.
Girls Helping Girls, www.empoweragirl.org, was founded in 2007 by a fifteen-year-old California girl, Sejal Hathi. It builds relationships between girls across continents and supports education and health programs in fifteen countries.
Global Fund for Women, wwww.globalfundforwomen.org, operates like a venture capital fund for women's groups in poor countries.
Global Grassroots, www.globalgrassroots.org, is a young organization focused on women in poor countries, particularly Sudan.
Grameen Bank, www.grameen-info.org, pioneered microfinance in Bangladesh and has now branched into an array of development programs.
***Heal Africa, www.healafrica.org, runs a hospital in Goma, Congo, that repairs fistulas and tends to rape victims. It welcomes volunteers.
Hunger Project, www.thp.org, focuses on empowerment of women and girls to end hunger.
International Center for Research on Women, www.icrw.org, emphasizes gender as the key to economic development.
International Justice Mission, www.ijm.org, is a Christian-based organization that fights sex trafficking.
International Women's Health Coalition, www.iwhc.org, based in New York, has been a leader in the struggle for reproductive health rights around the globe.
***New Light, www.newlightindia.org, is Urmi Basus' organization to help prostitutes and their children in Kolkata, India. It welcomes volunteers.
Population Services International, www.psi.org, is based in Washington, D.C., and makes fine use of the private sector in reproductive health.
Pro Mujer, wwww.promujer.org, supports women in Latin America through microfinance and business training.
Safer Birth in Chad, wwww.saferbirthinchad.org, supports maternal health programs in Chad.
***Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA), www.sewa.org, is a huge union for poor, self-employed women in India. It accepts volunteers.
Shared Hope International, www.sharedhope.org, fights sex trafficking around the world.
Somaly Mam Foundation, www.somaly.org, led by a woman who as a child was trafficked herself, fights sex slavery in Cambodia.
***Tostan, www.tostan.org, is one of the most successful organizations in overcoming female genital cutting in Africa. It accepts interns.
Vital Voices, www.vitalvoices.org, supports women's rights in many countries and has been particularly active in fighting trafficking.
White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, www.whiteribbonalliance.org, campaigns against maternal mortality around the world.
Women for Women International, wwww.womenforwomen.org, connects women sponsors with needy women in conflict or postconflict countries.
Women's Dignity Project, www.womensdignity.org, cofounded by an American woman, facilitates the repair of obstetric fistulas in Tanzania.
Women's Learning Partnership, www.learningpartnership.org, emphasizes women's leadership and empowerment in the development world.
Women's Refugee Commission, wwww.womensrefugeecommission.org, is linked to the International Rescue Committee and focuses on refugee women and children.
Women's World Banking, www.womensworldbanking.org, supports microfinance institutions around the world that assist women.
Women Thrive Worldwide, www.womenthrive.org, is an international advocacy group focused on the needs of women in poor countries.
Worldwide Fistula Fund, www.worldwidefistulafund.org, works to improve maternal health and is building a fistula hospital in Niger.
Worth, wwww.worthwomen.org, runs literacy and microsavings programs in Nepal and Africa, with the aim of helping women earn their own incomes.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
success! biggest achievement of my life (for now)
so, i've somehow managed to have fallen into the role of procurement and logistics for my organization over the last couple of months. i guess i did it to myself. one big challenge and joy that i have is going after in-kind donations that we can use. so far, i've gotten items such as chlorine reagents (to test chlorine levels in water after we chlorinate it to make sure all bacteria have been eliminated), mosquito nets, and rain jackets (for our local staff--it's the rainy reason now) donated.
i also was able to obtain from the children's safe drinking water initiative 1 pallet (113,625 satchets) of PuR calcium hypochlorite. each satchet is like a mini water treatment plant. i flocculates (settles) sediments out of dirty water and kills all the bacteria and cysts in it. each satchet can clean up to 10 liters of water. watch a video demonstration of their use here.
that pallet will be distributed by one of partners to areas where our chlorinators haven't been installed yet, most likely in the port-au-prince area.
however, the coolest thing i think i've done to date is help acquire supplies from unicef's wash cluster stock. unicef is in charge of coordinating the water, sanitation, and hygiene relief effort in port-au-prince. they have supplies for which partner and nonpartner wash groups can apply.
i was skeptical if we'd get anything, but we got most of what we requested. besides obtaining safety equipment, work clothes, and tools for the staff (boots, face masks, overalls, hammers, 1 generator, a pump, wheelbarrows, chlorine test kits), i helped get supplies that we will distribute to needy areas in the city. the following is a list of items and locations where our haiti director plans to distribute them.
280 hygiene kits for adults for the elderly and adults in bois neuf and drouillard
960 bars of soap for adults and children in bois neuf
9 rolls of tarp for churches/adult community center in casale and trou-sable
8 5,000 liter collapsible water tanks w/ distribution kits for 4 schools in cite soleil and port-au-prince communes
500 10 liter collapsible water tanks to 500 women in bertin
1 300 gallon water tank for a school in archaiae
i understand that there's a big debate in groups receiving in-kind donations, as they clog ports, cost a lot to transport, and may not meet the needs of what intended beneficiaries need.
i don't want to make anything remotely resembling anything insensitive, and am definitely trying to only going after what local haitians can use after consulting our haiti director, a haitian himself. he was really happy with the rain jackets and the unicef pull. going to go for more.
on a different note, i was also interviewed for operation green leaves haiti's radio show. you can hear it here. on the left side. i'm the may 1st show, about 7 minutes in.
still learning a lot and working to keep my pride down
still moving
still lots of work to do
i also was able to obtain from the children's safe drinking water initiative 1 pallet (113,625 satchets) of PuR calcium hypochlorite. each satchet is like a mini water treatment plant. i flocculates (settles) sediments out of dirty water and kills all the bacteria and cysts in it. each satchet can clean up to 10 liters of water. watch a video demonstration of their use here.
that pallet will be distributed by one of partners to areas where our chlorinators haven't been installed yet, most likely in the port-au-prince area.
however, the coolest thing i think i've done to date is help acquire supplies from unicef's wash cluster stock. unicef is in charge of coordinating the water, sanitation, and hygiene relief effort in port-au-prince. they have supplies for which partner and nonpartner wash groups can apply.
i was skeptical if we'd get anything, but we got most of what we requested. besides obtaining safety equipment, work clothes, and tools for the staff (boots, face masks, overalls, hammers, 1 generator, a pump, wheelbarrows, chlorine test kits), i helped get supplies that we will distribute to needy areas in the city. the following is a list of items and locations where our haiti director plans to distribute them.
