I have been writing about the relationship between President Obama and the anti-genocide movement as a marriage. Perhaps this metaphor is a bit silly, but it stemmed from the honeymoon commentators use to describe the first few weeks/months of a presidency. When the administration failed to appoint a Sudan envoy before announcement of the ICC warrant back in March I announced the honeymoon over ("Obama's Anti-Genocide Honeymoon Is Over").
Responding the warrant, Bashir kicked out aid groups and under even strong pressure the administration finally appointed a special envoy in a move I had hoped with would save the "marriage" ("Will Obama Save The Marriage?").
Unfortunately the man who originally the movement celebrated, Special Envoy Scott Gration, did not signal a more robust pro-peace Sudan policy by the administration which would save the marriage, but rather signaled the end through confusing policies of appeasement to the ruthless dictator so strongly denounced by President Obama.
In his speech to the United Nations General Assembly, President Obama once again echoed his call for peace in Darfur (and all of Sudan) saying: "That is why we will strengthen our support for effective peacekeeping, while energising our efforts to prevent conflicts before they take hold. We will pursue a lasting peace in Sudan through support for the people of Darfur, and the implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement, so that we secure the peace that the Sudanese people deserve."
In order to achieve this peace Gration told the Washington Post: "We've got to think about giving out cookies. Kids, countries -- they react to gold stars, smiley faces, handshakes, agreements, talk, engagement." Let's put aside how ridiculous it sounds to compare a country whose government has pursued genocide to solve disputes with kids and look at the absurdity of giving a genocidal government "cookies, gold stars and smiley faces."
I could repost comments by John Prendergast, but I think the most powerful refutation of Mr. Gration comes from his boss, the President, who immediately preceding his comments regarding Sudan during last week's speech said, "For the most powerful weapon in our arsenal is the hope of human beings - the belief that the future belongs to those who build, not destroy." According to the Chief Prosectuor of the ICC, Bashir is responsible for crimes against humanity estimated to have cost the lives of 300,000 Darfuris. Additionally Bashir may be responsible for similar crimes costing 2.5 MILLION lives during the conflict with South Sudan.
The question persisting on my mind to both the President and his Special Envoy... does this sound like a man we should be cuddling up to in hopes that out of good will to our new found friendship he'll stop massacring his own citizens? If I heard the President right, the future is NOT for the people like Omar Al-Bashir, but rather for peacemakers.
Sadly, in the six months of Gration's time as envoy, the message has consistently been engagement, normalization and friendship to Bashir at a time that the United States has the opportunity to bring new leadership backed by the ICC warrant to reinvigorate peace talks. Bashir was put in the corner and rather than using that advantage, we decided to bail him out and are now considering frolicking together in the park.
The marriage is over, Mr. President. I, one of your strongest supporters even until today, cannot stand by and allow my admiration of you prevent me from berating this confusing and highly disappointing stance on Darfur. The rhetoric has been incredible with the same or perhaps more force than your predecessor and certainly with more eloquence. Time for actions, we have had enough of words!
The long awaited Sudan policy review will supposedly be unfurred this week. I urge the President to order the State Department to use this opportunity to reverse the action of General Gration. Demand his resignation and start fresh with a new envoy focusing on bringing about new peace negotiations backed by multilateral support with tough consequences for any stalling by Bashir or his government.
Marriage is over, but time to decide whether this is amicable separation or not. Despite his rhetoric the movement turned on President Bush for this inaction. Your move Mr. President.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Getting Ready to Write About Uganda
I'm not sure how many people actually read this, but I'm hoping to finally write all about my Uganda trip over the next few days. Many people have asked about the trip and I've responded to read my blog or wait until we chat in person. My apologies that for most, neither has happened. So in preparation I want to open things up...
What questions do you have about my trip to Uganda?
I want to try to answer as many as possible during my recap of the trip.
Thanks!
What questions do you have about my trip to Uganda?
I want to try to answer as many as possible during my recap of the trip.
Thanks!
Conflict Prevention Development?
Yes... time for another one of Leran's crazy ideas... but this one I believe has strong merit. As you'll either read in my previous post or you might hear from me soon, I think I've discovered a niche field I want to explore either working in the human rights, development and conflict resolution fields or through academic research.
This post is intended just to be a general introduction to my thoughts and as an open invite to any ideas you might want to contribute.
Overview: I want to look at how development could be designed or targeted to better promote human rights specifically among marginalized community with the end goal of conflict prevention. My concern is that in societies where violence breaks out the results of development are lost and many development projects have to start at square one if and when stability resumes.
If it would be possible to incorporate methods that promote cooperation among competing ethnic groups or leads into development then perhaps violence between such groups would be avoided or at least lessened in intensity. Furthermore if development could be successful in opening up government and/or increasing participation among marginalized groups the likelihood that conflict between said group and the government would likewise be avoided or mitigated.
Background: Over the last few years while I have been focusing on learning and reacting to the genocide in Darfur I have also followed the post-election violence in Kenya and Zimbabwe. Both nations before their respective crises began were viewed as success stories of Africa. Until a few years ago Kenya was touted as the only stable nation undergoing consistent growth in East Africa. Zimbabwe, until Mugabe began his radical land reforms in early to mid 1990s was a net exporter of food providing imports to much of the continent.
Kenya may have dodged the bullet, but no doubt the slums where the worst ethnic post-election violence are still struggling to return to the less than ideal circumstances of December 2007. Zimbabwe on the other hand continues to alternative between a slow and quick rot descending into violence between political parties and between the government and the few whites left in the nation. With runaway inflation, high HIV rate and crushed infrastructure nowhere sees much hope left for Zimbabwe.
Speaking to people in Uganda, I fear that similar problems may be in store after the national elections in 2011. Many individuals working alongside my volunteer group warned that if President Museveni does not step down and decides to rig another election in order to stay in office, the majority will rise up violently against the NRM party to remove Museveni. While Tororo in the far southeast of Uganda may be spared in a Kenyan style violent outcome, the HIV positive slum residents of Kampala we visited will most likely not be so fortunate.
If the international community is slow to react or not as successful in quelling the violence as in Kenya and things escalate toward Zimbabwe levels then Tororo. which is currently headed toward famine, will surely be thrown into a far more dire situation as will many districts all over the country including the war-torn north. In such a hopefully unlikely, but not impossible outcome the successful development happening all over the country will be most for not.
I hope I, and the Ugandans I spoke to, am wrong about 2011, but regardless post-election violence seems to be a constant phenomenon throughout the Global South. I have yet to find any literature or anyone with knowledge of literature arguing the role of development in preventing such crises and I believe it is a necessary step to take toward peace and development across Africa.
This post is intended just to be a general introduction to my thoughts and as an open invite to any ideas you might want to contribute.
Overview: I want to look at how development could be designed or targeted to better promote human rights specifically among marginalized community with the end goal of conflict prevention. My concern is that in societies where violence breaks out the results of development are lost and many development projects have to start at square one if and when stability resumes.
If it would be possible to incorporate methods that promote cooperation among competing ethnic groups or leads into development then perhaps violence between such groups would be avoided or at least lessened in intensity. Furthermore if development could be successful in opening up government and/or increasing participation among marginalized groups the likelihood that conflict between said group and the government would likewise be avoided or mitigated.
Background: Over the last few years while I have been focusing on learning and reacting to the genocide in Darfur I have also followed the post-election violence in Kenya and Zimbabwe. Both nations before their respective crises began were viewed as success stories of Africa. Until a few years ago Kenya was touted as the only stable nation undergoing consistent growth in East Africa. Zimbabwe, until Mugabe began his radical land reforms in early to mid 1990s was a net exporter of food providing imports to much of the continent.
Kenya may have dodged the bullet, but no doubt the slums where the worst ethnic post-election violence are still struggling to return to the less than ideal circumstances of December 2007. Zimbabwe on the other hand continues to alternative between a slow and quick rot descending into violence between political parties and between the government and the few whites left in the nation. With runaway inflation, high HIV rate and crushed infrastructure nowhere sees much hope left for Zimbabwe.
Speaking to people in Uganda, I fear that similar problems may be in store after the national elections in 2011. Many individuals working alongside my volunteer group warned that if President Museveni does not step down and decides to rig another election in order to stay in office, the majority will rise up violently against the NRM party to remove Museveni. While Tororo in the far southeast of Uganda may be spared in a Kenyan style violent outcome, the HIV positive slum residents of Kampala we visited will most likely not be so fortunate.
If the international community is slow to react or not as successful in quelling the violence as in Kenya and things escalate toward Zimbabwe levels then Tororo. which is currently headed toward famine, will surely be thrown into a far more dire situation as will many districts all over the country including the war-torn north. In such a hopefully unlikely, but not impossible outcome the successful development happening all over the country will be most for not.
I hope I, and the Ugandans I spoke to, am wrong about 2011, but regardless post-election violence seems to be a constant phenomenon throughout the Global South. I have yet to find any literature or anyone with knowledge of literature arguing the role of development in preventing such crises and I believe it is a necessary step to take toward peace and development across Africa.
New Blog Title: Being Chased By The Flame
I have sat down with the intention to write this post many times over the last month, but the normal procrastination kicked in. I've promised myself not to get up until its done tonight and unfortunately for the both of us the longer I have waited the more I have to share. I'll try to be brief.
As you heard or read (on this blog), I was supposed to start a job with US PIRG immediately upon my return from Uganda. During my time in Africa my strong interest in human rights, development, conflict resolution and many other things international were cemented even more firmly into my identity. Toward the middle of the seven week program I began having serious doubts about the job with PIRG. Eventually I tentatively decided I would head to Boston and give the job a chance.
The first few days of training in Boston seemed to drag on and the entire time the thoughts I had while in Ramogi grew louder and louder that while I agree with the issues PIRG worked on, I did not belong there. On Saturday morning, August 15th, three days after returning from Uganda and arriving in Boston those thoughts caught up to me. I had what most would call a break down and I suppose it was, but I'd like to call it a moment of realization.
Nearly from that first day I was already contemplating whether to stay at PIRG or find a way home to Texas and on the previous day, August 14th, my phone died. Regardless of the outcome of this internal debate... I need my phone. Believing I had lost my phone charging, I left the hotel toward a nearby Radio Shack. The charger I needed was not there, I headed toward the AT&T located between Radio Shack and the hotel, being a Saturday though the store was opening later and I had to wait.
Not being able to resist the charm of a book store, I decided to kill time at the Border's a few doors down. As I almost always do, I headed up to the history, politics and contemporary issues section of the store to find my familiar home among books about Africa, ethnic conflict, development and genocide history. Rather than finding exciting ideas to turn about in my head, all the books I saw from the new to those I owned all seemed to reinforce the same idea firmly implanted in my thoughts... "What am I doing here? I shouldn't be here."
Despite being short on cash and contemplating quitting a job I had barely begun... I decided I needed a book. One that might help bring clarity to the situation and perhaps guide me to the right choice. Struggling between a few titles, inspiration struck. I needed to buy Samantha Power's newest book: Chasing the Flame: Sergio Vieira de Mello and the Fight to Save the World. After nearly 20 minutes of searching both with and without help, I almost gave up on finding the book until I rechecked the biography section and found it under P for Power.
Riding the escalator down to the first floor with my book-in-hand I mused to myself... Sergio Vieria de Mello might have been chasing the flame in his career, it seems in my life the flame is chasing me.
The next few things I did might have been irrational and partially motivated by a combination of jet lag and reverse culture shock, but I am happy with the choices made. On autopilot I went to the AT&T store, got rerouted to the mall located adjacent to the hotel, finally found a charger and immediately sat down next to an outlet. Once the phone was had some charge I called my mom and told her I was coming home. Walking back to the hotel I made phone calls to my brother, my sister and to my friend who helped me with arrange a flex ticket I had bought through her to get back to Dallas. Back at the hotel I quit the job and began sorting out the next few steps.
