THERE ARE TIMES IN MY LIFE I HAVE PRIDE THAT I BELONG TO THE HUMAN RACE AND TODAY WAS ONE OF THOSE

There have been a few times in my life that I feel more at ease, warmth in the heart, stand up more erect and have pride in belonging to the human race. Only a few, but those few times have been inspirational and memorable. Those times never fade from the prominent place that they reside in my experience.

Today, was one of those.

Gabriel and Katie-Jay Stauring, James Thacher, Eric Angel and Yuen-Lin work as a team to bring the people at a Darfuri camp into our lives. Today, the three who are in the camp, Gabriel and Katie-Jay Stauring, James and Eric Angel in California and Yuen-Lin (in Malaysia, I think) did a LIVE online-cast of a Town Meeting, where we could ask questions of the Darfuri people and hear their answers while watching them on our computer screens. Technology meets genocide.

To watch a recorded version of the LIVE Town Hall Meeting of Sunday December 12, 2010 with Darfuris in Camp Djabal in Chad, on the border of the countries of Chad and Sudan (African continent), go here.

Also, if you click the post title, it will take you there.

And I hope you won't miss watching videos by the Darfuri youth, who Gabriel and Katie-Jay provided with cameras. Pictures and videos have been uploaded . It gives a view from their camera lens of what life is like, where they are forced to live because of a genocidal regime in their home region of Darfur.

Much thanks goes out to each one that helps bring this to us and also for allowing those there to have a voice. It is powerful to hear from them!

Darfuri Youth Photo Journalists
Katie-Jay and Gabriel have turned Darfuri youth into photo journalists. The camera work tells us so much about student videographers and photographers and the camp, all at the same time. The town hall, the videos, pictures and stories altogether makes it so easy to feel we are them and they are us.

Photo credit: Khaltouma

Photo credit: Khaltouma

More photos iactivism.org/ionground

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December 13, 2010

Poetry From a Young Darfuri

A young Darfuri handed us these carefully written pages yesterday. They provide a glimpse into one person’s experience of exile, hardship and hope for the future.

Continue Reading

WHY DARFUR?
Reason #12: Children deserve a childhood
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i-ACT 9: Raouda's little brother from iActivism on Vimeo.

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Raouda's little brother and the stuffed animal brought by Katie-Jay

Katie-Jay writes ~
When we met Raouda in January 2009 we asked her what she missed about Darfur. She described a small animal that had cotton inside it, a stuffed animal! Something almost every child has connected with at one time or another during their life. Several people sent us animals to give to Raouda and the other children. Today, we were able to give one to Raouda. It was her youngest brother, Mydi, that enjoyed the animal the most. Raouda herself smiled a bit when I gave it to her. She is married now, at age 13, and I fear that between caring for her grandmother, and now her husband she has missed the small joys of childhood, like playing with stuffed animals.


Blog posts of the trip to Darfuri refugee camp Djabal

www.stopgenocidenow.org/iact/iact9/day3
December 11, 2010

www.stopgenocidenow.org/iact/iact9/day2
December 10, 2010

www.stopgenocidenow.org/iact/iact9/day1
December 9, 2010

www.stopgenocidenow.org/iact/iact9/day0
December 8, 2010

Communicate to the President
that he has a role to play

1-800-GENOCIDE
1-202-456-1111
www.whitehouse.gov/contact


Won't you use your voice?
Darfuris have been put on the back burner by our President
and many other leaders on the planet
and
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir
has put them on the front burner.

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Eric Reeves' November 12, 2010 article

The Obama Administration"Decouples" Darfur

Khartoum is given free rein to obtain its "perfect ending" ("Misk al-Khitam")

A small fraction of the article ~

One well-informed Darfuri has written to me that “evidence of mobilization in Darfur is everywhere: airports, convoys leaving large cities and towns, heading toward villages in North and West Darfur” (email received November 2, 2010).

This source continues: “Many tanks, troops were seen in North Darfur near Kutum, Kornoi, and al-Tina. Additionally, Janjaweed gatherings were seen in the West Darfur areas of el-Geneina and Kulbus.” And further, “Loads of pro-Government of Sudan volunteers landed in Kutum (North Darfur) airport.” When asked who they were and where they were going, one enthusiast replied, “We are mujahideen and the government told us we have to fight the infidels and supporters in Darfur. We came to clean Darfur.” The same source reports that a family member in Nyala has observed a sharp uptick in military flights out of Nyala airport.

