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Wednesday, February 13, 2008

UNITED STATES CONGRESS MAKING AN EFFORT ~ WHERE IS PRESIDENT BUSH? WALK THE TALK

Taking refuge

In case your local news media didn't print this article or anything about it, here is something the United States Congress did today. President Bush has mentioned Darfur once in a while over the years, but the genocide continues through all his words.

Lawmakers Urge China to Help in Darfur


By ANDREW MIGA

WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 100 House members are urging China to take stronger action to end the violence in Sudan's troubled Darfur region.

A letter Tuesday signed by 120 lawmakers called on President Hu Jintao of China to use his "significant influence" with the government of Sudan to help advance peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts in Darfur.

"Without a much stronger effort from the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) to convince the government of Sudan to end its obstruction, the real-though-limited progress made during the past year will be undone, and the possibility of an expanded regional crisis beyond Darfur's borders will continue to grow," the lawmakers wrote. The group was predominantly Democratic, but included 20 Republicans.

Human rights activists have accused China of being partly responsible for Darfur's chaos because of its staunch diplomatic backing of the Sudanese government.

The open letter comes six months before China will host the summer Olympics in Beijing, noted Rep. Michael Capuano, D-Mass., co-chair of the Congressional Sudan Caucus.

"We must do everything we can to end the genocide and deliver assistance to the millions of people who live in fear every day," Capuano said.

In a separate letter to the Chinese president, Darfur activists Tuesday cited the Olympics and condemned Beijing's support for Sudan's government.

"As the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games approach, we will continue to call on the Chinese government for action," said the letter, signed by eight Nobel Peace Prize laureates, 13 Olympic athletes and 46 parliamentarians, along with celebrities including actress Mia Farrow and hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons.

"We are aware of the tremendous potential for China to help bring an end to the conflict in Darfur," said in the letter, which criticized Beijing's support for Sudan at the United Nations and said China's robust trade with the country was underwriting abuses in Darfur.

Five years of fighting between Sudan's Arab-dominated government and Darfur's ethnic African rebels have killed over 200,000 people and chased 2.5 million to refugee camps, mostly black African civilians. Arab militias allied with the government have been blamed for many of the atrocities; the government denies backing them.

Energy-hungry China is Sudan's key political and economic ally, investing in the country and importing over two-thirds of its oil output.

China has sold weapons to the Sudanese government. Since fighting broke out in Darfur in 2003, it repeatedly used its veto power in the U.N. Security Council to prevent tough measures against Sudan.

China says it plays a constructive role in seeking to resolve the Darfur conflict.

China last year began deploying 315 non-combat troops to Darfur to prepare for a proposed 26,000-member African Union-U.N. peacekeeping force that has been delayed in part by the Sudanese president's insistence that participating troops be predominantly African.

Source

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Tuesday, February 12, 2008

GENOCIDE FLOURISHES WHEN THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY


JUSTICE FOR ALL ~ NOT JUST A SLOGAN

WE ALL SHOULD BE STANDING AND MAKING A STATEMENT AND NOW STEVEN SPIELBERG HAS

It seems like I have been an activists to stop the genocide in Darfur for a long time. It has been going on for five years ~ the same amount of time we have been in war in Iraq. However, to try to imagine how it feels to the people who are going through a genocide is sobering and points to the narcissistic view that we in the USA have in the world. I just heard a caller into C-span today who lives in Fall River, Massachusetts ~ only 20 minutes from where I live ~ say that he doesn't care how the rest of the world views us in the United States of America. That view makes absolutely no sense to me because I believe that our security in the world would be better served if we did behave in a way that we did care what others thought of our policies. Torture, for one. Not that we need to bow to whims of others but that we see other people as just as important as us and that we don't have exclusive rights to being right. We are a part of the world ~ not the rulers of the world. However, when justice is so blatantly being trampled on such as the case in Darfur, those of us in the world who still stand for justice, must stand up and stand out. We, who believe that China should acknowledge the Bashir administration of Sudan as the perpetrators of genocide in Darfur, hold that China must include Darfuri people in their '08 Summer Olympics' theme,
One World, One Dream. Not much of a dream to have your communities scorched to the ground, rape used as a tool of genocide, eyes gouged out and systematically murdered as the world prepares for the Olympics to take place in Beijing, August 8, 2008.