280 hygiene kits for adults for the elderly and adults in bois neuf and drouillard
960 bars of soap for adults and children in bois neuf
9 rolls of tarp for churches/adult community center in casale and trou-sable
8 5,000 liter collapsible water tanks w/ distribution kits for 4 schools in cite soleil and port-au-prince communes
500 10 liter collapsible water tanks to 500 women in bertin
1 300 gallon water tank for a school in archaiae
i understand that there's a big debate in groups receiving in-kind donations, as they clog ports, cost a lot to transport, and may not meet the needs of what intended beneficiaries need.
i don't want to make anything remotely resembling anything insensitive, and am definitely trying to only going after what local haitians can use after consulting our haiti director, a haitian himself. he was really happy with the rain jackets and the unicef pull. going to go for more.
on a different note, i was also interviewed for operation green leaves haiti's radio show. you can hear it here. on the left side. i'm the may 1st show, about 7 minutes in.
still learning a lot and working to keep my pride down
still moving
still lots of work to do
Monday, March 8, 2010
into the real world and off to haiti?
so looks like i got my first real stateside job in more than 3 years (the greenpeace stint doesn't really count). yeah! holler at your boy!
i'm the new coordinator for international action, an ngo that works on providing clean water to communities in haiti through disinfection vis-a-vis chlorination.
i returned from thailand shortly before the earthquake, and immediately knew that i wanted to help. i initially planned to volunteer for a couple of weeks at international action's office in dc before going to michigan to serve as an intern for tillers international.
when offered a staff position at ia, it was difficult choosing between the two. i'd been wanting to go to tillers to learn valuable trade skills such as draft plowing, blacksmithing, and woodworking for a few years now. tillers is an international rural development training center that stresses the importance of using low-technology and fossil fuel free methods of growing food and artisan building skills for self-sufficiency and a more sustainable way of living.
having these abilities would have given me greater self-reliance and independence, deeper empathy for farmers and artisans in lesser developed countries, and allowed me to put to the test a lot of development and agriculture/permaculture theory that i've learned over the years.
i truly looked forward to working with them, but ultimately decided that i was needed at ia. it's a small organization, and i believe i can help them grow. i couldn't conscientiously turn my back on the unbelievable post-earthquake suffering and destruction that i saw in many field photos.
as many of you know, haiti, a product of colonialism and rampant corruption, is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. infant mortality is high, and thousands fall ill and die because of preventable waterborne diseases like typhoid, cholera, hepatitis, and diarrhea.
we aim at providing clean water to neighborhoods, schools, hospitals, and orphanages through a simple chlorination system that provides clean water for $0.25 per person per year. this is a much more sustainable solution that alternative complex and expensive filtration systems that costs hundreds to thousands times more.
january's earthquake destroyed much of port-au-prince's water system, so our local staff are diligently working to provide water relief and starting to plan to rebuild and expand the whole water system.
i'll most likely be heading over myself in a couple of weeks to help cement partnerships and network with other ngos. apparently, after the earthquake, a slew of humanitarian groups jumped right in, but unfortunately with racist undertones. my impression is that there's very little engagement with local haitian groups working on the ground, and that they are mostly written off as incompetent and ineffective. this is hardly the case.
case in point, our haiti director, a haitian himself, had taken gps readings of all the water tank/chlorination systems in the city before the earthquake. these coordinates were given to usaid and the us military to make the first and only reliable and thorough map showing the condition of port-au-prince's water system after the earthquake. *just as a small disclaimer, nothing that i write here reflects the views and opinions of international action.*
i'm excited but also hesitant to go, for i want to help out, but don't want to be automatically cataloged as a "disaster tourist." you won't belief how many inquiries we've gotten from people who are seeking opportunities to volunteer on the ground. although they mean well, many are unskilled and would more likely get in the way of relief and reconstruction efforts. after i tell them that we need help in our office and that our local staff are working hard on the ground, very few reply back.
i understand that witnessing destruction and despair is "sexy" and speaks volumes on resumes, but i just question how much good that will do (unless said person is a superstar photo/video journalist, reporter, or philanthropist).
although i don't speak creole or french--again, reinforcing the idea of unsuitable foreigners coming into help the helpless natives...an idea i abhor and don't want to play into--i want to do what i can and help. let's hope this works out.
time to crack open the creole language software program...
i'm the new coordinator for international action, an ngo that works on providing clean water to communities in haiti through disinfection vis-a-vis chlorination.
i returned from thailand shortly before the earthquake, and immediately knew that i wanted to help. i initially planned to volunteer for a couple of weeks at international action's office in dc before going to michigan to serve as an intern for tillers international.
when offered a staff position at ia, it was difficult choosing between the two. i'd been wanting to go to tillers to learn valuable trade skills such as draft plowing, blacksmithing, and woodworking for a few years now. tillers is an international rural development training center that stresses the importance of using low-technology and fossil fuel free methods of growing food and artisan building skills for self-sufficiency and a more sustainable way of living.
having these abilities would have given me greater self-reliance and independence, deeper empathy for farmers and artisans in lesser developed countries, and allowed me to put to the test a lot of development and agriculture/permaculture theory that i've learned over the years.
i truly looked forward to working with them, but ultimately decided that i was needed at ia. it's a small organization, and i believe i can help them grow. i couldn't conscientiously turn my back on the unbelievable post-earthquake suffering and destruction that i saw in many field photos.
as many of you know, haiti, a product of colonialism and rampant corruption, is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. infant mortality is high, and thousands fall ill and die because of preventable waterborne diseases like typhoid, cholera, hepatitis, and diarrhea.
we aim at providing clean water to neighborhoods, schools, hospitals, and orphanages through a simple chlorination system that provides clean water for $0.25 per person per year. this is a much more sustainable solution that alternative complex and expensive filtration systems that costs hundreds to thousands times more.
january's earthquake destroyed much of port-au-prince's water system, so our local staff are diligently working to provide water relief and starting to plan to rebuild and expand the whole water system.