Eric Reeves full article www.sudanreeves.org

I LIVE on PLANET EARTH AND WANT HR 2478 PASSED

Tell elected officials that though you may not live in their state, you live on planet Earth and want this bill passed, so that we can stand being in the human race.
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I only have words.

My heart is aching.

I watched this. It is long for a video online - 55:08. The real story begins at 12:25 into the video. But I finally watched it all and all I can say is: WATCH it. PLEASE.

At 44:55 - a seminary student speaks - very important.

At 48:06 - a young boy, Jacob, speaks of his brother that was murdered by the Lords Resistance Army.

If the video doesn't load on my page, you can see it here

Then act.

There is a bill - HR 2478 that we need to get out of committee and on to the floor of the House of Representatives to vote on. And below are two key US Representatives that need to hear from you. Tell them that though you don't live in their state, you live on planet Earth and want this bill passed, so that we can stand being in the human race.

Re: Support and pass swiftly HR 2478 Lords Resistance Army and Northern Uganda Recovery Act

You can email the two Representatives - below is the contact information.

You can also call their offices using 1-800-GENOCIDE
- just insert 33155 for Florida's zip code
and 07102 for New Jersey's zip code
to be connected their offices.

Below was copied from this Facebook campaign effort to move this bill out of committee and on to the floor for a vote:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=103304023042042&ref=nf

Congressman Chris Smith is the Senior Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and is the Ranking Republican on the Africa Subcommittee. It is crucial to have his support of the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act (HR 2478)

It comes down to YOUR VOICE. As constituents of Rep. Chris Smith, we need you to call his DC office and urge him to support the swift passage of HR 2478.

CALL EVERY DAY until it passes

Email Chris

Office Addresses, Phone Numbers and Fax Numbers

Washington, DC Office 2373 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 p 202-225-3765 f 202-225-7768 Hamilton District Office 1540 Kuser Rd Suite A-9 Hamilton, NJ 08619 p 609-585-7878 f 609-585-9155 Whiting District Office 108 Lacey Road Suite 38 A Whiting Shopping Center Whiting NJ 08759 p 732-350-2300 f 732-350-6260

>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:

So what do I need to do?

1. Call the DC office number (202-225-3765)

2. Here is what you can say:

"Hello my name is ____________________. I am a constituent of Congressman Smith and I'm calling today to voice my support for the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act. Is the Congressman’s foreign affairs policy adviser available?

[If yes, connect to them and start over; if no, then move to the below]

"I believe that this two-decade war in central Africa deserves urgent U.S. attention, so I'm calling to strongly urge Congressman Smith to support the passage of HR. 2478. I know that the Congressman has a longstanding record of protecting human rights and helping the world’s most vulnerable. In particular, I commend Congressman Smith for his efforts towards Sudan and the DR Congo. Given that the LRA has been viciously attacking thousands of civilians in DRC and more recently, elements of the LRA have entered Darfur, I am hopeful that the Congressman will understand the urgency of this issue and support the bill's swift passage.

[Optional Personalization: "I first learned about the Lord's Resistance Army and the 23-year-long war in central Africa through ______________ and I have worked to raise the profile of this issue by doing/participating in __________________ here in New Jersey.]

"I hope to hear soon that Congressman Smith has listened to his constituents on this issue. Thank you so much for your time."

3. After your phone call, post a message on the event wall letting us know you called. (Do this every time)

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Below was copied from this Facebook campaign effort to move this bill out of committee and on to the floor for a vote:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=529661307#!/event.php?eid=107599972594774&ref=mf

Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen is the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, so it is crucial to have her support of the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act (HR 2478)

It comes down to YOUR VOICE. As constituents of Rep. Ros Lehtinen, we need you to call her DC office and urge her to support HR 2478.

CALL EVERY DAY until it passes.

For help in regards to legislative issues before her in the U.S. House of Representatives please contact:

Washington, DC Office
2470 Rayburn H.O.B.
Washington, DC 20515-0918
Telephone: 202-225-3931
Fax: 202-225-5620

For help in regards to issues within our local community or assistance with a federal agency please contact:
Miami, Florida Office
4960 SW 72 Avenue
Suite 208
Miami, Florida 33155
Telephone: 305-668-2285
Fax: 305-668-5970

Or feel free to send her an E-mail through the House of Representatives "Write Your Representative" system HERE

Due to the substantial amount of correspondence she receives on a daily basis, if you have an urgent matter she asks that you to contact one of her offices directly so he staff can bring the issue to her attention as quickly as possible.