We have been pressuring Steven Spielberg to take a stand with his role in the Beijing Olympics and finally he has.


Spielberg boycotts Olympic role

US film director Steven Spielberg has withdrawn as an artistic adviser to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

In a statement, he accused China of not doing enough to pressure its ally Sudan to end the "continuing human suffering" in the troubled western Darfur region.

At least 200,000 people have been killed and two million forced from their homes in the five-year conflict.

Human Rights Watch welcomed Spielberg's move, and said it should prompt other corporate sponsors to press for reform.

In a statement, Mr Spielberg said: "I find that my conscience will not allow me to continue business as usual.

"At this point, my time and energy must be spent not on Olympic ceremonies, but on doing all I can to help bring an end to the unspeakable crimes against humanity that continue to be committed in Darfur."

He added: "Sudan's government bears the bulk of the responsibility for these on-going crimes but the international community, and particularly China, should be doing more."

'Repression rising'

Sudan, with its vast oil reserves, sells some two-thirds of its oil to Beijing.

In turn, Beijing sells weapons to the Sudanese government and has defended Khartoum in the UN Security Council.

As a result, China has been criticised for its links with a government ostracised by many for its role in the ongoing crisis in Darfur.

Human Rights Watch said corporate sponsors, governments and National Olympic Committees should urge Beijing to improve human rights conditions.

Minky Worden said: "Repression in China is on the rise, and Olympic sponsors, governments, or world leaders - especially those planning to attend the Games - can't pretend otherwise.

"These influential players should be prepared to show the steps they are taking to address the worsening rights climate in China, or they risk being tarnished by a human rights debacle."

'Tremendous potential'

Earlier on Tuesday, as part of a "Global Day of Action" focusing on Darfur, an open letter signed by Nobel Peace Prize laureates and former Olympians was sent to China's president.

"We are all aware of the tremendous potential for China to help bring an end to the conflict in Darfur," said the letter, delivered to the Chinese mission to the United Nations by actress Mia Farrow and former Olympic swimmers Shannon Shakespeare and Nikki Dryden.

Farrow, who had pressed Spielberg to end his involvement, said his decision sent out the right signal to the Chinese Government.

She said: "I'm delighted by his decision and it's a desperate time for Darfur so this is a shred of good news in a very bleak week.

"Through his participation with the games it was clear that he was giving his moral cover to Beijing at a time when they're underwriting genocide in Darfur. So I hoped that he would discontinue his participation with the games."

Story from BBC
Published: 2008/02/13 03:59:50 GMT

STATEMENT FROM STEVEN SPIELBERG

REGARDING BEIJING OLYMPIC GAMES AND DARFUR

FEBRUARY 12, 2008

After careful consideration, I have decided to formally announce the end of my involvement as one of the overseas artistic advisors to the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic Games.

In anticipation that this day might one day come, I left unsigned the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games contract presented to me nearly a year ago. Since that time, I have made repeated efforts to encourage the Chinese government to use its unique influence to bring safety and stability to the Darfur region of Sudan. Although some progress has been made along the way, most notably, the passage of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1769, the situation in Darfur continues to worsen and the violence continues to accelerate.

With this in mind, I find that my conscience will not allow me to continue with business as usual. At this point, my time and energy must be spent not on Olympic ceremonies, but on doing all I can to help bring an end to the unspeakable crimes against humanity that continue to be committed in Darfur. Sudan’s government bares the bulk of the responsibility for these on-going crimes but the international community, and particularly China, should be doing more to end the continuing human suffering there. China’s economic, military and diplomatic ties to the government of Sudan continue to provide it with the opportunity and obligation to press for change. The situation has never been more precarious – and while China’s representatives have conveyed to me that they are working to end the terrible tragedy in Darfur, the grim realities of the suffering continue unabated.