i'll most likely be heading over myself in a couple of weeks to help cement partnerships and network with other ngos. apparently, after the earthquake, a slew of humanitarian groups jumped right in, but unfortunately with racist undertones. my impression is that there's very little engagement with local haitian groups working on the ground, and that they are mostly written off as incompetent and ineffective. this is hardly the case.
case in point, our haiti director, a haitian himself, had taken gps readings of all the water tank/chlorination systems in the city before the earthquake. these coordinates were given to usaid and the us military to make the first and only reliable and thorough map showing the condition of port-au-prince's water system after the earthquake. *just as a small disclaimer, nothing that i write here reflects the views and opinions of international action.*
i'm excited but also hesitant to go, for i want to help out, but don't want to be automatically cataloged as a "disaster tourist." you won't belief how many inquiries we've gotten from people who are seeking opportunities to volunteer on the ground. although they mean well, many are unskilled and would more likely get in the way of relief and reconstruction efforts. after i tell them that we need help in our office and that our local staff are working hard on the ground, very few reply back.
i understand that witnessing destruction and despair is "sexy" and speaks volumes on resumes, but i just question how much good that will do (unless said person is a superstar photo/video journalist, reporter, or philanthropist).
although i don't speak creole or french--again, reinforcing the idea of unsuitable foreigners coming into help the helpless natives...an idea i abhor and don't want to play into--i want to do what i can and help. let's hope this works out.
time to crack open the creole language software program...
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
your title has a nice ring to it...
what sounds better? logistics and small projects coordinator or farm hand? i thought so.
big changes coming up real soon.
i'm constantly struggling to keep true to my values and goals. but a good friend recently told me that you can always keep your goals, but just go about a different way in realizing it.
i was originally planning on heading up to michigan to learn trade skills like--get this--draft plowing, blacksmithing, and woodworking.
will that actually happen? who knows? watch this space.
big changes coming up real soon.
i'm constantly struggling to keep true to my values and goals. but a good friend recently told me that you can always keep your goals, but just go about a different way in realizing it.
i was originally planning on heading up to michigan to learn trade skills like--get this--draft plowing, blacksmithing, and woodworking.
will that actually happen? who knows? watch this space.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
write a letter, stop a genocide. save darfur and six strategies for change
Responding to a rebellion in 2003, the regime of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and its allied militia, known as the "Janjaweed," launched a campaign of destruction against civilians of similar ethnic background as the rebels. They wiped out entire villages; destroyed food and water supplies; stole livestock; and systematically murdered, tortured, and raped women and children. The Sudanese government's genocidal campaign has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives through direct violence, disease, and starvation; and continues to destabilize the region. As many as 2.5 million people have fled their homes and live in dangerous camps in Darfar, and hundreds of thousands are refugees in neighboring Chad. 400,000 innocent civilians have been murdered since Feb '03. More than 2.7 million are entirely dependent on humanitarian aid. The Sudanese government and allied militias continue their attacks into refugee camps. There are 4.9 million internally displaced people in Sudan, the highest number in the world.
i first starting getting interested in darfur when i attended a conference that brown students organized back in, i think, 2004 or 2005? i need to check. in september 2007, i attended the global day for darfur rally in central park in darfur, where tens of thousands students and concerned citizens voiced their support for an end to the genocide in darfur. since then, i've been out of the loop, working mostly on burma-related issues. back home in september 2009, i volunteered at a save darfur benefit concert, and have also signed numerous save darfur coalition petitions, as well as donated to the movement.
there was a save darfur rally at the west capitol building on wednesday, but i was swamped with work--i still feel guilty and i know i should've gone. it's all about numbers. today,i finally finished don cheadle and john predergast's not on our watch book, which describes ways that the average citizen can work to end genocide in darfur. it also explains the roots of the sudan and congo, uganda, and somalia conflicts, with ties to other tragedies across the world. the main causes are political exclusion from power, greed, and impunity (210-11).
the book was pretty insightful, and its strategies can be applied to all campaigns seeking to end crimes against humanity and genocide. the authors' point is that the public cannot be complacent. we need to pressure our leaders to act, and to let them know that there will be a political cost for inaction. the book also shows many examples of how average citizens, even children, can effect change and build the movement to save darfur. i'll share what i learned below. memorable sections of the book are quoted.
often times, it's "frustrating to us how sparse and sporadic the news coverage is of africa, which only makes headlines when another crisis erupts. This has led to a "conflict fatigue" associated with the continent as a whole. the truth is, however, that much of africa is a good news story. there are positive stories that deserve air time, such as:
"- the move away from dictatorships to democracy throughout africa
- a proliferation of nongovernmental organizations contributing to the development of
most african countries
- effective roles in the war on terrorism by many african governments
- peace agreements forged in countries which only a few years earlier had been ripped
apart by war and crimes against humanity, such as sierra leone, liberia, southern
sudan, and burundi
- serious methods by african institutions to combat transnational threats of diseases
and ecological destruction
- commitment on the part of many african governments to fiscally responsible economic
policies focused on alleviating poverty" (87).
more needs to be done. "during genocides and mass atrocities, outside governments apply humanitarian band-aids over gaping human rights wounds, citing the millions of dollars) sometimes billions0 they provide in food aid to exonerate themselves from the responsibility to protect civilian life. sadly, this is also the case with darfur...food and medicine today are helpful, but are insufficient if a person's life is still in jeopardy due to violence" (91-92). gerald martone, director of humanitarian affairs for the international rescue committee wrote the following analysis of the relief approach to massive human rights abuse-induced suffering:
the priorities are to protect civilians, make peace, and punish the perpetrators. "In punishing the perpetrators, we could provide information to and cooperation with the ICC and move their indictments forward dramatically. in promoting the peace we could name special envoys to help resolve the conflicts in congo, northern uganda, and somalia in a much more focused way than current efforts allow. and in protecting the people, we could ensure that peacekeeping missions have at their centerpiece civilian protection in word and deed" (232). however, the obstacles to these are apathy, indifference, ignorance, and political inertia. the slogan "never again" is empty, unless we do something to truly show our convictions for ending genocide.
the authors offer the following strategies for effective change:
"1. raise awareness
2. raise funds
3. write a letter
4. call for divestment
5. join an organization
6. lobby the government"(160).
I. "Raise Awareness: Actions You Can Take
1. educate yourself about darfur and the world's other most urgent crises at www.enoughproject.org.