For the first time all summer I looked forward to returning home... I needed familiar surroundings, family and a week worth of sleep. That being true I also couldn't put my mind at ease returning to a hibernation state in Dallas. As Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man puts it: "Hibernation is a covert preparation for a more overt action" and I was hungry to pursue more overt action.
With Texas not an option and resources to low to get back to Africa, I had only one place to go to satisfy the possibility of working on international issues: Washington DC. August 28th, 12 days after quitting my job and leaving Boston, I arrived in DC.
A few days later I began an internship on Capitol Hill and moved into a house in Silver Spring, Maryland. I'm looking for work while applying to professional graduate degrees among other opportunities such as Peace Corps.
Things aren't ideal, but they're an idealist paradise. Options and opportunity are everywhere. The flame is certainly chasing me and I'm happy to be running!
As you heard or read (on this blog), I was supposed to start a job with US PIRG immediately upon my return from Uganda. During my time in Africa my strong interest in human rights, development, conflict resolution and many other things international were cemented even more firmly into my identity. Toward the middle of the seven week program I began having serious doubts about the job with PIRG. Eventually I tentatively decided I would head to Boston and give the job a chance.
The first few days of training in Boston seemed to drag on and the entire time the thoughts I had while in Ramogi grew louder and louder that while I agree with the issues PIRG worked on, I did not belong there. On Saturday morning, August 15th, three days after returning from Uganda and arriving in Boston those thoughts caught up to me. I had what most would call a break down and I suppose it was, but I'd like to call it a moment of realization.
Nearly from that first day I was already contemplating whether to stay at PIRG or find a way home to Texas and on the previous day, August 14th, my phone died. Regardless of the outcome of this internal debate... I need my phone. Believing I had lost my phone charging, I left the hotel toward a nearby Radio Shack. The charger I needed was not there, I headed toward the AT&T located between Radio Shack and the hotel, being a Saturday though the store was opening later and I had to wait.
Not being able to resist the charm of a book store, I decided to kill time at the Border's a few doors down. As I almost always do, I headed up to the history, politics and contemporary issues section of the store to find my familiar home among books about Africa, ethnic conflict, development and genocide history. Rather than finding exciting ideas to turn about in my head, all the books I saw from the new to those I owned all seemed to reinforce the same idea firmly implanted in my thoughts... "What am I doing here? I shouldn't be here."
Despite being short on cash and contemplating quitting a job I had barely begun... I decided I needed a book. One that might help bring clarity to the situation and perhaps guide me to the right choice. Struggling between a few titles, inspiration struck. I needed to buy Samantha Power's newest book: Chasing the Flame: Sergio Vieira de Mello and the Fight to Save the World. After nearly 20 minutes of searching both with and without help, I almost gave up on finding the book until I rechecked the biography section and found it under P for Power.
Riding the escalator down to the first floor with my book-in-hand I mused to myself... Sergio Vieria de Mello might have been chasing the flame in his career, it seems in my life the flame is chasing me.
The next few things I did might have been irrational and partially motivated by a combination of jet lag and reverse culture shock, but I am happy with the choices made. On autopilot I went to the AT&T store, got rerouted to the mall located adjacent to the hotel, finally found a charger and immediately sat down next to an outlet. Once the phone was had some charge I called my mom and told her I was coming home. Walking back to the hotel I made phone calls to my brother, my sister and to my friend who helped me with arrange a flex ticket I had bought through her to get back to Dallas. Back at the hotel I quit the job and began sorting out the next few steps.
For the first time all summer I looked forward to returning home... I needed familiar surroundings, family and a week worth of sleep. That being true I also couldn't put my mind at ease returning to a hibernation state in Dallas. As Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man puts it: "Hibernation is a covert preparation for a more overt action" and I was hungry to pursue more overt action.
With Texas not an option and resources to low to get back to Africa, I had only one place to go to satisfy the possibility of working on international issues: Washington DC. August 28th, 12 days after quitting my job and leaving Boston, I arrived in DC.
A few days later I began an internship on Capitol Hill and moved into a house in Silver Spring, Maryland. I'm looking for work while applying to professional graduate degrees among other opportunities such as Peace Corps.
Things aren't ideal, but they're an idealist paradise. Options and opportunity are everywhere. The flame is certainly chasing me and I'm happy to be running!
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Update email to Family and Friends 7
VS Uganda - August 7th
In our final week in Ramogi, we learned how UORDP helps the larger community outside of the village proper. Last Friday, we attended a session hosted by UORDP to teach the basics of business management to care givers of child-headed households. This program, like the lend-a-goat program, sets up sustainable projects that can provide the participants with future income to pay for school fees, uniforms and supplies. That afternoon, we continued our work on the church, and during the break, Phillip had the opportunity to literally become a "Fiddler on the Roof". Our work continued into this week as we finished putting metal sheets on the roof and painted the Early Childhood Development Center with murals, shapes, letters and numbers.
Last Saturday afternoon, we continued our friendly competition of the "Uganda Olympics" with a balancing contest which provided a good visual reminder for that morning's session where we discussed the importance of balancing work and rest. The contest was a draw; the white team eked out a narrow victory over the blue team in the following game of charades. That night, the group was able to experience a little more of local culture, as we were invited to a memorial party for a local doctor's mother. While the final funeral rites seem to us an unexpected reason to throw a ruckus party, we enjoyed dancing to both Ugandan hip-hop and Spanish reggae-ton.
On Sunday afternoon we traveled to the neighboring village of Petah to explore and climb some well-known rock formations. The area was a gorgeous vantage point to watch the sunset, and was also the home of a family helped by UORDP. Over a hundred years ago, European explorers posted plaques on one of the rocks, leaving their mark on the land. As we began our final week in Ramogi, we began thinking about what sort of mark we have left on the community, and how we also have changed.
As much as we try to live our last few days in Uganda by living in the moment, we each began thinking about what will happen when we return home. We had many sessions to help us think about this journey. Amy Klein, the visiting journalist, ran a short informational session on how to publish articles as students or recent graduates. On Monday, different participants led programs that prepared us to continue our work when we go home. Natalie facilitated some writing exercises to put us in the memoir- writing mood. Even if the product never makes it to print, the act of writing is an excellent way to organize our thoughts. Leran and Ilana H-S also discussed their previous volunteer experiences. Leran's extensive work as an anti-genocide advocate taught him the most effective ways to work for a cause. Ilana shared her experience with Invisible Children, and international organization that is working to stop the Lord's Resistance Army, a group plaguing the north of Uganda for many decades.
Our education session this week reinforced the idea of continuing service once we return home. We have started to prepare for our departure which also includes exchanging contact information with many of our new friends. We really feel like we have become a part of this community, and in our audience with the Adhola King on Wednesday he told us that we have truly become part of the Adhola people.
Sarah wants to send a shout out to her dad who recommended that the updates say one thing about everyone, and a shout out to her whole family, and happy b-day Laura!
Julian says "I love not having to shower everyday!"
Ilana requests a Subway sandwich with her arrival at the airport.
Eli says "I am muzungu."
Hannah L put polio vaccine droplets in baby's mouths, helping out at the clinic this week.
Natalie misses her family terribly but does not want to leave Uganda .
Judith has been teaching the geography of East Africa to Ugandan school children.
Rachel can't wait to share all she has learned of Ugandan culture with her family and friends.
Philippa has conquered the latrine.
Reva finally knows why the chicken crossed the road.
Shani wishes all her siblings who had birthdays - happy birthday!
Leran invented the Ramogi sandwich!
Hannah K-C has useless powers.
Faigy is looking forward to going to Kampala
Jamie is savoring her last week here but is also looking forward to the adventures to come.
Aaron's mind is blown
Adam has loved being with the group in Ramogi and looks forward to travels in Europe and then coming home in a month.
Philip doesn't like how this is turning into a Facebook status update
Wally likes Philips status update.
See you all soon! VS Uganda
Update email to Family and Friends 6
Dear friends and family,
Our fifth week in Uganda has brought us as many new experiences as our first week. On Wednesday, we started a new work project at the Ramogi Church of Uganda. Building a roof has given us the opportunity to learn new carpentry skills from the community members. The physical labor has been both demanding and rewarding.
We had our third community exchange during which we shared pictures and stories of our families and home. The next day, the female participants hosted their second woman’s meeting. The group visited the homes of two community members and continued to learn what it is like to be a woman in Ramogi. Meanwhile, the men also bonded by exchanging cultural values over Michael Jackson DVD’s (which the whole community seemed to love).
For Shabbat, we were very lucky to visit a local Jewish community, the Abuyadaya, who refer to themselves as a "lost Jewish tribe". After converting in 1919, the community faced oppression under the regime of Idi Amin who tried to wipe out the Jewish population in Uganda. Today, the Abuyadaya are thriving, with a population of 1,300. The community was very welcoming as we celebrated Shabbat services in different tunes and in different languages.
On our way back to Ramogi, we visited an early childhood education teaching college established by Seth Owino, who has been living and working with us on the compound. He has become one of our closest friends.
This week we began working individually on our mini projects. Some of us are working to cultivate land, others are teaching in the classroom at primary schools, while the rest continue to visit health centers. The mini projects allow us to explore personal interest while still giving back to the community.
Although we have been here for five weeks, we find that we are still learning about our partner NGO. Just yesterday we were able to visit two child-led households that are being sponsored by the “Give a Goat Program.” The goats are valuable to the households both as a reproductive source and as a long-term investment in the children’s future.
Today we are observing Tisha B’av through discussion and mediation. Some group members are fasting while all of us are reflecting on suffering in the spirit of the holiday. Today we were also visited by Amy Klein, a journalist who will be staying with us through Monday. We’ll have more to report on Amy’s visit next week.
Our last two weeks are promising and full of excitement and we look forward to further immersing ourselves in the culture of Ramogi before we return home.
See you soon,
VS Uganda 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Update email to Family and Friends 5
Dear friends and family of VS Uganda,
It was another fantastic week for our volunteers in the field.
You may have seen in the news over the past few days, articles talking about violence in Kenya from Somali insurgents. Please know that this is taking place on the southeastern border of Kenya next to Somalia . Our group in Uganda is very close to the northwest border with Kenya , over 600 miles away from the border of Somalia .
At present, the political situation has not filtered into Uganda . American Jewish World Service is committed to maintaining safe and meaningful programs for all of our volunteer program participants. At this time, we feel confident that the Uganda group is safe and secure in their community. We will continue to monitor the situation and consult with a number of sources including International SOS, the US State Department, and AJWS’s in-country staff. If it’s determined that the security situation in Uganda has changed as a result of the political situation in Kenya , we will notify you immediately.
Please email or call me if you have any questions.
Shabbat shalom,
Alexis
--
VS Uganda – July 22nd
Dearest friends and family,
Our summer in Uganda has just passed the half way point, and we can only marvel at how fast the time is flying. We’ve had enlightening education session- towards the end of last week, one of our very own participants, Leran, and Kenneth, and UORDP employee and compound resident, both taught the group about the ongoing turmoil in Sudan . Then Opio (another UORDP employee) spoke about the conflict in Northern Uganda with regards to the Lord’s Resistance Army and the use of child soldiers.
This past Shabbat was spent in Ramogi, with our Friday night services, singing kabbalat Shabbat and a Saturday morning session contemplating our approaches to time and work. On Sunday, we went to the Kenyan boarder, we took a quick drive from the town of Tororo to walk aside the “no-man’s land” and take pictures with the Kenyan flag. We then hiked Tororo Rock, a very steep climb with a rewarding view of the expanses of Uganda and Kenya .