This has been a very difficult decision for me, as I have cherished the relationships with my Chinese counterparts, in particular, the noted director Zhang Yimou, who is a close personal friend. I have learned a great deal from working with him and all the other creative artists along the way. There is little that is more rewarding than to collaborate with those who bring vision and imagination to a challenging artistic task. And I greatly appreciated the spirit in which we worked together - a spirit that embodied genuine friendship and respect.

For me, the Olympic Games represent an ideal of brotherhood designed to bridge cultural and political divides. I am committed to building bridges between peoples and I saw, and continue to see, the Beijing Games as an opportunity to help ease some of the tensions in the world.

China has much to offer the world and I have no doubt that its international contributions will grow in the years ahead. With growing influence, however, also comes growing responsibilities. As China welcomes the world to Beijing for the 2008 Olympic Games, I hope to be among those in attendance; and it is also my great hope that, with renewed and intensified efforts from China, there will be peace and security in Darfur at last.

Other articles that have come out:

Spielberg pulls out of Olympics
Move marks public relations blow to China
Variety

Spielberg, luminaries press Olympic China over DarfurGoogle

Steven Spielberg withdraw as adviser to OlympicsUK Reuters

Thank you Steven Spielberg

www.savedarfur.org


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Tuesday, December 18, 2007

I CARRY THE TORCH FOR DARFUR

Some things in our lives become important enough to prioritize them. It may be sickness. It may be an accident. It may be sorrow.

But when our humanity can be questioned because we allow a genocide to go on year after year in Darfur ~ what amounts to be a silent screaming out for our attention and our souls needs to be given project status. In other words, genocide is one of those things that should be taken care of as a priority.


US RI Representative James Langevin


Scott Warren, Executive Director of STAND and junior at Brown University
Providence, Rhode Island


Rhode Island Darfur Ensemble


On a rainy day

Edward Mutanguaha, Freshman at Salve Regina University
and citizen of Kigali, Rwanda

Edward Mutanguaha

Edward Mutanguha
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youtube
"How many ears must one man have before he can hear people cry?...
How many deaths will it take 'til he knows that too many people have died?...
How many years can some people exist before they're allowed to be free?...
How many times can a man turn his head pretending he just doesn't see?"
Blowin' in the Wind
Sung by Katie Melua


Edward Mutanguha


Sandra Hammel introducing Edward Mutanguha


Rhode Island Darfur Ensemble


Rhode Island Darfur Ensemble


Rhode Island Darfur Ensemble


Torch Holder
Name requested








Torch Holder
Name requested



Salve Regina University students
from Newport, Rhode Island


Sandra Hammel
Organizer of the Dream for Darfur
I CARRY THE TORCH FOR DARFUR
Providence, Rhode Island event
October 27, 2007
Rhode Island Statehouse
Smith Street

This is the fourth batch of pictures of the Torch Relay event. I will be posting more.

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

Call 1~800~GENOCIDE
and urge
your U.S. Representative and Senators
to pass the funding fully
for the UN Peacekeepers for Darfur

President Bush's Comment Phone Line
202-456-1111
He needs a push to do something right

save darfur
genocide intervention
darfur genocide

GENOCIDE STOPS WITH US

or it will go on forever

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Thursday, November 1, 2007

EDWARD & EDWIN MUTANGUHA FROM RWANDANS' HEARTS TO DARFUR


This is a tribute to two young men that I met through kismet September 20th - Edward and Edwin Mutanguha. They are from Rwanda, were born in exile and lived there for 7 years and now attend college ten or so minutes from my home in Rhode Island. Sometimes life smiles upon me and this is one of those times. As someone who lives by principles and conviction that the good in us must be nurtured and tended to like a garden – I find peace in how I live my life and what action I take to add to the good. These two young Rwandan young men have graced my life and given me rich blessings through seeing their goodness.

As the organizer of the Providence Dream for Darfur Torch Relay and Ceremony, I had the honor of getting to know and working together with Edward and Edwin. Almost all of our local and world media coverage was through what Edward and Edwin brought to the message of stopping genocide of the Darfuri people.