2. talk to your family, friends, and colleagues about these crises and what we can do to help end them.
3. host a screening of a documentary about darfur such as paul freedman's sand and sorrow (www.sandandsorrow.org), darfur diaries by aisha bian, jen marlow, and adam shapiro (www.darfurdiaries.org), or brian steidle's story captured in annie sundberg's film the devil came on horseback (www.thedevilcameonhorseback.com).
4. write a letter to your newspaper or local tv news asking for more coverage of darfur and other areas that need our help.
5. if you are a blogger, blog to end genocide on leading blog sites!
6. invite a speaker to your house of worship to talk about darfur and what must be done to end genocide and mass atrocities worldwide.
7. join/start prayer groups or promote interfaith events.
8. organize a vigil, fast, or protest to support stronger action to stop crimes against humanity.
9. wear the cause: purchase t-shirts or green wristbands and give them as gifts" (171).
II. "Raising Funds: Actions You Can Take
1. make an individual or family donation to humanitarian, human rights, or advocacy organizations. (you can find a list of these organizations on the ENOUGH website-www.enoughproject.org)
2. urge your employer to make a contribution to one or more of these organizations, or place one of these organizations on its united way designated charities.
3. organize a fundraiser in your community by hosting a dinner, a concert, an auction, a fun run, or a fast.
4. link to the organizations your support from you personal home page or your blog" (176).
III. "Write a Letter: Actions You Can Take
1. write letters to urge your representatives to take specific actions for darfur and other crises [a personalized letter is much more powerful than a form or online letter].
2. ask your family, friends, and colleagues to write letter to their elected officials. and hound them until they do so.
3. sign or start a petition calling for greater accountability for those responsible for genocide and other crimes against humanity. and present it to your local congressperson.
4. think big! start a letter-writing campaign at your high school, university, house of worship, or office.
5. write a letter to the editor of your local paper and support specific policies while targeting specific elected officials" (179).
IV. "Call for Divestment: Actions You Can Take
1. educate yourself about divestment and the targeted companies at the sudan divestment task force website at www.sudandivestment.org and the ENOUGH website at www.enoughproject.org.
2. research your investment portfolio to see if you have investments in companies that are targeted for divestment, and then pull your assets out of any fund that does and tell them you did.
3. join a group that is pushing for divestment at your university (or alma mater), your municipality, and your state.
4. write to your pension fund manager and demand that your pension fund be free of the targeted companies.
5. encourage your family, friends, and colleagues to make sure that their investment portfolios are free of those companies" (190).
V. "Join an Organization: Actions You Can Take
1. learn about ENOUGH (www.enoughproject.org) and the other organizations working for change.
2. volunteer and attend meetings of organizations that have chapters in your area.
3. encourage your family, friends, and colleagues to make the same commitment.
4. start your own organization.
5. coordinate with other groups to amplify your efforts" (196).
VI. "Lobby the Government: Actions You Can Take
1. find out your representative's record on darfur. visit www.darfurscores.org to learn about each member of congress's individual voting record.
2. make an appointment to see your national representatives when they are in your area, or get a group together and travel to washington, d.c., for a lobby day. making an appointment to meet with congress isn't as tough as it sounds. you voted for them and you have a right tot ell them exactly how you feel about the issues that matter to you.
3. visit city council members and state representatives and encourae them to divest and pass a resolution urging stronger action to end genocide in darfur and atrocities wherever they occur.
4. urge your elected officials to speak publicly about darfur.
5. keep sending those personal letters to congress, the president, and key officials like the secretary of state, secretary of defense, and national security advisor.
MORE DETAILS ON THE SIX STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVE CHANGE(245-50).
I. RAISE AWARENESS
A. stay informed, and inform others, about what's going on in darfur
the ENOUGH campaign seeks to united and strengthen the efforts of grassroots activists, policy makers, advocates, concerned journalists, and others by giving them up-to-date information form on the ground in countries of concern and offering practical pressure points to end the violence. if you are concerned about these issues and want to know what you can to do push for change, www.enoughproject.org is the place to find answers.
the international crisis group has field analysis and up-to-date policy recommendations for how to resolve conflicts all over the world, including darfur. www.crisisgroup.org.
eric reeve's website (www.sudanreeves.org) is a great one-stop shop for news, analysis and advocacy about the conflict.
download the voices on genocide prevention podcast from the united states holocaust memorial museum at www.ushmm.org/conscience/podcasts/.
encourage friends to go to www.darfurisdying.com and play mtvU's darfur video game.
B. subscribe for the latest news from organizations working to stop the atrocities.
genocide intervention (gi-net) sends out regular "action alerts" with specific darfur activism opportunities. www.genocideintervention.net/advocate/actionalerts/.
to subscribe to STAND's national newsletter, sign up here: www.inform.standnow.org/lists/?p=subscribe&id=2.
save darfur has a weekly action network with specific actions you can take each week to help make a difference. http://www.savedarfur.org/pages/take_action
.
africa action also features innocative action alerts, at http://www.africaaction.org.
C. write an op-ed or letter to the editor of your local newspaper.
save darfur has a great feature that allows you to write letters to the editor of local and national newspapers. http://www.savedarfur.org/page/speakout/dailies. here are some of their tips to help get your letter published:
- most newspapers will only print original letters. use talking points and sample letters as a starting point for your own message
- letters with a personal angle are always compelling. ask yourself how this issue affects you and your family.
- keep it brief and to the point. letters under two hundred words are much more likely to be published.
D. write to the tv networks and encourage them to cover darfur.
push the television networks to devote more time to the crisis in darfur. here's a sample letter.
Dear Sir/Madam:
I am writing to urge your network to devote more airtime to covering the ongoing genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan, where as many as 400,000 people have died, thousands of women have been raped, and more than two million people have been forced to flee from their burned and bombed villages to live in squalid refugee camps.
Television has the unique ability to put a human face on statistics. A good news story can bring Darfur, one o the most remote places on earth, directly into America's living rooms. Sadly, television news coverage of Darfur has been woefully deficient. Only one in every 950 minutes of news coverage during 2004 covered Darfur. During June 2005, major news media aired 50 times as many stories about Michael Jackson and 12 times as many stories about Tom Cruise as they did about the genocide in Darfur.