Week day education sessions and speakers have turned more outwardly, covering action and downstream issues in development, the cost and benefits of short term service trips, and even micro-finance groups and institutions. We have even had the opportunity of meeting a women’s micro-finance circle and a savings and credit officer from a local Uganda bank.
Gender inequality is an apparent issue in these rural parts, but the women of Volunteer Summer ‘09 and of Ramogi Village had an enlightening heart to heart talk one quiet afternoon. We discussed topics ranging from marriage and relationships, age of marriage, childbirth and education: topics they felt they couldn’t speak freely about in front of men. We’ve noticed when we go to community meetings it is mostly only the men who speak. Tomorrow we are going to have our women’s circle again and will go and visit with our new friends in their homes. While the VS women are discussing gender topics, the men in our group have various alternative programming.
And finally, we were visited by a local medicine man (who is an MD as well), who brought along with him samples of local herbal remedies.
In work project news, this past Tuesday, we finished the Makaur Primary School walls for three classrooms we’ve been working on. The teacher, students, community leaders and government officials arranged for an elaborate thank you celebration, complete with original songs and coca-cola, which lasted 5 hours!
We are now looking forward to our upcoming work project, which is building a church roof and painting an Early Childhood Development Center . We are looking forward to our new work, but will miss the students and teachers we’ve become friends with over the past few weeks.
It has been an amazing and fulfilling week and we look forward to sharing with you all our new escapades in a week’s time. (Spoiler alert: it will include details of spending Shabbat with the Abuyudaya, Uganda ’s Jewish community.)
Missing you,
VS Uganda
Written by: Faigy Abdelhak
Friday, July 17, 2009
Update email to Family & Friends 4
I may have missed posting one, sorry Leran...
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Enjoy this week’s update from our group in Uganda!
Shabbat shalom,
Alexis
--
VS Uganda – July 16th 2009
Yoga!
As we further settle into our life here in Ramogi, we are beginning to know Uganda in new and exciting ways. As we walk through the community each day, more and more of the children refer to us by name, further solidifying our closeness with the people here. At the work site, our progress at the school is evident as there becomes less and less work for us to do on this project. We were recently told that before we arrived, the construction for this building had been halted for 15 years, which makes the work we have done in completing the school during the past two weeks all the more meaningful.
Our sweat filled work days are not all work and no play, though – our daily break coincides with the students’ morning recess which means a lot of Dhopadhoan singing, drumming and dancing circles (some of us are starting to get the Uganda moves) and many, many games. We further interact with the school community through guest lectures run by the participants of Volunteer Summer each day. Though we have loved our time at the Makaur Primary School and we are excited to move to the Ramogi campus next week to work on the church roof.
While we have truly made a home for ourselves in Ramogi, this weekend we had a chance to see some of Uganda’s breathtaking natural beauty – Sipi Falls. When we first arrived we took showers (warm ones!), ate new food (avocado salad) in the company of the first Muzungus (white people) we’ve encountered since we came to Uganda. They were Canadians and students from the US. All of this, though, pales in comparison to the highlight of our weekend: the hike on Saturday morning. We saw stunning views and splashed around at the bottom of two waterfalls (one of which was over 300 feet high).
We finished our weekend get-a-way with an afternoon in Mbale, the largest city in south eastern Uganda. We went to Nurali’s Café for a delicious Indian lunch. Though our trip was wonderful, one of the most special moments we had was when we returned to the Ramogi Center where we are staying, where we were warmly welcomed by our friends from UORDP. As the bus pulled in, we sang Wanika (we are here) as we hugged our Uganda family.
It took an expedition away from Ramogi to help us focus on the true connection that we have made with the people and this land. We look forward to our remaining four weeks here, which are sure to be filled with more laughter, intensity, change, exploration and growth.
Till next week!
VS Uganda
Written by: Rachel Greenspan
P.S. Rachel celebrated her birthday this week and Philippa got great news about her exams.
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Enjoy this week’s update from our group in Uganda!
Shabbat shalom,
Alexis
--
VS Uganda – July 16th 2009
Yoga!
As we further settle into our life here in Ramogi, we are beginning to know Uganda in new and exciting ways. As we walk through the community each day, more and more of the children refer to us by name, further solidifying our closeness with the people here. At the work site, our progress at the school is evident as there becomes less and less work for us to do on this project. We were recently told that before we arrived, the construction for this building had been halted for 15 years, which makes the work we have done in completing the school during the past two weeks all the more meaningful.
Our sweat filled work days are not all work and no play, though – our daily break coincides with the students’ morning recess which means a lot of Dhopadhoan singing, drumming and dancing circles (some of us are starting to get the Uganda moves) and many, many games. We further interact with the school community through guest lectures run by the participants of Volunteer Summer each day. Though we have loved our time at the Makaur Primary School and we are excited to move to the Ramogi campus next week to work on the church roof.
While we have truly made a home for ourselves in Ramogi, this weekend we had a chance to see some of Uganda’s breathtaking natural beauty – Sipi Falls. When we first arrived we took showers (warm ones!), ate new food (avocado salad) in the company of the first Muzungus (white people) we’ve encountered since we came to Uganda. They were Canadians and students from the US. All of this, though, pales in comparison to the highlight of our weekend: the hike on Saturday morning. We saw stunning views and splashed around at the bottom of two waterfalls (one of which was over 300 feet high).
We finished our weekend get-a-way with an afternoon in Mbale, the largest city in south eastern Uganda. We went to Nurali’s Café for a delicious Indian lunch. Though our trip was wonderful, one of the most special moments we had was when we returned to the Ramogi Center where we are staying, where we were warmly welcomed by our friends from UORDP. As the bus pulled in, we sang Wanika (we are here) as we hugged our Uganda family.
It took an expedition away from Ramogi to help us focus on the true connection that we have made with the people and this land. We look forward to our remaining four weeks here, which are sure to be filled with more laughter, intensity, change, exploration and growth.
Till next week!
VS Uganda
Written by: Rachel Greenspan
P.S. Rachel celebrated her birthday this week and Philippa got great news about her exams.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Week 3 Update
This week I wrote some great things in my journal, but forgot it on the bus... so I'll try to give y'all a quick update before it is time to head back. This week has been jammed pack so of course I'll go into more detail later.
Tororo: In my last post I mentioned I want in Tororo. While the village has been eye opening, Tororo materialized all that I had read about an African city. Banks were housed in pristine first world style buildings while other shops were jammed into tiny rooms with overflowing items. To get to the marketplace we had to walk down narrow alley ways lined with small outdoor shops. Every smaller alleyway intersecting with the main one revealed shanty town style huts with women washing dishes or laundry. Rural poverty has affected our thoughts on development greatly, but is masked by the land... in the city poverty is right smack in your face.
Birthday: As most of you might know, especially all my facebooking friends... Wednesday was my birthday and while I missed being near many of you, I had one of the most spectacular birthdays ever. I was woken up by two of the group members banging on my door singing happy birthday. From that point until yesterday I was constantly barraged by happy birthday wishes by the 18 members of the group along with many of the NGO staff. The director of the NGO even told me that if it wasn't for dietary restrictions of kashrut (kosher) they would have slaughted a chicken, a turkey AND a goat to prepare for a feast in my honor.
Thursday we had an extremely beautiful celebration of the four group member's birthdays that have happened or will happen during our trip in addition to one birthday from the NGO staff... Seth, one of the most compassionate men I've ever met. It was moving to celebrate my birthday with such fantastic people. Two years in a row with such company over two continents!
Sipi Falls: My time is almost out and I promise I will be sharing more about Sipi Falls soon, but google about it and find some images. I have seen some amazing places in Israel and the States, but this was beyond breathtaking.
I have to go, but looking forward to seeing and talking to you all soon. Although I love this place!
Tororo: In my last post I mentioned I want in Tororo. While the village has been eye opening, Tororo materialized all that I had read about an African city. Banks were housed in pristine first world style buildings while other shops were jammed into tiny rooms with overflowing items. To get to the marketplace we had to walk down narrow alley ways lined with small outdoor shops. Every smaller alleyway intersecting with the main one revealed shanty town style huts with women washing dishes or laundry. Rural poverty has affected our thoughts on development greatly, but is masked by the land... in the city poverty is right smack in your face.
Birthday: As most of you might know, especially all my facebooking friends... Wednesday was my birthday and while I missed being near many of you, I had one of the most spectacular birthdays ever. I was woken up by two of the group members banging on my door singing happy birthday. From that point until yesterday I was constantly barraged by happy birthday wishes by the 18 members of the group along with many of the NGO staff. The director of the NGO even told me that if it wasn't for dietary restrictions of kashrut (kosher) they would have slaughted a chicken, a turkey AND a goat to prepare for a feast in my honor.
Thursday we had an extremely beautiful celebration of the four group member's birthdays that have happened or will happen during our trip in addition to one birthday from the NGO staff... Seth, one of the most compassionate men I've ever met. It was moving to celebrate my birthday with such fantastic people. Two years in a row with such company over two continents!
Sipi Falls: My time is almost out and I promise I will be sharing more about Sipi Falls soon, but google about it and find some images. I have seen some amazing places in Israel and the States, but this was beyond breathtaking.
I have to go, but looking forward to seeing and talking to you all soon. Although I love this place!
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Week 2 Update
My fear has come true and I have failed at keeping up with my journal about 8 or 9 days ago. I will continue to push myself, but there is so much to do and so little time. When I get some downtime when we still have light I have ended up reading or talking with people. Don't worry, I will absolutely continue to share the best highlights on here when I get a chance to update. I'll make this one quick though:
Our first project: We have started helping to build a four classroom building at Makaur Primary School, a highly connected village adjacent to Ramogi. Well, emphasis on helping since we mostly have just carried bricks from a pile about 500 yards away or from one side of the site to another while the Ugandans do the real construction work. We're glad to be assisting while experiencing their culture.
My Ugandan name: After a few days of work we were promised to be given Ugandan names, or more accurately, Dipadola names. Dipadola being the dialect spoken in Ramogi and Makaur. My name is Jaweri which means a boy born during a song, the closest possible name to Leran which means "my song"
My city trip buddy is waiting patiently so I will wrap up now. I'm safe and very happy although I definitely miss some luxuries such as reliable light and certain foods. Surprisingly it has been very easy to go without internet. My friends are taking many pictures so I will fill in the huge gaps for all of you when I return.
Afoyo! (Dipadola for thank you)
Our first project: We have started helping to build a four classroom building at Makaur Primary School, a highly connected village adjacent to Ramogi. Well, emphasis on helping since we mostly have just carried bricks from a pile about 500 yards away or from one side of the site to another while the Ugandans do the real construction work. We're glad to be assisting while experiencing their culture.
My Ugandan name: After a few days of work we were promised to be given Ugandan names, or more accurately, Dipadola names. Dipadola being the dialect spoken in Ramogi and Makaur. My name is Jaweri which means a boy born during a song, the closest possible name to Leran which means "my song"
My city trip buddy is waiting patiently so I will wrap up now. I'm safe and very happy although I definitely miss some luxuries such as reliable light and certain foods. Surprisingly it has been very easy to go without internet. My friends are taking many pictures so I will fill in the huge gaps for all of you when I return.
Afoyo! (Dipadola for thank you)
Ramogi Resource Center
Written 6/27
The center is a gorgeous facilty focused around a main house where Apollo lives wit his family which inlcudes rambunctious boy named Isaac who has quickly become our unofficial masoct. The quest rooms are located in four wings: Toronto (where the men sleep), New York (where the women sleep), Milan and an almost complete one named after Apollo's mother. He warmly described her as a strong and compassionate woman.