>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:

So what do I need to do?

1. Call the DC office number (202-225-3931)

2. Here is what you can say (but feel free to personalize this:

"Hello my name is ____________________. I am a constituent of Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen and I'm calling today to voice my support for the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act. Is the Congresswoman’s foreign affairs policy adviser available?

[if yes, connect to them and start over; if no, then move to the below]

"I believe that this two-decade war in central Africa deserves urgent U.S. attention, so I'm calling to strongly urge the Congresswoman to support the passage of HR. 2478. I know that the Congresswoman has strong history of defending human rights in Africa and advocating for victims of violence in Darfur. Given that elements of the LRA have recently entered Darfur, I am hopeful that she will understand the urgency of this issue and support the bill's swift passage.

[Optional Personalization: "I first learned about the Lord's Resistance Army and the 23-year-long war in central Africa through ______________ and I have worked to raise the profile of this issue by doing/participating in __________________ here in Flordia.]

"I hope to hear soon that Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen has listened to her constituents on this issue. Thank you so much for your time."

3. After your phone call, post a message on the event wall letting us know you called. (Do this every time)

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I already posted the article on a previous blog post that can be found at this link:
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/03/28/dr-congo-lord-s-resistance-army-rampage-kills-321

but if you missed the recent report by Human Rights Watch put out about the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) dirty work, please read it, as soon as you have the time.

By clicking on the post's title, you will go to an article that explains what needs to be implemented to defeat the LRA.

GENOCIDE WILL only STOP WITH US - Our leaders have taught us this

FAILING A CHILD BECOMES A LEGACY

Last night I read a report about a boy of 7 years old that made me cry. The heaviness is so powerful that it takes over. The unprotected boy lived a life of hell. He has grown since and is living as one who lived a childhood of hell. He didn't escape the eternal and internal prison that could be expected of one who was immersed in a life of neglect, abuse and rejection. Children lost become all of our legacy.

This child was failed by his mother, his father, his extended family, his community and in the end by one state's foster system that made the wrong decision to place him back with his mother when it was the one place he should never return.

One state's jurisdiction had to be handed over to the adjacent state when the boy's mother moved over the state line at a critical time in his life. The boy's report's recommendation - after a long residence stay in a caring facility for the boy, that he not be returned to the mother - was overturned by the new state. It could not have been clearer in the report that this would be disastrous for the 7 year old.

We - as the larger community - fail our children when we don't search out the truth of these children's private lives and act accordingly. The thing about this boy is that enough of his truth was known and still he was not placed in a safe home. This boy's story will never be told. The honoring of confidentiality will protect those who made the wrong decisions. Light needs to be shed on the horrendous truth of the quiet lives of desperation that children live right here in the United States of America.

Hell is For Children
Lyrics

They cry in the dark, so you can't see their tears
They hide in the light, so you can't see their fears
Forgive and forget, all the while
Love and pain become one and the same
In the eyes of a wounded child

It's all so confusing, this brutal abusing
They blacken your eyes, and then apologize
You're daddy's good girl, and don't tell mommy a thing
Be a good little boy, and you'll get a new toy
Tell grandma you fell off the swing

Because hell
Hell is for children
And you know that their little lives can become such a mess
Hell
Hell is for children
And you shouldn't have to pay for your love with your bones and your flesh

No, hell is for children

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Love Rescue Me - U2
Written by Bono and Bob Dylan
Uploaded by Impulse032

You can adopt children who are waiting while in foster care: foster-adoption

www.fosterparenting.com

rhode-island.adoption.com

Who May Adopt In Rhode Island

In Rhode Island you may adopt a child if you are over 21 years of age. There is no upper age limit, and adoptive parents in their 40s and 50s are quite common. You do not need to own your own home and either single or married parents may adopt. Your sexual orientation doesn't matter in Rhode Island for adoption.

At 4:36 of the Youtube below, Odetta speaks from the words of the quote I have included here:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you, not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Marianne Williamson
in Return to Love

We must answer the call when asked to step up and be a help to others. We must. Or we risk living at the mercy of those who grew up in childhood hell.

We each can do our part.

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Odetta
Uploaded by justjoshfunk1