Genocide is newsworthy. By increasing your coverage of events in Darfur, you can help to generate the public attention needed to pressure our government to bring the atrocities to a halt. I urge you to give this crisis the attention it deserves.
Sincerely,
2. RAISE FUNDS
here are tips for a successful fund-raising event (courtesy of genocide intervention network):
general tips for holding events:
- decide what type of event will be most effective for the goals you are aiming to accomplish. for example, would a film screening or speaker better suit your purpose for holding the event?
- test your idea out-ask a few friends what they think. consider what kind of resources you will need to make it a success.
- get a team together, rather than working on your own. make a list of tasks; find out what skills people have, and try to give them tasks they'll enjoy. make sure everyone knows what his or her responsibilities are.
- come up with a backup plan. for example, what will you do if it rains?
- do research and estimate how many people might turn up. what is the minimum number of people you'll need to make money? what's the maximum number of people you can accommodate?
- think about the best date. avoid competing with another local function or a major tv event, for example. agree on a realistic timetable and give each task a deadline.
- think of ways to keep costs down and your proceeds up. try to get as much as you can for free-whether it's people's time, a venue, food, publicity, printing, commercial sponsorship, or prizes.
- bring materials about the current situation in darfur and the genocide intervention network (gi-net). you can request flyers, brochures, or other materials by e-mailing fundraising@genocideintervention.net.
- remember to thank everyone involved and let them all know how much they've raised.
- above all, have fun!
quick event ideas
- host a dinner for darfur. these dinner parties are meant to act as fundraisers, and area way to educate your community and give them the tools for action. for an easy guide to hosting an educational fundraising dinner, go to http://www.genocideintervention.net/fundraise/dinners.php.
- virtual house parties will get your friends and family involved in the cause with minimal effort.
- screen hotel rwanda[, the killing fields, schindler's list] or a similar film demonstrating the need to stop genocide.
- selling stylish gi-net t-shirts is an ideal way to spread the anti-genocide message. if you are willin gto commit to selling at least thirty shirts, gi-net can give them to you for just $7 a shirt. gi-net recommends that you sell them for $12 a shirt, but you can set whatever price above $7 you think makes sense for your event. then you can make a donation with the money you raise.
- the save darfur coalition also has green wristbands that have become one of the emblems of the darfur movement. purchase a few, then ask for a donation of $2 or $3 for each one and help make darfur activists more visible!
- set up a donation bo around your school, workplace, dining hall, or place of worship. distribute information about mass atrocities.
- ask local musical groups to perform at a "battle of the bands." charge admission or set up a donation box at the event.
- have a bake sale or car wash. explain prominently that the event is to help protect victims of genocide in darfur.
- organize a tournament involving poker, video games, a dance marathon, etc. charge admission from the participants of the event. you can either give a small portion of the proceeds to the winner or have it be a "benefit tournament" with all winnings sent to the anti-genocide cause.
- local businesses often look to promote philanthropic causes. educate them and see if they would be willing to make a donation.
- if there is a darfur-related event outside your area, encourage your religious organization or other group to sponsor your travel expenses.
3. WRITE A LETTER.
there are many different way to write to elected officials and urge them to take action to stop atrocities in darfur. personal letters stan the best chance of being noticed, and we gave you an example of what a letter could look like in chapter 8 [look at page 177].
the gi-net website alo has a great tool for quickly generating effective letters. http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/ginetwork/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=4591.
4. CALL FOR DIVESTMENT
the website of the sudan divestment task force (www.sudandivestment.org) has a wealth of information about the status of ongoing divestment campaigns, and everything you need to know to start a new campaign if none exists where you live.
you can learn the basics of targeted divestment at http://www.sudandivestment.org/divestment.asp.
after you learn the basics, contact the task force at info@sudandivestment.org. a task force/STAND (students taking action now: darfur) representative will work with you to create a customized plan of action for your institution. you will be able to:
- research your institution to find how it may be invested in sudan
- submit a target divestment proposal to your institutions investment manager (e.g., treasurer, board of trustees, controller/comptroller, president, state legislator)
- mobilize a grassroots coalition to support your proposal
5. JOIN AN ORGANIZATION
joining an existing organization is the best way to stay up to speed on news, events, and opportunities to get involved in stopping genocide.
A. students
students should visit the STAND website to find out how they can get involved. http://www.standnow.org/.
B. congregations
congregations can learn more by joining the save darfur congregational network and taking advantage of their faith action packs, with specific resources to help Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities mobilize to help the people of darfur. http://www.savedarfur.org/pages/organize_your_congregation.
for instance, here are samples of scripture, texts, and traditions that they suggest:
PROVERBS 3:27 - Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
ADAPTED FROM AL-QUR'AN, SURAH 5:32 - He who has killed an innocent soul, it is as if he had killed all humanity. And he who has saved an innocent soul, it is as if he has saved all humanity.
JAMES 3:17-18 - Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
C. communities
community organizations have played a critical role in pushing for action on darfur. at the save darfur website, you can search for groups in your area, or learn how to organize your own group. http//www.savedarfur.org/page/group.
6. LOBBY THE GOVERNMENT
A. find out your representative's record on darfur.
the first step to lobbying congressional officials is to find out what they have or haven't done to make a difference on darfur. visit www.darfurscores.org and look at your representative's record on darfur.
B. ask focused questions
attend public events featuring members of congress and ask them about their position on darfur. here are some tips from gi-net:
- investigate local media, blogs and word of mouth to find out when a political event involved members of congress or challengers will be held. if it is an invitation-only function, inquire about how to get invited. usually organizers will be happy to invite people who sound cooperative and reasonable.
- use the darfur scorecard (www.darfurscores.org) to see where a member of congress stands on darfur-related activities. with this knowledge, you will ask a more pointed and effective question.
- your question should be short and pointed. if you think you might get flustered, write the question down on a note card ahead of time.
- look for other chances to get your point across if you can't ask a question directly. if you were not called on or there was no question-and-answer session, you still have options. if there is a handshake line, join it and ask an abbreviated question while getting your ten seconds with the candidate. try to approach campaign staff after the speech and ask if you could meet with them about their candidate's darfur agenda. ask local media representatives if they would be interested in writing a story mentioning the candidate's darfur policy.
- be sure to follow up with the campaign, either by e-mail or phone, after the event. this will remind the candidate that yours is an important issues on which he or she needs to take a position.