The rooms are much nicer than we expected: we share with only two other people, have beds with sheets, blankets and bathrooms with FLUSH toilets. We even (on most days) have lights after sundown. On our first night the door handle snapped so the bathroom door won't stay shut on its down, nothing to complain about overall.
The center also includes a beatiful gathering spot built more traditionally with a thatched roof, an outdoor kitchen, farm land and various animals including a cute dog named Tiger. Much of the food we eat is grown here and despite our fears the food is wonderful.
The center is located near the heart of the village and right next to the Ramogi Primary School, Ramogi Early Childhood Development center and the Protestant Church. Almost immediately we're swarmed by children who want to play with us, learn English and teach us Dipadola (the local language). Kenya is less than 20 minutes walk which provides for an extra excitement when gazing at the already breathtaking view.
The center is a gorgeous facilty focused around a main house where Apollo lives wit his family which inlcudes rambunctious boy named Isaac who has quickly become our unofficial masoct. The quest rooms are located in four wings: Toronto (where the men sleep), New York (where the women sleep), Milan and an almost complete one named after Apollo's mother. He warmly described her as a strong and compassionate woman.
The rooms are much nicer than we expected: we share with only two other people, have beds with sheets, blankets and bathrooms with FLUSH toilets. We even (on most days) have lights after sundown. On our first night the door handle snapped so the bathroom door won't stay shut on its down, nothing to complain about overall.
The center also includes a beatiful gathering spot built more traditionally with a thatched roof, an outdoor kitchen, farm land and various animals including a cute dog named Tiger. Much of the food we eat is grown here and despite our fears the food is wonderful.
The center is located near the heart of the village and right next to the Ramogi Primary School, Ramogi Early Childhood Development center and the Protestant Church. Almost immediately we're swarmed by children who want to play with us, learn English and teach us Dipadola (the local language). Kenya is less than 20 minutes walk which provides for an extra excitement when gazing at the already breathtaking view.
On the Bus in Uganda
Written 6/25
Currently sitting outside the very comfy Sohpie's Motel, the place we spent our first night in Uganda. The staff was extremely friendly, breakfast delicious and the rooms equivalent to US 3 star standards. Overall a great welcome.
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This morning we met some of the staff from the Uganda Orphans Rural Development Program, the NGO we are working with in Uganda. These few staffers are riding with us from Entebbe to Ramgoi and immedaitely their dedication and passion shines through along with their warm smiles.
We first stop in Kampala in order for the group leaders to buy snacks from the ride and for us to exchange money. The city is very similar to what I imagined in a developing country. Simultaneously signsof growth and moderity along with sings of subsistence. Goats, chickens and cows are seen all over, but so are vehicles (mostly motorbikes carrying 2 or 3 riders) are also abundant. Many Ugandans are on foot while others zoom by alll the stores and billboards. Coca-Cola, unsurprisingly, is as popular here as it is everywhere else in the world.
These signs extend well out of the city. The road we're on is lined with stores, resturants and gathering spaces. It seems every few minutes another building is brightly with colored with ads for Coke, paint, cell phones, cooking oil and even investment banking! Billboards are a constant sight as evident by the GIANT Bell Beer (a local brand) ad in what we could only describe as the middle of nowhere even in Ugandan standards.
About halfway through the drive we pass over the Nile in Jina, not from where it originates from Lake Victoria. After passing a police check and slowing down by some men who try to sell us corn via the windows, the stores slowly become fewer and structures more characteristic of developing communities. We even spot a few baboons in a heavily wooded area along the road!
Finally we turn off in Tooro, the roads degrade into semi-passable conditions and we're definitely no longer on a highway, Entebbe or Kampla. We're clearly in a bustling city nestled in a rural district nonetheless. Apollo, the executive director of UORDP, boards our bus . He is a strong looking man wearing a large glowing smile and a suite. After a quick hello we depart for Ramogi.
Currently sitting outside the very comfy Sohpie's Motel, the place we spent our first night in Uganda. The staff was extremely friendly, breakfast delicious and the rooms equivalent to US 3 star standards. Overall a great welcome.
<:AtomicElement>
This morning we met some of the staff from the Uganda Orphans Rural Development Program, the NGO we are working with in Uganda. These few staffers are riding with us from Entebbe to Ramgoi and immedaitely their dedication and passion shines through along with their warm smiles.
We first stop in Kampala in order for the group leaders to buy snacks from the ride and for us to exchange money. The city is very similar to what I imagined in a developing country. Simultaneously signsof growth and moderity along with sings of subsistence. Goats, chickens and cows are seen all over, but so are vehicles (mostly motorbikes carrying 2 or 3 riders) are also abundant. Many Ugandans are on foot while others zoom by alll the stores and billboards. Coca-Cola, unsurprisingly, is as popular here as it is everywhere else in the world.
These signs extend well out of the city. The road we're on is lined with stores, resturants and gathering spaces. It seems every few minutes another building is brightly with colored with ads for Coke, paint, cell phones, cooking oil and even investment banking! Billboards are a constant sight as evident by the GIANT Bell Beer (a local brand) ad in what we could only describe as the middle of nowhere even in Ugandan standards.
About halfway through the drive we pass over the Nile in Jina, not from where it originates from Lake Victoria. After passing a police check and slowing down by some men who try to sell us corn via the windows, the stores slowly become fewer and structures more characteristic of developing communities. We even spot a few baboons in a heavily wooded area along the road!
Finally we turn off in Tooro, the roads degrade into semi-passable conditions and we're definitely no longer on a highway, Entebbe or Kampla. We're clearly in a bustling city nestled in a rural district nonetheless. Apollo, the executive director of UORDP, boards our bus . He is a strong looking man wearing a large glowing smile and a suite. After a quick hello we depart for Ramogi.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Update email to Family & Friends 2
Dear family and friends of VS Uganda,
I hope this e-mail finds you well.
I received an update from our volunteers in Ramogi Village . They are eager to tell you about their incredibly exciting week, full of new experiences, hands-on work and discussions about the community, the politics of the region and the Jewish motivation for doing social justice work.
I hope you have a wonderful July 4th weekend. The AJWS office will be closed on Friday, July 3rd, so if you need to reach me for any reason, please call the 24-hour emergency line at 212.736.XXXX (does not need to be posted in a blog), and ask to speak with me.
Best,
Alexis
VS Uganda – July 1st
Yoga!
That is hello in Dopadollah, the local language here in Ramogi. We are all doing quite well, bonding with our fellow participants and group leaders, working hard at the work site, doing our daily chores, taking bucket baths, and interacting with our host community.
Our group has only spent 5 days in this village and we’ve already come face-to-face with many of the challenges and joys of being “the visitor”. The community has gone to great lengths to welcome us, especially through their singing and dancing. We have been greeted by dozens of children, who have offered their hands as we walk by the local primary school and in a formal ceremony with representatives from the local community.
Everyone from our group has acknowledged our privilege to be able to travel and live in Uganda for 7 weeks. We know that this cultural exchange experience is unique. This trip provides us with many glimpses into an extremely different life style that we could not fully appreciate from a university lecture or newspaper article. In spite of how remarkable the beginning of our journey has been, the group continues to grapple with many difficult questions:
How do we best express our gratitude toward our hosts who constantly tell us to feel at home? How do we strike the delicate balance between integrating our selves into the surrounding community, while still respecting others’ culture and space? And finally, what do the local inhabitants think of us, as Americans, as Jews and as representatives of the “developed world”? While these complex questions can sometimes lead to moments of frustration and discomfort, they also provide us with innumerable opportunities for personal growth and newly gained perspectives.
As we took our first bucket baths and take turns pumping water from the local well, we are forced to reconsider water conservation. As we walk past Ugandan natives working in their fields without shoes, we are faced with people’s struggles for basic resources. And when we take our malaria pills, we realize that we are extremely fortunate to have access to medicines that many of the local Ugandans must live without.
While some of the images of poverty that we see every day in Ramogi are heartbreaking, we are also experiencing a plethora of warmth and joy. The connection we experience when we play “London Bridges Falling down” with dozens of Uganda children is undeniable.
Another powerful moment for us occurred at our welcome ceremony when the director of our partner NGO (non-government organization), Apollo Jaramogi, asked each of the AJW participants to explain our chosen majors in school, in hopes of inspiring the adolescent girls to continue their own schooling.
While we have begun to experience the lifestyle of the residence here, learned some of the local language, and received our native names, we have so many issues we still have to explore. We are eager to learn more about the community, through both formal and informal conversations.
The coming weeks will require much physical, mental and emotional stamina. The benefits we will gain are intangible.
Love from VS Uganda
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Update email to family & Friends 1
This is from the official email from the AJWS for Volunteer Summer (VS) Uganda:
Dear family and friends of VS Uganda,
I am very happy to tell you that the AJWS Volunteer Summer Uganda group has landed in Entebbe , and everyone has made their way to a hotel close to the airport. First thing in the morning, the group will make the drive to Ramogi Village , in south-east Uganda , which will take roughly 5-6 hours.
I am also excited to share the first of many updates, written by the group. The Uganda volunteers wrote this particular update yesterday, just prior to their departure.
Beginning next week and for the duration of the trip, you will receive a weekly update from me, prior to Shabbat.
All the best,
Alexis
VS Uganda – June 23, 2009Friends and Family,
We are at the end of Orientation, and are leaving for Uganda today! Over the past few days we’ve learned the importance of drinking water, making smart choices, building community, drinking water, creating cross-cultural exchanges and drinking water. Different speakers and sessions taught us how to act during our visit to our host country. We prepared ourselves by reading articles on how we perceive culture in general and how different cultures perceive us. We have already had a taste of cross-cultural exchange through conversations with one participant from London , Philippa. We can’t avoid learning more about our own culture with participants from London , Colorado , Florida , New York , Georgia , California , New Jersey , Pennsylvania , Washington and Texas .
While we have only spent two days together, we already feel ourselves becoming a close-knit community. We have discussed our community expectations in sessions and have found ourselves becoming friends outside of the programming. We explored a bit of New York City , visiting Time’s Square, eating frozen yogurt and even ordering-in sushi. We will only get to know each other better during our 16 hour plane ride.
The first evening of Orientation, Ruth Messinger, the president of AJWS, whose poise and insight inspired us all, spoke to us about the importance of social justice and activism. She moved us through her story of how President Obama recognized AJWS as a leader in the movement to end the genocide in Darfur .
As we prepare to leave with our newly bonded community, we are excited, anxious, and ready to finally get to Uganda w here we will meet the people of Ramogi Village and begin our work with UORDP (Uganda Orphans Rural Development Programme). Each week, several participants will write updates to tell you more about our experiences on the ground. We are about to embark on new adventure and we thank you for your support.
Mweraba,
VS Uganda
Arriving In Uganda--First Impressions
Smooth, uneventful landing in Uganda tonight after 8p.m. local time. The airport at Entebbe reminds me of a small regional airport in the states. Few stores, no thrills, but a clean and fairly modern terminal. Immediately though, one indicator we were in a developing country appeared: we were greeted by entry agents wearing medical masks and World Health Organization posters warning not of malaria or swine flu, but influenza. The flu can be a serious concern in the US, but is typically just a drain on productivity... in Uganda it seems to be a much more worrisome concern.
After an hour of filling out forms and waiting in line we quickly got our bags and loaded up two motel vans. Heading down the road, again I felt as if I was riding somewhere that crossed between Israel and a developing area in the states. Overall Entebbe looks like a poor area in the US, but with retail, pavement and overall signs of modernity. Of course, though, signs of otherwise were evident. Many more people were walking along side the main road after 10 p.m. at night than I had ever seen before in the US.
