Boulder for Darfur

Boulder Friends of Darfur will meet next Monday, June 22, 2009 at 7:30 pm at The Cup, a cafe located at 1521 Pearl Street in Boulder.  Look for us in the back room.  We will have a sign so we can find each other.  Hope to see you there!

Updates and comments about the crisis are provided by a U.S. based Darfuri with a broad network of Darfuri contacts from the Diaspora, from IDP camps in Sudan and from refugee camps in Chad. Visit www.whilewewaitsudan.blogspot.com

A protest outside of the Sudanese embassy this morning resulted in the arrest of five members of Congress and two Darfur activists.

Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD), Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Jerry Fowler of Save Darfur Coalition, and John Prendergast of the Enough Project led the protest.

Following speeches by the protest’s headliners, the group stepped onto the property of the embassy and was given three warnings by the U.S. Secret Service to leave. As the protesters stood defiant, police handcuffed each of the leaders and escorted them into a Secret Service vehicle.

Call 1-800-Genocide Today! 1-800-Genocide is an up-to-date hotline with talking points and actions your legislators can take to help end the genocide.  You will be asked to enter your zip code and to select to call a representative, senator or the President.   Thank President Obama for appointing Special Envoy Gration.   Urge him to get the aid groups back into Darfur.  1.1 million people are in serious life threatening danger as the rainy season approaches in Darfur.  Tell him we want bold agenda setting leadership on Sudan. Make a commitment to call once a week (M-F 9am -5pm Eastern Standard Time)

In his Holocaust Day of Remembrance remarks, President Obama reflected on the atrocities we have all witnessed. But he also made it clear that he has been inspired by our movement:

“We find cause for hope… in a movement to save Darfur that has 1,000 high school and college chapters in 25 countries, and brought 70,000 people to the Washington Mall—people of every age, faith, background and race united in common cause with their suffering brothers and sisters half a world away.”

In the last three weeks, at rallies, discussions, and vigils in more than 450 communities across the country, the constituency of conscience has come forward both to honor the past and to call for action now in Darfur.

From Boise, Idaho to Sarasota, Florida to our nation’s capital, we commemorated Genocide Prevention Month by raising our collective voices. Please click here and take a moment to view pictures and video from these amazing events.

Together, we declared that the international community must make its commitment to preventing genocide absolute—and that it must begin by bringing peace and security to all of Sudan.

President Obama heard us. And, he made clear that doing everything possible to end the atrocities in Darfur is “his commitment as President.”

We need to stay on him. In the weeks and months to come, it is our advocacy that will transform his commitment into presidential engagement—and ultimately, an end to the suffering that has lasted six years and counting. We can end this genocide. 

“Dauchau to Darfur: Genocide’s Unlearned Lessons” is the topic of this year’s Lay-Clergy Symposium presented by First Congregational Church -UCC.  The purpose of the program is to shed light on the tragedy of genocide from the historical perspective of the Holocaust and from the contemporary perspective of the genocide currently taking place in Sudan, gaining understanding of why genocides continue to occur throughout the world.

When: Saturday May 2, 2009 at 7:15 pm-Keynote Speakers: Rosalyn Kirkel -a child survivor of the Holocaust and nationally renowned speaker on her Holocaust experiences, and Pastor Heidi McGinness -Outreach Director for Christian Solidarity International and Internationally renowned speaker on Sudanese Atrocities-will give a multimedia presentation about her Sudanese experiences.  Sunday May 3, 2009 at 10:15 am -Keynote Speakers: Rabbi Deborah Bronstein, Congregation Har HaShem in Boulder, will present the sermon on Sunday preceded by Roz Duman, Colorado Coalition for Genocide Awareness beginning at 9:00 am regarding the 8 stages of genocide.

Where: First Congregational -UCC Church 1500 9th Ave., Longmont, CO.

Cost: Admission is Free

For further info, call 303-776-4940

A night to end violence against women in Darfur… On Wednesday, February 11, communities throughout the U.S. and abroad will come together in a night of advocacy to hear women’s first-hand accounts of violence in Darfur and to take action. A screening of the new film Violence Against Women and the Darfur Genocide will be followed by a live online discussion 
What: A Night to End Violence Against Women in Darfur
Who: Women and Men Across the United States and Abroad
Where: CU-Boulder. Benson Earth Science Building Room 185.                                          
When:   5:45 pm, February 11
For info on event:  http://darfur.bluestatedigital.com/pages/one_night_one_voice/

The Obama administration has promised it will take action on Darfur and genocide. It’s up to us to help them keep their promises.
New Violence Happening: According to on-the-ground reports, the Sudanese government has recently launched air and ground attacks throughout Darfur and civilians have been caught in the middle. These are the first reports of aerial attacks under the new administration.

TAKE ACTION: Call the White House today: 202-456-1111.

• Urge President Obama to condemn the violence now happening!
• Urge President Obama to designate a high-level envoy to lead the administration’s efforts to reach a comprehensive solution.
• Tell him you support and expect a response to the violence in Darfur. 

Sign an e-postcard to President Obama and help ensure that Darfur is a top priority.  Go to http://www.addyourvoice.org to sign the postcard today!

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