C. meet with elected officials
making an appointment to meet with a member of congress isn't as tough as it sounds. you voted for them, and you have a right tot tell them exactly how you feel about the issues that matter to you.
_________
FIVE HELPFUL HINTS FOR ADVOCACY INITIATIVES (from 250-51):
1. keep it simple
2. keep it short
3. keep it sound
4. keep it smart
5. keep it special: tell an amazing and/or personal short story that everyone will remember to illustrate your point
SEVEN DEADLY SINS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATES (from 251-52):
1. don't be too boring. tell a story, tell a joke, make what you have to say interesting. don't pain in black-and-white; paint in color!
2. don't be too long-winded
3. don't be too unilateral. engage people by asking questions. be interactive!
4. don't be too complex
5. don't be too unstructured
6. don't be too random. foucs your audience or interlocutor on the two or three most important things the us government can do, and how that person or group can help make it happen
7. don't be too touchy-feely. we can't just rely on the "because it's the right thing to do" argument, or simply hope that for humanitarian reasons people will respond. we also have to connect our issues to larger national interests and what politicians and americans care about, i.e., national security.
i first starting getting interested in darfur when i attended a conference that brown students organized back in, i think, 2004 or 2005? i need to check. in september 2007, i attended the global day for darfur rally in central park in darfur, where tens of thousands students and concerned citizens voiced their support for an end to the genocide in darfur. since then, i've been out of the loop, working mostly on burma-related issues. back home in september 2009, i volunteered at a save darfur benefit concert, and have also signed numerous save darfur coalition petitions, as well as donated to the movement.
there was a save darfur rally at the west capitol building on wednesday, but i was swamped with work--i still feel guilty and i know i should've gone. it's all about numbers. today,i finally finished don cheadle and john predergast's not on our watch book, which describes ways that the average citizen can work to end genocide in darfur. it also explains the roots of the sudan and congo, uganda, and somalia conflicts, with ties to other tragedies across the world. the main causes are political exclusion from power, greed, and impunity (210-11).
the book was pretty insightful, and its strategies can be applied to all campaigns seeking to end crimes against humanity and genocide. the authors' point is that the public cannot be complacent. we need to pressure our leaders to act, and to let them know that there will be a political cost for inaction. the book also shows many examples of how average citizens, even children, can effect change and build the movement to save darfur. i'll share what i learned below. memorable sections of the book are quoted.
often times, it's "frustrating to us how sparse and sporadic the news coverage is of africa, which only makes headlines when another crisis erupts. This has led to a "conflict fatigue" associated with the continent as a whole. the truth is, however, that much of africa is a good news story. there are positive stories that deserve air time, such as:
"- the move away from dictatorships to democracy throughout africa
- a proliferation of nongovernmental organizations contributing to the development of
most african countries
- effective roles in the war on terrorism by many african governments
- peace agreements forged in countries which only a few years earlier had been ripped
apart by war and crimes against humanity, such as sierra leone, liberia, southern
sudan, and burundi
- serious methods by african institutions to combat transnational threats of diseases
and ecological destruction
- commitment on the part of many african governments to fiscally responsible economic
policies focused on alleviating poverty" (87).
more needs to be done. "during genocides and mass atrocities, outside governments apply humanitarian band-aids over gaping human rights wounds, citing the millions of dollars) sometimes billions0 they provide in food aid to exonerate themselves from the responsibility to protect civilian life. sadly, this is also the case with darfur...food and medicine today are helpful, but are insufficient if a person's life is still in jeopardy due to violence" (91-92). gerald martone, director of humanitarian affairs for the international rescue committee wrote the following analysis of the relief approach to massive human rights abuse-induced suffering:
top ten us excuses for inaction include, "we're doing all we can, more action can worsen the situation, peace in the south will solve darfur, we don't support the icc, the rebels are also to blame, the african union is taking care of the problem, we're giving lots of food aid, china and russia will prevent real action, incentives are better than pressures, and the situation will get better-trust us" (97).
In the public portrayal of humanitarian situations our profession has often reduced massive suffering to a charitable appeal. the depiction of reprehensible brutality is simplified to merely needing benevolent relief. humanitarian emergencies are not merely health crises, they are epidemics of human rights abuses. we must communicate complex situations as moments for international action not merely remedied by western do-gooders and the provision of supplies. our communication should invite action, outcry, and engagement.(92)
the priorities are to protect civilians, make peace, and punish the perpetrators. "In punishing the perpetrators, we could provide information to and cooperation with the ICC and move their indictments forward dramatically. in promoting the peace we could name special envoys to help resolve the conflicts in congo, northern uganda, and somalia in a much more focused way than current efforts allow. and in protecting the people, we could ensure that peacekeeping missions have at their centerpiece civilian protection in word and deed" (232). however, the obstacles to these are apathy, indifference, ignorance, and political inertia. the slogan "never again" is empty, unless we do something to truly show our convictions for ending genocide.
the authors offer the following strategies for effective change:
"1. raise awareness
2. raise funds
3. write a letter
4. call for divestment
5. join an organization
6. lobby the government"(160).
I. "Raise Awareness: Actions You Can Take
1. educate yourself about darfur and the world's other most urgent crises at www.enoughproject.org.
2. talk to your family, friends, and colleagues about these crises and what we can do to help end them.
3. host a screening of a documentary about darfur such as paul freedman's sand and sorrow (www.sandandsorrow.org), darfur diaries by aisha bian, jen marlow, and adam shapiro (www.darfurdiaries.org), or brian steidle's story captured in annie sundberg's film the devil came on horseback (www.thedevilcameonhorseback.com).
4. write a letter to your newspaper or local tv news asking for more coverage of darfur and other areas that need our help.
5. if you are a blogger, blog to end genocide on leading blog sites!
6. invite a speaker to your house of worship to talk about darfur and what must be done to end genocide and mass atrocities worldwide.
7. join/start prayer groups or promote interfaith events.
8. organize a vigil, fast, or protest to support stronger action to stop crimes against humanity.
9. wear the cause: purchase t-shirts or green wristbands and give them as gifts" (171).
II. "Raising Funds: Actions You Can Take
1. make an individual or family donation to humanitarian, human rights, or advocacy organizations. (you can find a list of these organizations on the ENOUGH website-www.enoughproject.org)
2. urge your employer to make a contribution to one or more of these organizations, or place one of these organizations on its united way designated charities.