Eventually the road degraded to the sterotype of Africa and was quite bumpy the last few mintues to the hotel. I am quickly finishing up here, need to go take my first shower (and possibly last that doesn't come from a bucket) in Uganda. I'll try to update soon, but it might be a while seeing we're heading to our village in the morning.
After an hour of filling out forms and waiting in line we quickly got our bags and loaded up two motel vans. Heading down the road, again I felt as if I was riding somewhere that crossed between Israel and a developing area in the states. Overall Entebbe looks like a poor area in the US, but with retail, pavement and overall signs of modernity. Of course, though, signs of otherwise were evident. Many more people were walking along side the main road after 10 p.m. at night than I had ever seen before in the US.
Eventually the road degraded to the sterotype of Africa and was quite bumpy the last few mintues to the hotel. I am quickly finishing up here, need to go take my first shower (and possibly last that doesn't come from a bucket) in Uganda. I'll try to update soon, but it might be a while seeing we're heading to our village in the morning.
Flying Over Africa
At the moment I am 365 km above the border of Sudan and Uganda, about 20 minutes from our landing in Entebbe. It's a very unique experience flying in a plane with people en route to East Africa. While there are a few Ugandans on the plane and perhaps a few tourists, the overwhelming majority of passengers are volunteers, aide workers, NGO staff and a few researchers.
Next to me, for example, is a woman from a teaching delegation from a church in Connecticut en route to South Sudan. Traveling in itself is an incredible endeavor in my opinion, but I can't think of another destination other than Africa where the plans of so many are focused on the host community and not themselves.
Next to me, for example, is a woman from a teaching delegation from a church in Connecticut en route to South Sudan. Traveling in itself is an incredible endeavor in my opinion, but I can't think of another destination other than Africa where the plans of so many are focused on the host community and not themselves.
En Route to NYC
Originally written 6/18
I decided to go to New York a few days early to see friends and family and it seems I picked the "perfect" day. The day started yesterday since I only briefly napped last night. Aside from expensive, hard to find malaria pills and my mom's car battery dying, Tuesday the 17th was a good day. The problem though was that packing for Uganda was even more time intensive than I had anticipated. I barely had time to finish my post-Uganda packing.
In typical Minc fashion, my mom and I arrived at DFW five minutes too late for me to check in my bag so my 8:40 flight turned into a 10:30 flight w/connection and many delays. Happy to say I am writing this on the tarmac in Philly at 5:30 EST and will be in NYC shortly.
I decided to go to New York a few days early to see friends and family and it seems I picked the "perfect" day. The day started yesterday since I only briefly napped last night. Aside from expensive, hard to find malaria pills and my mom's car battery dying, Tuesday the 17th was a good day. The problem though was that packing for Uganda was even more time intensive than I had anticipated. I barely had time to finish my post-Uganda packing.
In typical Minc fashion, my mom and I arrived at DFW five minutes too late for me to check in my bag so my 8:40 flight turned into a 10:30 flight w/connection and many delays. Happy to say I am writing this on the tarmac in Philly at 5:30 EST and will be in NYC shortly.
Friday, June 19, 2009
A Thank You Reflection
I wrote the following as my Thank You Letter to people who donated to my trip. I thought I would post it on here for all of you since it is also a reflection on my trip and even though you may have not donated monetarily if you're reading this you deserve a thank you for being my friend.
I have been thinking lately about what the opportunity to go to Uganda means to me in order to better understand exactly why all the generosity of my friends has struck such a powerful emotional chord with me. A few weeks ago when discussing my trip with my mom she commented about how fortunate I have been as a child of a widow graduating from college with fairly low debt. She was making the point that perhaps going to Uganda should be seen as financially out of reach for me. While she certainly has a valid point, I know I am beyond privileged to have had many of the great experiences and opportunities I have managed to have thus far in life.
The more I think about it, the more I can see that a quiet determination has led me to the right choices to accumulate the past experience that may ordinarily not be available to a single mother average yearly earnings only slightly above the poverty level. Being in Plano as a stubborn teen probably contributed to this determination, I tried to explain to my mom that because I was in an unfortunate situation that shouldn’t ruin the chance to do things that would benefit me personally and professionally.
In the past I used this stubbornness or determination, whatever it may be called, to go to conferences, summer camps and even college without driving my mom or myself into heavy debt. I was fortunate enough to receive financial aid and scholarships to most of these activities. I even chose to intern in DC last summer ignoring the fact that I would deplete a good chunk of my savings doing so. It is horribly unfortunate that even great students have to sacrifice interning or traveling abroad because of financial constraints.
In the end, I also sacrificed traveling abroad so that I could spend a summer in DC. I do not regret it, last summer was an invaluable experience filled with great work and great people. Thanks to the AJWS Volunteer Summer, I may end up having the chance to have some version of the student travel abroad experience in Africa doing work that, as mentioned before, will be benefitting me personally and professionally.
I try to live my life by one of my favorite quotations from Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison: "It's winner take nothing that is the great truth of our country or of any country. Life is to be lived, not controlled; and humanity is won by playing in the face of certain defeat." We are all trying to make the world better in our own ways and I truly believe by playing in the face of certain defeat and by supporting one another we experience Uganda, build a school for HIV/AIDS effected orphans, end genocide, and all the other ambitions we each have as individuals and as a group.
I have been thinking lately about what the opportunity to go to Uganda means to me in order to better understand exactly why all the generosity of my friends has struck such a powerful emotional chord with me. A few weeks ago when discussing my trip with my mom she commented about how fortunate I have been as a child of a widow graduating from college with fairly low debt. She was making the point that perhaps going to Uganda should be seen as financially out of reach for me. While she certainly has a valid point, I know I am beyond privileged to have had many of the great experiences and opportunities I have managed to have thus far in life.
The more I think about it, the more I can see that a quiet determination has led me to the right choices to accumulate the past experience that may ordinarily not be available to a single mother average yearly earnings only slightly above the poverty level. Being in Plano as a stubborn teen probably contributed to this determination, I tried to explain to my mom that because I was in an unfortunate situation that shouldn’t ruin the chance to do things that would benefit me personally and professionally.
In the past I used this stubbornness or determination, whatever it may be called, to go to conferences, summer camps and even college without driving my mom or myself into heavy debt. I was fortunate enough to receive financial aid and scholarships to most of these activities. I even chose to intern in DC last summer ignoring the fact that I would deplete a good chunk of my savings doing so. It is horribly unfortunate that even great students have to sacrifice interning or traveling abroad because of financial constraints.
In the end, I also sacrificed traveling abroad so that I could spend a summer in DC. I do not regret it, last summer was an invaluable experience filled with great work and great people. Thanks to the AJWS Volunteer Summer, I may end up having the chance to have some version of the student travel abroad experience in Africa doing work that, as mentioned before, will be benefitting me personally and professionally.
I try to live my life by one of my favorite quotations from Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison: "It's winner take nothing that is the great truth of our country or of any country. Life is to be lived, not controlled; and humanity is won by playing in the face of certain defeat." We are all trying to make the world better in our own ways and I truly believe by playing in the face of certain defeat and by supporting one another we experience Uganda, build a school for HIV/AIDS effected orphans, end genocide, and all the other ambitions we each have as individuals and as a group.
Friday, April 24, 2009
I Have A Future!
I've been holding off on this post for a few weeks since I wanted to make sure things were solid before making all the details public, but after four months of applying to many hundreds of jobs and going on about half a dozen interviews, I finally have a tentative plan for now until August 2011 and figured some of the more curious people out there might be interested.
Now until mid-June: I'm working to save for Uganda and beyond (more below) at a CD store called CD Source in Dallas (Lovers and Greenville for those who live or visit here). I highly recommend visiting and shopping there even if I'm not working there. It is by far one of the best places I could imagine to work retail. Great people, huge selection and fun atmosphere. They buy used CDs and DVDs so if you need cash or would like to exchange CDs or DVDs you no longer use for ones you might, stop by! www.myspace.com/cdsource.
I need to make the decision ASAP, but I may cram for the GRE and take it briefly before leaving. Speaking of leaving...
Mid-June (perhaps June 18th-23rd, for sure 21st-23rd): I'll be in New York City. The 21st-23rd I will be with AJWS for orientation before departing for Uganda. I'm hoping to go a few days early to see friends, maybe audition for Who Wants To Be a Millioniare (I'm a loser, yes) and who knows what else....let me know if you'll be up there!
June 23rd to August 12th: Uganda!!! (well plus travel) If you notice that not just 1 or 2, but 3 exclamation points worth of excitement. I think I'll post a separate entry on Uganda and more details, but here are the basics:
I'm going with college students and perhaps other recent grads and we will be working in a rural village in eastern Uganda close to the city of Tororo in a village called Ramogi. We will be building a school for orphans served by Uganda Orphans Rural Development Programme. These orphans have been effected in some way by the HIV/AIDS crisis.
I'm sure I will go into length about this in my more detailed post, but I still need a bit more help to ensure this plan is a reality. If you can spare anything please visit https://donate.ajws.org/03/service. Please make sure to include my name, Uganda and Volunteer Summer. I estimate if I can raise another 1,000 dollars I should have no problem at all going. At this moment I'm fairly determined to go either way, but your help would be incredibly appreciated.
August 12th-August 20th? (Unsure exact dates): As soon as I return to NYC from Uganda, I will be rushing up to Boston to join with the US Public Interest Research Group training for new fellowship associates. For more information on the job visit this site. Essentially I will be either a field associate helping to run an office and working on many issues or an issue associate, still at a field office, working on one specific issue. I hope to see some of my Boston friends while up there and get to see Boston since I've never been. Perhaps a visit to Tufts Fletcher School and Harvard Kennedy School of Government!
August 20th-August 31st 2011: When I leave Boston I may have some time off, but very soon after I will be starting at a PIRG office somewhere in the US. Of course I will blog about it when I get there as well as I reach out to any of you who might be living there. I'd love to add more details, but I don't know any at the moment!
That's the next 2+ years in a nutshell. As mentioned, I will try to do better with the blog about both Uganda and my job with PIRG as well as life in general. After August 2011, I will try to work in human rights advocacy, do some traveling or get some Hill experience. If no opportunities appeal to me or I strongly desire to, I will being grad school. I may also stay with PIRG. Of course more on that stuff 18+ months.
I want to thank you all for the love and support in the past, in sorting out this stuff in the present and for the well wishes for the future. I will continue to do my best to keep in touch regardless if I'm in Uganda, Boston or Texas and I hope you do the same.
Weebale (Lugandan for thank you),
Leran
Now until mid-June: I'm working to save for Uganda and beyond (more below) at a CD store called CD Source in Dallas (Lovers and Greenville for those who live or visit here). I highly recommend visiting and shopping there even if I'm not working there. It is by far one of the best places I could imagine to work retail. Great people, huge selection and fun atmosphere. They buy used CDs and DVDs so if you need cash or would like to exchange CDs or DVDs you no longer use for ones you might, stop by! www.myspace.com/cdsource.
I need to make the decision ASAP, but I may cram for the GRE and take it briefly before leaving. Speaking of leaving...
Mid-June (perhaps June 18th-23rd, for sure 21st-23rd): I'll be in New York City. The 21st-23rd I will be with AJWS for orientation before departing for Uganda. I'm hoping to go a few days early to see friends, maybe audition for Who Wants To Be a Millioniare (I'm a loser, yes) and who knows what else....let me know if you'll be up there!
June 23rd to August 12th: Uganda!!! (well plus travel) If you notice that not just 1 or 2, but 3 exclamation points worth of excitement. I think I'll post a separate entry on Uganda and more details, but here are the basics:
I'm going with college students and perhaps other recent grads and we will be working in a rural village in eastern Uganda close to the city of Tororo in a village called Ramogi. We will be building a school for orphans served by Uganda Orphans Rural Development Programme. These orphans have been effected in some way by the HIV/AIDS crisis.