3. organize a fundraiser in your community by hosting a dinner, a concert, an auction, a fun run, or a fast.
4. link to the organizations your support from you personal home page or your blog" (176).
III. "Write a Letter: Actions You Can Take
1. write letters to urge your representatives to take specific actions for darfur and other crises [a personalized letter is much more powerful than a form or online letter].
2. ask your family, friends, and colleagues to write letter to their elected officials. and hound them until they do so.
3. sign or start a petition calling for greater accountability for those responsible for genocide and other crimes against humanity. and present it to your local congressperson.
4. think big! start a letter-writing campaign at your high school, university, house of worship, or office.
5. write a letter to the editor of your local paper and support specific policies while targeting specific elected officials" (179).
IV. "Call for Divestment: Actions You Can Take
1. educate yourself about divestment and the targeted companies at the sudan divestment task force website at www.sudandivestment.org and the ENOUGH website at www.enoughproject.org.
2. research your investment portfolio to see if you have investments in companies that are targeted for divestment, and then pull your assets out of any fund that does and tell them you did.
3. join a group that is pushing for divestment at your university (or alma mater), your municipality, and your state.
4. write to your pension fund manager and demand that your pension fund be free of the targeted companies.
5. encourage your family, friends, and colleagues to make sure that their investment portfolios are free of those companies" (190).
V. "Join an Organization: Actions You Can Take
1. learn about ENOUGH (www.enoughproject.org) and the other organizations working for change.
2. volunteer and attend meetings of organizations that have chapters in your area.
3. encourage your family, friends, and colleagues to make the same commitment.
4. start your own organization.
5. coordinate with other groups to amplify your efforts" (196).
VI. "Lobby the Government: Actions You Can Take
1. find out your representative's record on darfur. visit www.darfurscores.org to learn about each member of congress's individual voting record.
2. make an appointment to see your national representatives when they are in your area, or get a group together and travel to washington, d.c., for a lobby day. making an appointment to meet with congress isn't as tough as it sounds. you voted for them and you have a right tot ell them exactly how you feel about the issues that matter to you.
3. visit city council members and state representatives and encourae them to divest and pass a resolution urging stronger action to end genocide in darfur and atrocities wherever they occur.
4. urge your elected officials to speak publicly about darfur.
5. keep sending those personal letters to congress, the president, and key officials like the secretary of state, secretary of defense, and national security advisor.
MORE DETAILS ON THE SIX STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVE CHANGE(245-50).
I. RAISE AWARENESS
A. stay informed, and inform others, about what's going on in darfur
the ENOUGH campaign seeks to united and strengthen the efforts of grassroots activists, policy makers, advocates, concerned journalists, and others by giving them up-to-date information form on the ground in countries of concern and offering practical pressure points to end the violence. if you are concerned about these issues and want to know what you can to do push for change, www.enoughproject.org is the place to find answers.
the international crisis group has field analysis and up-to-date policy recommendations for how to resolve conflicts all over the world, including darfur. www.crisisgroup.org.
eric reeve's website (www.sudanreeves.org) is a great one-stop shop for news, analysis and advocacy about the conflict.
download the voices on genocide prevention podcast from the united states holocaust memorial museum at www.ushmm.org/conscience/podcasts/.
encourage friends to go to www.darfurisdying.com and play mtvU's darfur video game.
B. subscribe for the latest news from organizations working to stop the atrocities.
genocide intervention (gi-net) sends out regular "action alerts" with specific darfur activism opportunities. www.genocideintervention.net/advocate/actionalerts/.
to subscribe to STAND's national newsletter, sign up here: www.inform.standnow.org/lists/?p=subscribe&id=2.
save darfur has a weekly action network with specific actions you can take each week to help make a difference. http://www.savedarfur.org/pages/take_action
.
africa action also features innocative action alerts, at http://www.africaaction.org.
C. write an op-ed or letter to the editor of your local newspaper.
save darfur has a great feature that allows you to write letters to the editor of local and national newspapers. http://www.savedarfur.org/page/speakout/dailies. here are some of their tips to help get your letter published:
- most newspapers will only print original letters. use talking points and sample letters as a starting point for your own message
- letters with a personal angle are always compelling. ask yourself how this issue affects you and your family.
- keep it brief and to the point. letters under two hundred words are much more likely to be published.
D. write to the tv networks and encourage them to cover darfur.
push the television networks to devote more time to the crisis in darfur. here's a sample letter.
Dear Sir/Madam:
I am writing to urge your network to devote more airtime to covering the ongoing genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan, where as many as 400,000 people have died, thousands of women have been raped, and more than two million people have been forced to flee from their burned and bombed villages to live in squalid refugee camps.
Television has the unique ability to put a human face on statistics. A good news story can bring Darfur, one o the most remote places on earth, directly into America's living rooms. Sadly, television news coverage of Darfur has been woefully deficient. Only one in every 950 minutes of news coverage during 2004 covered Darfur. During June 2005, major news media aired 50 times as many stories about Michael Jackson and 12 times as many stories about Tom Cruise as they did about the genocide in Darfur.
Genocide is newsworthy. By increasing your coverage of events in Darfur, you can help to generate the public attention needed to pressure our government to bring the atrocities to a halt. I urge you to give this crisis the attention it deserves.
Sincerely,
2. RAISE FUNDS
here are tips for a successful fund-raising event (courtesy of genocide intervention network):
general tips for holding events:
- decide what type of event will be most effective for the goals you are aiming to accomplish. for example, would a film screening or speaker better suit your purpose for holding the event?
- test your idea out-ask a few friends what they think. consider what kind of resources you will need to make it a success.
- get a team together, rather than working on your own. make a list of tasks; find out what skills people have, and try to give them tasks they'll enjoy. make sure everyone knows what his or her responsibilities are.
- come up with a backup plan. for example, what will you do if it rains?
- do research and estimate how many people might turn up. what is the minimum number of people you'll need to make money? what's the maximum number of people you can accommodate?
- think about the best date. avoid competing with another local function or a major tv event, for example. agree on a realistic timetable and give each task a deadline.
- think of ways to keep costs down and your proceeds up. try to get as much as you can for free-whether it's people's time, a venue, food, publicity, printing, commercial sponsorship, or prizes.