I'm sure I will go into length about this in my more detailed post, but I still need a bit more help to ensure this plan is a reality. If you can spare anything please visit https://donate.ajws.org/03/service. Please make sure to include my name, Uganda and Volunteer Summer. I estimate if I can raise another 1,000 dollars I should have no problem at all going. At this moment I'm fairly determined to go either way, but your help would be incredibly appreciated.
August 12th-August 20th? (Unsure exact dates): As soon as I return to NYC from Uganda, I will be rushing up to Boston to join with the US Public Interest Research Group training for new fellowship associates. For more information on the job visit this site. Essentially I will be either a field associate helping to run an office and working on many issues or an issue associate, still at a field office, working on one specific issue. I hope to see some of my Boston friends while up there and get to see Boston since I've never been. Perhaps a visit to Tufts Fletcher School and Harvard Kennedy School of Government!
August 20th-August 31st 2011: When I leave Boston I may have some time off, but very soon after I will be starting at a PIRG office somewhere in the US. Of course I will blog about it when I get there as well as I reach out to any of you who might be living there. I'd love to add more details, but I don't know any at the moment!
______________________________________
That's the next 2+ years in a nutshell. As mentioned, I will try to do better with the blog about both Uganda and my job with PIRG as well as life in general. After August 2011, I will try to work in human rights advocacy, do some traveling or get some Hill experience. If no opportunities appeal to me or I strongly desire to, I will being grad school. I may also stay with PIRG. Of course more on that stuff 18+ months.
I want to thank you all for the love and support in the past, in sorting out this stuff in the present and for the well wishes for the future. I will continue to do my best to keep in touch regardless if I'm in Uganda, Boston or Texas and I hope you do the same.
Weebale (Lugandan for thank you),
Leran
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Will Obama Save The Marriage?
When I came home this evening (from a planning meeting for a Darfur-related event: Art for Darfur), I received the exciting news that President Obama is finally appointing a Special Envoy for Sudan, retired Air Force General Scott Gration.
As one of many thousands who have been demanding since Janurary 20th that Obama appoint a special envoy, I am very pleased that we at least have a name. With the escalated crisis brought upon the expulsion of humanitarian aide groups by President Bashir, the envoy is needed more than ever to hopefully bring the long nightmare to an end.
As quoted in the New York Times, Jerry Fowler of Save Darfur Coalition said, “Why is there a disconnect? We need presidential engagement and we need it now.”
As you saw in my last blog post, I argued that both pro-Obamas and otherwise in the anti-genocide movement should take off the gloves and put the squeeze on our officials like we had attempted to when President Bush was in office. I believe the increases outcry of Sudan activists over the last two weeks (since the ICC indictment) helped bringing about this long awaited appointment.
The question remains though, Will Obama Save the "Marriage?" If the honeymoon is already over due to the lateness and weakness of the adminstration's response, does this appointment mark the beginning of our government salvaging itself from months of relative neglect on Sudan or is this simply a token measure in response of increasing pressure by activists?
Regardless of the answer, I echo my previous thoughts. We must continue to mount pressure on our officials including President Obama to ensure an appropriately robust policy on Sudan that goes beyond managing the situation and toward finally sustainable solutions for peace in Darfur and all of Sudan. This includes insuring that General Gration does not suffer from the same defecits as previous envoys Rich Williamson and Andrew Natsios. Gration NEEDS to have adequate staff and the ear of the President and Secretary Clinton in order to succede in his mission.
We must continue keeping Obama accountable so that he can keep his promises regarding Darfur. You can find a complete lists of asks for the Administration and Congress created by STAND: A Student Anti-Genocide Coalition here: http://standnow.org/campaigns/dfd1/inform/asking
Let's keep up the calls, letters, op-eds and events. This news is worth celebrating, but we cannot get complacent until there is peace.
As one of many thousands who have been demanding since Janurary 20th that Obama appoint a special envoy, I am very pleased that we at least have a name. With the escalated crisis brought upon the expulsion of humanitarian aide groups by President Bashir, the envoy is needed more than ever to hopefully bring the long nightmare to an end.
As quoted in the New York Times, Jerry Fowler of Save Darfur Coalition said, “Why is there a disconnect? We need presidential engagement and we need it now.”
As you saw in my last blog post, I argued that both pro-Obamas and otherwise in the anti-genocide movement should take off the gloves and put the squeeze on our officials like we had attempted to when President Bush was in office. I believe the increases outcry of Sudan activists over the last two weeks (since the ICC indictment) helped bringing about this long awaited appointment.
The question remains though, Will Obama Save the "Marriage?" If the honeymoon is already over due to the lateness and weakness of the adminstration's response, does this appointment mark the beginning of our government salvaging itself from months of relative neglect on Sudan or is this simply a token measure in response of increasing pressure by activists?
Regardless of the answer, I echo my previous thoughts. We must continue to mount pressure on our officials including President Obama to ensure an appropriately robust policy on Sudan that goes beyond managing the situation and toward finally sustainable solutions for peace in Darfur and all of Sudan. This includes insuring that General Gration does not suffer from the same defecits as previous envoys Rich Williamson and Andrew Natsios. Gration NEEDS to have adequate staff and the ear of the President and Secretary Clinton in order to succede in his mission.
We must continue keeping Obama accountable so that he can keep his promises regarding Darfur. You can find a complete lists of asks for the Administration and Congress created by STAND: A Student Anti-Genocide Coalition here: http://standnow.org/campaigns/dfd1/inform/asking
Let's keep up the calls, letters, op-eds and events. This news is worth celebrating, but we cannot get complacent until there is peace.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Obama's Anti-Genocide Honeymoon Is Over
While anti-genocide work has been a very bi-partisan and non-partisan endeavor essentially from day one and all anti-genocide advocacy organizations are by design non-partisan, there was and continues to be overwhelming support for President Obama from anti-genocide activists nearly from early on in his campaign. As a senator, President Obama used his assignment in the Foreign Service committee to sponsor and support a number of pieces of legislation aimed at bringing the crisis in Darfur to an end. His commitment to peace in Sudan earned him a consistent A+ Darfur Score by the Genocide Intervention Network and a shared prologue to the New York Times Bestseller, Not On Our Watch with Senator Sam Brownback.
During his time as senator into his campaign and now into his administration, Obama reinforced his anti-genocide credentials by receiving advice from and hiring many friends of the anti-genocide movement. John Prendergast, co-author of the previously mentioned book and chair of the ENOUGH Project, served as a foreign policy advisor to candidate Obama. US Ambassador to the United Nations during her confirmation and for years before has passionately spoken about her regrets over Rwanda and her determination to not repeat mistakes. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also spoke passionately regarding Darfur on the campaign trail and was a consistent champion of Darfur along with Obama in the Senate. Finally, Samantha Power, has been officially brought back into the Obama camp after resigning from his campaign for her gaffe by calling Clinton a “monster”. Power wrote American and the Problem Hell: America and the Age of Genocide, which has been utilized as a critical resource with countless insights for the current anti-genocide movement.
I, for one, have been one of the most passionate Barack Obama supporters since his speech at the Democratic National Convention in 2004. I felt he would one day run for president and win and that he was a truly genuine politician with an incredible worldview which I felt was in sync with mine. Despite all that, it pains me to say that I believe Obama’s honeymoon period with the anti-genocide movement is over. I’ll give two reasons:
1. Where’s our envoy?
Last Tuesday, February 23rd, one of the best known advocates for peace in Darfur actor George Clooney met with President Obama after returning from a trip to the Chad/Darfur border. After the meeting Clooney spoke to the press with overall positive remarks including that reassurances were made that a US Special Envoy for Sudan would be appointed soon.
A week and a half later, neither the White House or the State Department have definitively confirmed that this promise will be kept in a timely manner. I, nor anyone in the anti-genocide movement, can deny the importance of the large scale policy reviews going on at the State Department. Additionally it is hard to argue that special envoys for the middle east, Afghanistan and elsewhere were/are of critical importance. But an ongoing genocide that has cost the lives of 400,000+ and has captured the outrage of many tens of thousands US citizens should be a priority of the administration and specifically the State Department. I am shocked that a sympathetic president who like his predecessor clearly wants to end the genocide has let his administration act so slowly to appoint someone for such a critical post.
2. What does “exercising restraint” mean?
The need for a US Special Envoy for Sudan was critical before the news out of the International Criminal Court this week. With the release of a warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and his retaliation of revoking humanitarian organizations’ licenses, a high level diplomat with sufficient resources to push for peace in Sudan is an even more urgent need than ever before. Despite this we still have no mention of when such an envoy might be appointed or who the envoy might be.
What troubles me more, though, is the continued weak responses coming out of the White House and State Department in light of developments such as the ones this week. The State Department responded to the ICC announcement by urging restraint from all sides. While I would hope the Sudanese Government would show restraint in their campaign of genocide, I cannot shake the question, how does a government who commits genocide really show restraint?
The boldest action or statement yet was that a meeting at the White House with State Department officials and aid groups concerned with the humanitarian organizations being expelled from Sudan. While I commend the Administration and State for participating in the conversation, where is the action? At the very least where is the strong condemnation of the Sudanese government’s horrendous action?
-----
The sticking point is that while the United States faces many unprecedented challenges and the Obama Administration has to deal with practically all of them, a few million Sudanese civilians will be neglected by their government, targeted for genocide and now will go without humanitarian aide out of a corrupt regime’s unwillingness to negotiate peace or respect justice. And our government’s response is a whisper. Not action, not even a shout, but a whisper.
To President Obama, we expected more.
To my anti-genocide advocates both pro-Obama and others, we should not hesitate to hold this President’s feet to the fire like we attempted to do for President Bush.
Sympathetic thoughts and feelings will not end genocide, Obama must do more and we must demand more.
During his time as senator into his campaign and now into his administration, Obama reinforced his anti-genocide credentials by receiving advice from and hiring many friends of the anti-genocide movement. John Prendergast, co-author of the previously mentioned book and chair of the ENOUGH Project, served as a foreign policy advisor to candidate Obama. US Ambassador to the United Nations during her confirmation and for years before has passionately spoken about her regrets over Rwanda and her determination to not repeat mistakes. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also spoke passionately regarding Darfur on the campaign trail and was a consistent champion of Darfur along with Obama in the Senate. Finally, Samantha Power, has been officially brought back into the Obama camp after resigning from his campaign for her gaffe by calling Clinton a “monster”. Power wrote American and the Problem Hell: America and the Age of Genocide, which has been utilized as a critical resource with countless insights for the current anti-genocide movement.
I, for one, have been one of the most passionate Barack Obama supporters since his speech at the Democratic National Convention in 2004. I felt he would one day run for president and win and that he was a truly genuine politician with an incredible worldview which I felt was in sync with mine. Despite all that, it pains me to say that I believe Obama’s honeymoon period with the anti-genocide movement is over. I’ll give two reasons:
1. Where’s our envoy?
Last Tuesday, February 23rd, one of the best known advocates for peace in Darfur actor George Clooney met with President Obama after returning from a trip to the Chad/Darfur border. After the meeting Clooney spoke to the press with overall positive remarks including that reassurances were made that a US Special Envoy for Sudan would be appointed soon.
A week and a half later, neither the White House or the State Department have definitively confirmed that this promise will be kept in a timely manner. I, nor anyone in the anti-genocide movement, can deny the importance of the large scale policy reviews going on at the State Department. Additionally it is hard to argue that special envoys for the middle east, Afghanistan and elsewhere were/are of critical importance. But an ongoing genocide that has cost the lives of 400,000+ and has captured the outrage of many tens of thousands US citizens should be a priority of the administration and specifically the State Department. I am shocked that a sympathetic president who like his predecessor clearly wants to end the genocide has let his administration act so slowly to appoint someone for such a critical post.
2. What does “exercising restraint” mean?
The need for a US Special Envoy for Sudan was critical before the news out of the International Criminal Court this week. With the release of a warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and his retaliation of revoking humanitarian organizations’ licenses, a high level diplomat with sufficient resources to push for peace in Sudan is an even more urgent need than ever before. Despite this we still have no mention of when such an envoy might be appointed or who the envoy might be.
What troubles me more, though, is the continued weak responses coming out of the White House and State Department in light of developments such as the ones this week. The State Department responded to the ICC announcement by urging restraint from all sides. While I would hope the Sudanese Government would show restraint in their campaign of genocide, I cannot shake the question, how does a government who commits genocide really show restraint?
The boldest action or statement yet was that a meeting at the White House with State Department officials and aid groups concerned with the humanitarian organizations being expelled from Sudan. While I commend the Administration and State for participating in the conversation, where is the action? At the very least where is the strong condemnation of the Sudanese government’s horrendous action?
-----
The sticking point is that while the United States faces many unprecedented challenges and the Obama Administration has to deal with practically all of them, a few million Sudanese civilians will be neglected by their government, targeted for genocide and now will go without humanitarian aide out of a corrupt regime’s unwillingness to negotiate peace or respect justice. And our government’s response is a whisper. Not action, not even a shout, but a whisper.
To President Obama, we expected more.
To my anti-genocide advocates both pro-Obama and others, we should not hesitate to hold this President’s feet to the fire like we attempted to do for President Bush.
Sympathetic thoughts and feelings will not end genocide, Obama must do more and we must demand more.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Thoughts and Actions RE: ICC Warrant for Bashir 2
I wanted to finish the previous blog before starting this one. As I was thinking up what I wanted to say, a very troubling development came to my attention. As reported by Reuters:
“Sudan revoked the licences of Oxfam and at least five other aid groups on Wednesday after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, aid officials said.
The move -- which effectively freezes the agencies' work -- was the first concrete sign of repercussions against international groups after the global court indicted Bashir on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.
Sudanese government officials have in the past threatened to take action against Darfur-based aid groups they say are passing evidence on to the global court's prosecutor -- accusations the agencies deny.
Oxfam said Sudanese authorities had revoked its license to operate in north Sudan, although it had not been given a reason for the order and it was not clear whether staff would be expelled.
"This is going to have a devastating effect on hundreds of thousand of people," said Oxfam spokesman Alun McDonald. "We work with 600,000 people in north Sudan, 400,000 of them in Darfur. It is of the utmost importance the government agrees to let us continue that work."
I’m sure my outrage from these developments spilled over to my previous entry. The ICC stopped short of covering the crime of genocide in their warrant for Bashir’s arrest. After this development, I find it hard that skeptics can believe this is simply a civil war and that genocide is an exaggeration. In response to a virtually unenforceable warrant for his arrest, Bashir has put hundreds of thousands, if not a millions more lives in jeopardy for a risky gamble to save his own hide.
The international community must NOT blink now. Bashir is betting in order to reestablish humanitarian aid, we will defer the warrant against him. In the lead up to today’s announcement many Darfuris expressed they knew the dangers of ICC action against Bashir, but still urged for justice to be served. They knew the consequences and as I started below, this case against Bashir gives us an opportunity to bring about peace AND justice in Sudan. This is a bitter pill to swallow, but it is the only one that can lead to long term peace and stability in Darfur and all of Sudan.
What the international community SHOULD do is call this bloody bluff. We must continue pushing for justice and only support deferring the warrant for true signs of peace as articulated in Article 16 of the Rome Statute. Anything less is unacceptable. If we blink now, we will return to the status quo of genocide and displacement in Darfur.
Stronger words and actions including condemnations of Bashir’s latest move, a renewed effort to fully deploy UNAMID and an invigorated peace process are the only ways forward and as I stated before, should be the only possible saving grace for Bashir.
I am still hoping to replace or add onto my list of possible actions, but again I urge that we push for the following:
1. A strong statement from one or all President Obama, US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice and/or Secretary of State Clinton repeating in unequivocal terms our support of the ICC investigation, the peace process and UNAMID’s peacekeeping operation.
2. Along with this statement or immediately following it the US must being the process of appointing a special envoy to Sudan with the appropriate support and staff necessary to manage the current situation and bring about the peace process to end the genocide.
3. A statement by Secretary Gates or the Defense Department either publicly or to congress about the status of the Missing Assets Taskforce, a taskforce within the DOD to work with allies on finding helicopters for UNAMID. These efforts must reinvigorated as soon as possible.
4. Congress should pass resolutions echoing the above efforts. Members of congress, especially those on the appropriate committees, should urge Secretaries Clinton and Gates to take the prescribed actions. Once an envoy is appointed, confirmation should happen as quickly as possible.
5. Any additional sanctions that can be made on members of the National Congress Party, especially those with ICC warrants must be issued until humanitarian aid is fully restored.
6. Secretary Clinton and Ambassador Rice should immediately push for additional multilateral sanctions until humanitarian aid is fully restored.
Call your representative, senators, the White House and/or State Department immediately. You can reach all theseoffices by calling 1-800-GENOCIDE ( 800-436-6243). You can also find mailing addresses for your elected officials at www.congress.org.
“Sudan revoked the licences of Oxfam and at least five other aid groups on Wednesday after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, aid officials said.
The move -- which effectively freezes the agencies' work -- was the first concrete sign of repercussions against international groups after the global court indicted Bashir on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.
Sudanese government officials have in the past threatened to take action against Darfur-based aid groups they say are passing evidence on to the global court's prosecutor -- accusations the agencies deny.
Oxfam said Sudanese authorities had revoked its license to operate in north Sudan, although it had not been given a reason for the order and it was not clear whether staff would be expelled.
"This is going to have a devastating effect on hundreds of thousand of people," said Oxfam spokesman Alun McDonald. "We work with 600,000 people in north Sudan, 400,000 of them in Darfur. It is of the utmost importance the government agrees to let us continue that work."
I’m sure my outrage from these developments spilled over to my previous entry. The ICC stopped short of covering the crime of genocide in their warrant for Bashir’s arrest. After this development, I find it hard that skeptics can believe this is simply a civil war and that genocide is an exaggeration. In response to a virtually unenforceable warrant for his arrest, Bashir has put hundreds of thousands, if not a millions more lives in jeopardy for a risky gamble to save his own hide.
The international community must NOT blink now. Bashir is betting in order to reestablish humanitarian aid, we will defer the warrant against him. In the lead up to today’s announcement many Darfuris expressed they knew the dangers of ICC action against Bashir, but still urged for justice to be served. They knew the consequences and as I started below, this case against Bashir gives us an opportunity to bring about peace AND justice in Sudan. This is a bitter pill to swallow, but it is the only one that can lead to long term peace and stability in Darfur and all of Sudan.
What the international community SHOULD do is call this bloody bluff. We must continue pushing for justice and only support deferring the warrant for true signs of peace as articulated in Article 16 of the Rome Statute. Anything less is unacceptable. If we blink now, we will return to the status quo of genocide and displacement in Darfur.
Stronger words and actions including condemnations of Bashir’s latest move, a renewed effort to fully deploy UNAMID and an invigorated peace process are the only ways forward and as I stated before, should be the only possible saving grace for Bashir.
I am still hoping to replace or add onto my list of possible actions, but again I urge that we push for the following:
1. A strong statement from one or all President Obama, US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice and/or Secretary of State Clinton repeating in unequivocal terms our support of the ICC investigation, the peace process and UNAMID’s peacekeeping operation.
2. Along with this statement or immediately following it the US must being the process of appointing a special envoy to Sudan with the appropriate support and staff necessary to manage the current situation and bring about the peace process to end the genocide.
3. A statement by Secretary Gates or the Defense Department either publicly or to congress about the status of the Missing Assets Taskforce, a taskforce within the DOD to work with allies on finding helicopters for UNAMID. These efforts must reinvigorated as soon as possible.
4. Congress should pass resolutions echoing the above efforts. Members of congress, especially those on the appropriate committees, should urge Secretaries Clinton and Gates to take the prescribed actions. Once an envoy is appointed, confirmation should happen as quickly as possible.
5. Any additional sanctions that can be made on members of the National Congress Party, especially those with ICC warrants must be issued until humanitarian aid is fully restored.
6. Secretary Clinton and Ambassador Rice should immediately push for additional multilateral sanctions until humanitarian aid is fully restored.
Call your representative, senators, the White House and/or State Department immediately. You can reach all theseoffices by calling 1-800-GENOCIDE ( 800-436-6243). You can also find mailing addresses for your elected officials at www.congress.org.
Thoughts and Actions RE: ICC Warrant for Bashir
As I writing this, developments keep breaking so if the tone shifts constantly, I apologize, but I am constantly going between outrage and concern over this situation. As many of you have read or seen this morning, the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for the Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity. My first reaction is of joy that international justice is finally being served that Bashir will be further made a pariah for the crimes he has committed against the people of Darfur. Furthermore as many experts, including the ENOUGH Project’s John Prendergast and Omer Ismail, point out that justice while important on its own can also be used as leverage to force Bashir’s National Congress Party to seriously engage in peace talks to bring an end to the violence.
Immediately, though, I feel concerned that we will again miss our opportunity to change the tide in Sudan. In July of last year, chief prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo announced he had submitted a request to the ICC judges for a warrant against Mr. Bashir, the international community and specifically the US issued weak statements of support for justice while the African Union spearheaded an effort to block justice exploiting article 16 of the Rome Statute expressing that the Security Council could defer an investigation for the cause of peace. While no such deferral occurred, the counter-response again was weak and slow.
Sudan expert Alex de Waal told the BBC the indictment is "pretty toothless" as the ICC does not have a police force. I fear that de Waal will be proven right if we continue to be slow to act as an international community. He is correct in saying that the ICC is toothless because a lack of a police force, but I would argue that we can give the ICC teeth by following its actions with strong words and actions of our own. Mr. Bashir in the past has seemed primarily concerned with two goals, bringing greater legitimacy to his regime through normalization with the United States and development through oil primarily through trade with China among other partners. Bold statements and actions by the United States would encourage other nations to follow suit and to further brand the National Congress Party government a rogue government that should be made into an international pariah.
Now is the time to renew our commitment to peace, protection and justice in Sudan. We must push for greater efforts to ensure full deployment of the United Nations African Union hybrid peacekeeping force (UNAMID) including needed tactical helicopters. In addition we must put whatever pressure possible, economic, political and perhaps even military on the President Bashir to keep humanitarian operations in Darfur to ensure the survival of millions of Darfuris. Finally, the US needs to play a more robust role through a special envoy to reinvigorating a peace process that will eventually bring the genocide to an end and should be Mr. Bashir’s only possible saving grace.
Therefore I suggest the following actions should be taken as soon possible: (I have not yet seen any action alerts by the US-based advocacy organizations. As soon as they are, I will either add them to the list or replace my list with theirs.)
1. A strong statement from one or all President Obama, US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice and/or Secretary of State Clinton repeating in unequivocal terms our support of the ICC investigation, the peace process and UNAMID’s peacekeeping operation.
2. Along with this statement or immediately following it the US must being the process of appointing a special envoy to Sudan with the appropriate support and staff necessary to manage the current situation and bring about the peace process to end the genocide.
3. A statement by Secretary Gates or the Defense Department either publicly or to congress about the status of the Missing Assets Taskforce, a taskforce within the DOD to work with allies on finding helicopters for UNAMID. These efforts must reinvigorated as soon as possible.