- bring materials about the current situation in darfur and the genocide intervention network (gi-net). you can request flyers, brochures, or other materials by e-mailing fundraising@genocideintervention.net.
- remember to thank everyone involved and let them all know how much they've raised.
- above all, have fun!
quick event ideas
- host a dinner for darfur. these dinner parties are meant to act as fundraisers, and area way to educate your community and give them the tools for action. for an easy guide to hosting an educational fundraising dinner, go to http://www.genocideintervention.net/fundraise/dinners.php.
- virtual house parties will get your friends and family involved in the cause with minimal effort.
- screen hotel rwanda[, the killing fields, schindler's list] or a similar film demonstrating the need to stop genocide.
- selling stylish gi-net t-shirts is an ideal way to spread the anti-genocide message. if you are willin gto commit to selling at least thirty shirts, gi-net can give them to you for just $7 a shirt. gi-net recommends that you sell them for $12 a shirt, but you can set whatever price above $7 you think makes sense for your event. then you can make a donation with the money you raise.
- the save darfur coalition also has green wristbands that have become one of the emblems of the darfur movement. purchase a few, then ask for a donation of $2 or $3 for each one and help make darfur activists more visible!
- set up a donation bo around your school, workplace, dining hall, or place of worship. distribute information about mass atrocities.
- ask local musical groups to perform at a "battle of the bands." charge admission or set up a donation box at the event.
- have a bake sale or car wash. explain prominently that the event is to help protect victims of genocide in darfur.
- organize a tournament involving poker, video games, a dance marathon, etc. charge admission from the participants of the event. you can either give a small portion of the proceeds to the winner or have it be a "benefit tournament" with all winnings sent to the anti-genocide cause.
- local businesses often look to promote philanthropic causes. educate them and see if they would be willing to make a donation.
- if there is a darfur-related event outside your area, encourage your religious organization or other group to sponsor your travel expenses.
3. WRITE A LETTER.
there are many different way to write to elected officials and urge them to take action to stop atrocities in darfur. personal letters stan the best chance of being noticed, and we gave you an example of what a letter could look like in chapter 8 [look at page 177].
the gi-net website alo has a great tool for quickly generating effective letters. http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/ginetwork/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=4591.
4. CALL FOR DIVESTMENT
the website of the sudan divestment task force (www.sudandivestment.org) has a wealth of information about the status of ongoing divestment campaigns, and everything you need to know to start a new campaign if none exists where you live.
you can learn the basics of targeted divestment at http://www.sudandivestment.org/divestment.asp.
after you learn the basics, contact the task force at info@sudandivestment.org. a task force/STAND (students taking action now: darfur) representative will work with you to create a customized plan of action for your institution. you will be able to:
- research your institution to find how it may be invested in sudan
- submit a target divestment proposal to your institutions investment manager (e.g., treasurer, board of trustees, controller/comptroller, president, state legislator)
- mobilize a grassroots coalition to support your proposal
5. JOIN AN ORGANIZATION
joining an existing organization is the best way to stay up to speed on news, events, and opportunities to get involved in stopping genocide.
A. students
students should visit the STAND website to find out how they can get involved. http://www.standnow.org/.
B. congregations
congregations can learn more by joining the save darfur congregational network and taking advantage of their faith action packs, with specific resources to help Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities mobilize to help the people of darfur. http://www.savedarfur.org/pages/organize_your_congregation.
for instance, here are samples of scripture, texts, and traditions that they suggest:
PROVERBS 3:27 - Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
ADAPTED FROM AL-QUR'AN, SURAH 5:32 - He who has killed an innocent soul, it is as if he had killed all humanity. And he who has saved an innocent soul, it is as if he has saved all humanity.
JAMES 3:17-18 - Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
C. communities
community organizations have played a critical role in pushing for action on darfur. at the save darfur website, you can search for groups in your area, or learn how to organize your own group. http//www.savedarfur.org/page/group.
6. LOBBY THE GOVERNMENT
A. find out your representative's record on darfur.
the first step to lobbying congressional officials is to find out what they have or haven't done to make a difference on darfur. visit www.darfurscores.org and look at your representative's record on darfur.
B. ask focused questions
attend public events featuring members of congress and ask them about their position on darfur. here are some tips from gi-net:
- investigate local media, blogs and word of mouth to find out when a political event involved members of congress or challengers will be held. if it is an invitation-only function, inquire about how to get invited. usually organizers will be happy to invite people who sound cooperative and reasonable.
- use the darfur scorecard (www.darfurscores.org) to see where a member of congress stands on darfur-related activities. with this knowledge, you will ask a more pointed and effective question.
- your question should be short and pointed. if you think you might get flustered, write the question down on a note card ahead of time.
- look for other chances to get your point across if you can't ask a question directly. if you were not called on or there was no question-and-answer session, you still have options. if there is a handshake line, join it and ask an abbreviated question while getting your ten seconds with the candidate. try to approach campaign staff after the speech and ask if you could meet with them about their candidate's darfur agenda. ask local media representatives if they would be interested in writing a story mentioning the candidate's darfur policy.
- be sure to follow up with the campaign, either by e-mail or phone, after the event. this will remind the candidate that yours is an important issues on which he or she needs to take a position.
C. meet with elected officials
making an appointment to meet with a member of congress isn't as tough as it sounds. you voted for them, and you have a right tot tell them exactly how you feel about the issues that matter to you.
_________
FIVE HELPFUL HINTS FOR ADVOCACY INITIATIVES (from 250-51):
1. keep it simple
2. keep it short
3. keep it sound
4. keep it smart
5. keep it special: tell an amazing and/or personal short story that everyone will remember to illustrate your point
SEVEN DEADLY SINS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATES (from 251-52):
1. don't be too boring. tell a story, tell a joke, make what you have to say interesting. don't pain in black-and-white; paint in color!
2. don't be too long-winded
3. don't be too unilateral. engage people by asking questions. be interactive!
4. don't be too complex
5. don't be too unstructured
6. don't be too random. foucs your audience or interlocutor on the two or three most important things the us government can do, and how that person or group can help make it happen
7. don't be too touchy-feely. we can't just rely on the "because it's the right thing to do" argument, or simply hope that for humanitarian reasons people will respond. we also have to connect our issues to larger national interests and what politicians and americans care about, i.e., national security.
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