4. Congress should pass resolutions echoing the above efforts. Members of congress, especially those on the appropriate committees, should urge Secretaries Clinton and Gates to take the prescribed actions. Once an envoy is appointed, confirmation should happen as quickly as possible.
5. Any additional sanctions that can be made on members of the National Congress Party, especially those with ICC warrants must be issued until humanitarian aid is fully restored.
6. Secretary Clinton and Ambassador Rice should immediately push for additional multilateral sanctions until humanitarian aid is fully restored.
I hope someone more qualified steps up soon to replace or improve this list, but until I urge you to help lay the ground work and call your representative, senators, the White House and/or State Department immediately. You can reach all these offices by calling 1-800-GENOCIDE (800-436-6243). You can also find mailing addresses for your elected officials at www.congress.org.
Our officials must be overwhelmed by our response and join in our outrage over this genocide. Please act now.
Immediately, though, I feel concerned that we will again miss our opportunity to change the tide in Sudan. In July of last year, chief prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo announced he had submitted a request to the ICC judges for a warrant against Mr. Bashir, the international community and specifically the US issued weak statements of support for justice while the African Union spearheaded an effort to block justice exploiting article 16 of the Rome Statute expressing that the Security Council could defer an investigation for the cause of peace. While no such deferral occurred, the counter-response again was weak and slow.
Sudan expert Alex de Waal told the BBC the indictment is "pretty toothless" as the ICC does not have a police force. I fear that de Waal will be proven right if we continue to be slow to act as an international community. He is correct in saying that the ICC is toothless because a lack of a police force, but I would argue that we can give the ICC teeth by following its actions with strong words and actions of our own. Mr. Bashir in the past has seemed primarily concerned with two goals, bringing greater legitimacy to his regime through normalization with the United States and development through oil primarily through trade with China among other partners. Bold statements and actions by the United States would encourage other nations to follow suit and to further brand the National Congress Party government a rogue government that should be made into an international pariah.
Now is the time to renew our commitment to peace, protection and justice in Sudan. We must push for greater efforts to ensure full deployment of the United Nations African Union hybrid peacekeeping force (UNAMID) including needed tactical helicopters. In addition we must put whatever pressure possible, economic, political and perhaps even military on the President Bashir to keep humanitarian operations in Darfur to ensure the survival of millions of Darfuris. Finally, the US needs to play a more robust role through a special envoy to reinvigorating a peace process that will eventually bring the genocide to an end and should be Mr. Bashir’s only possible saving grace.
Therefore I suggest the following actions should be taken as soon possible: (I have not yet seen any action alerts by the US-based advocacy organizations. As soon as they are, I will either add them to the list or replace my list with theirs.)
1. A strong statement from one or all President Obama, US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice and/or Secretary of State Clinton repeating in unequivocal terms our support of the ICC investigation, the peace process and UNAMID’s peacekeeping operation.
2. Along with this statement or immediately following it the US must being the process of appointing a special envoy to Sudan with the appropriate support and staff necessary to manage the current situation and bring about the peace process to end the genocide.
3. A statement by Secretary Gates or the Defense Department either publicly or to congress about the status of the Missing Assets Taskforce, a taskforce within the DOD to work with allies on finding helicopters for UNAMID. These efforts must reinvigorated as soon as possible.
4. Congress should pass resolutions echoing the above efforts. Members of congress, especially those on the appropriate committees, should urge Secretaries Clinton and Gates to take the prescribed actions. Once an envoy is appointed, confirmation should happen as quickly as possible.
5. Any additional sanctions that can be made on members of the National Congress Party, especially those with ICC warrants must be issued until humanitarian aid is fully restored.
6. Secretary Clinton and Ambassador Rice should immediately push for additional multilateral sanctions until humanitarian aid is fully restored.
I hope someone more qualified steps up soon to replace or improve this list, but until I urge you to help lay the ground work and call your representative, senators, the White House and/or State Department immediately. You can reach all these offices by calling 1-800-GENOCIDE (800-436-6243). You can also find mailing addresses for your elected officials at www.congress.org.
Our officials must be overwhelmed by our response and join in our outrage over this genocide. Please act now.
Monday, February 23, 2009
To GOP Governors: Don't Give Your Constituents a Raw Deal
As part of the New Deal, under the Works Progress Administration, a controversial program known as the Federal Writers Project was created. At its height the Federal Writers Project employed 6,686 writers. Many considered this to be a waste of federal funds desperately needed in other areas of the economy. Out of this project, though, a great wealth of American folklore was captured in writing for the first time and many great writers of the twentieth century found their own voice. More importantly, the WPA and its programs such as the Federal Writers Project kept hundreds of thousands of Americans employed during a time where steady employment was a desperate need for many Americans.
Over the weekend at the National Governors Association winter meeting in Washington, a handful of GOP governors continued to assert their intention to fight over stimulus spending slated to be given to their state and are claiming they will not accept many provisions of the bill. I cannot help, but think about the WPA and Federal Writers Project when I hear such claims. For I believe you can put much of thinking over the stimulus plan into two schools of thought. The first supported mostly by Democrats, progressives and some moderate Republicans such as California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger believe the stimulus plan will work by giving relief to many Americans, build infrastructure and jump start our economy. The other camps comprised mostly of conservative Republicans represented by the rising star Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana believe that the stimulus plan will not work, is wasteful and places too cumbersome of a burden on state and local governments to comply with federal law.
The most optimistic estimates put us on the path of recovery early next year. Whether it is the stimulus, monetary policy or economic self-correction it appears more than likely things will continue to get worse over the next few months or year before they get better. During this coming year state budgets will continue to plummet into the red like we have seen recently in California and Kansas in order to keep up with raising unemployment and Americans even in the most insulated states will continue to lose their jobs. Suppose the second camp is right and the stimulus will not fix the economy. The stimulus though will certainly put hundreds of thousand people, if not more, to work almost immediately in order to build infrastructure and research green technology. In addition bill provisions will keep unemployment and other federally mandated, state funded services going.
Regardless of which camp you or your governor fall under, the need for relief and at least interim employment measures is clear. New Deal projects such as the WPA are believed by many to have helped pull the United States out of the Great Depression. Others believe these programs had no real effect on our economy as a whole and World War II alone was responsible for pulling us out of the Depression. Either way it is indisputable that New Deal programs provided relief to many who needed it and allowed countless families to survive the Depression.
GOP governors need to learn the lessons of the New Deal. The stimulus package may have flaws and perhaps the view that it will not work is correct. As the economy worsens and states hemorrhage money, political ideology must be couched and action must be taken. Regardless if GOP governors take issue with the bill, they have the responsibility to accept the funds on behalf of all the recently unemployed and struggling citizens of their state. Let your political and ideological concerns lead you to ensure this money is spent effectively in your states, but do not let politics stand between economic relief (and perhaps recovery) and your constituents.
Over the weekend at the National Governors Association winter meeting in Washington, a handful of GOP governors continued to assert their intention to fight over stimulus spending slated to be given to their state and are claiming they will not accept many provisions of the bill. I cannot help, but think about the WPA and Federal Writers Project when I hear such claims. For I believe you can put much of thinking over the stimulus plan into two schools of thought. The first supported mostly by Democrats, progressives and some moderate Republicans such as California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger believe the stimulus plan will work by giving relief to many Americans, build infrastructure and jump start our economy. The other camps comprised mostly of conservative Republicans represented by the rising star Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana believe that the stimulus plan will not work, is wasteful and places too cumbersome of a burden on state and local governments to comply with federal law.
The most optimistic estimates put us on the path of recovery early next year. Whether it is the stimulus, monetary policy or economic self-correction it appears more than likely things will continue to get worse over the next few months or year before they get better. During this coming year state budgets will continue to plummet into the red like we have seen recently in California and Kansas in order to keep up with raising unemployment and Americans even in the most insulated states will continue to lose their jobs. Suppose the second camp is right and the stimulus will not fix the economy. The stimulus though will certainly put hundreds of thousand people, if not more, to work almost immediately in order to build infrastructure and research green technology. In addition bill provisions will keep unemployment and other federally mandated, state funded services going.
Regardless of which camp you or your governor fall under, the need for relief and at least interim employment measures is clear. New Deal projects such as the WPA are believed by many to have helped pull the United States out of the Great Depression. Others believe these programs had no real effect on our economy as a whole and World War II alone was responsible for pulling us out of the Depression. Either way it is indisputable that New Deal programs provided relief to many who needed it and allowed countless families to survive the Depression.
GOP governors need to learn the lessons of the New Deal. The stimulus package may have flaws and perhaps the view that it will not work is correct. As the economy worsens and states hemorrhage money, political ideology must be couched and action must be taken. Regardless if GOP governors take issue with the bill, they have the responsibility to accept the funds on behalf of all the recently unemployed and struggling citizens of their state. Let your political and ideological concerns lead you to ensure this money is spent effectively in your states, but do not let politics stand between economic relief (and perhaps recovery) and your constituents.
My Message to the STAND Leadership Team
I made this for the STAND Leadership Team, but everyone is more than welcome to see it. While I made it with that collective group in mind, I feel this way about practically all my friends in the anti-genocide movement and even many of those outside of it. I included my "transcript" but I didn't follow it strictly.
I just got an e-mail from Charlotte and it almost brought me to tears. I think it was notes from our the last o-team call I was on, it was o-team answers to what they like about me. I have been meaning to make a video for all my STAND friends and like many things I have put it off over the last 2 months. After reading this e-mail, I knew I couldn’t wait any longer.
I love you all more than you will ever know. I mentioned this at the NSC, but after my father passed away when I was 11, it always felt like I was searching for a home and this search for a second family was always behind my decision to join an organization. In college I began to join causes and do things purely out of passion for the objective.
Even though I came to STAND out of my desire to grow as a member of this movement and to have biggest impact I could in order to help end genocide, I was greeted by the warmest, most intelligent and most passionate group of my peers I think I could ever have met outside of my home chapter. You truly have become that second family I have always consciously or subconsciously looked for.
I have been blessed with the insanity of activism and because of it I have had the opportunity to organize people, plan events, raise money and advocate for causes in the past. While I had a lot left to learn and still do, when I joined STAND I had already gained a lot of invaluable experiences. STAND provided me with so much more than how to plan a successful event or lobby legislators, it provided me with a cause that I can own and that owns me. The work I did in high school and freshman year was important and I still feel a lot of passion for those causes, fighting genocide has made me feel far more empowered and fulfilled than I could ever imagine being. I know I don’t have to explain too much that fighting genocide isn’t just something I feel is important in my heart or rationalize as necessary in my mind, but a synthesis of those two urges.
I think for that reason, no matter how awkward I can be and how short of time I’ve known most of you, that I feel so strongly connected to all of you. STAND might be where we come to help end suffering in Darfur, but I believe with all of myself that STAND is where many end up finding their home. I was and would be a committed activist, but STAND has allowed me to grow up and focus my activism.
I’m rambling and eventhough I typed this out, I’m having trouble expressing what I want to express. All I can do is say thank you to all of you for becoming my friend and working together on this cause we all care deeply about. Many of you came before me and laid the groundwork, welcomed me warmly and helped retool me for this cause. Others of you joined at about the same time or after me. Thank you for being my support, my family and colleagues in this struggle. We all get frustrated, but I know together we can keep it up and that our efforts are helping, will help and will ultimately be successful.
I’ve kept in contact with most of you, but please please please do not let us venture too far away from one another. I will do my best to keep on pestering you guys from my g-chat addiction. We’ve done some amazing things together and regardless of where all end up, I’m sure our connection will continue to be one that brings about joy to one another and ideas that will change the world.
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