The following is an edited message that I sent to Edward today:

Edward, you and Edwin, turned out to be the most important spokesmen of our Torch Relay and Ceremony. Your voices, the message, your grace, your representation of the Dream for Darfur that you both brought to this event and the human rights cause to "live" is priceless and precious. Think about the media coverage that we have received and how much of it has been centered around you and Edwin, your personal experiences, how you each one, lent weight to our message - to the world. You have done this role with grace, elegance, with a quiet voice, but with voices of strength. I extend my gratitude for the work you have done for the Darfuri people and for the ending of genocide as the end product of our comprehensive efforts. You have my heartfelt gratitude that I feel in my soul. I acknowledge that I understand the importance of your voice and Edwin’s voice on the subject of humanity’s inhumanity to others. Genocide must stop with us and it only will - when we do what must be done to make the difference. Thank you. I needed to say this to you.

Your family surely is supremely proud of you and Edwin.

I know I am.

“We are visitors on this planet.
We are here for ninety or one hundred years
at the very most.
During that period,
we must try to do something good ,
something useful, with our lives.

If you contribute to other people’s happiness,
You will find the true goal, the true meaning of life.

H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama
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"I Will Be Here"
Sung by Jeremy "Passion" Manongdo
San Francisco, CA


If we don't stop genocide, then who will?
Our leaders have not.

George Bush is now threatening to
not fund the UN Peacekeepers for Darfur,
if he doesn't get his way with congress.
Congress has been rendering itself useless in regards to the Bush administration.
President Bush has proved over and over that he doesn't really care about justice, human rights and the Darfur people.

So we must be the champion of this cause.
Our leaders are not.

Exercise humanity.

www.savedarfur.org
www.dreamfordarfur.org
www.standnow.org

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Tuesday, October 30, 2007

PROVIDENCE OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY ON BEHALF OF DARFUR AND SPEAKING TO CHINA


I DID SOMETHING I HAVE NEVER DONE BEFORE
AND IS WAY OUTSIDE THE BOX OF MY COMFORTABILITY RANGE. I organized for the DREAM FOR DARFUR campaign a Torch Relay and Ceremony for my state of Rhode Island. As an activist for the people of Darfur, I want the slaughter, maiming, raping, starving, terrorizing them, the burning of their villages to end. I want the human beings on the planet who have freedoms to stand up and speak out and pressure those who have the leverage to influence Sudan to stop the genocide on the Darfuri people.
Edwin Mutanguha, left, from Rwanda, passes a torch to his brother Edward Mutanguha, both freshman at Salve Regina University, on the steps of the Statehouse in Providence, R.I., during the symbolic 'Dream for Darfur Olympic Torch Relay', Saturday, Oct. 27, 2007. Rhode Island Darfur activists held the Providence leg of the torch relay which will happen in combination with 60 torch relays across the United States. A peace conference in Libya is part of an international effort to try to end over four years of fighting that have killed more than 200,000 people in Sudan's western region of Darfur. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)

Murakoze Edward and Edwin!


On the right in the back is Channel 12 news who interviewed Edwin Mutanguha.
I missed our event on television Saturday night and all day Sunday
when I hear it aired repeatedly.


Walking up the South Side of the Rhode Island Statehouse

The Providence leg of the symbolic Olympic Torch Relay took place last Saturday, October 27, 2007 - the same day that Libyan leader, Moammar Gadhafi, had so-called Peace Talks in Sirte, Libya for the Darfur situation. Call me a cynic, but I don't have faith in Moammar Gadhafi. And I have no faith in Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir who "says" there will be a cease-fire. I don't know how he can say there will be a cease-fire on his government's behalf, because he has always claimed that they weren't "firing" any weapons. How do you stop what you aren't doing?


Our Torch Relay event was a part of the on-going symbolic Dream for Darfur Olympic Torch Relay that is currently traveling to more than 60 cities across the United States, as well as the international Torch Relays that have already taken place and will take place before the Beijing, China Olympics open next summer.
Edward Mutanguha leading us around the Rhode Island Statehouse to the north side for the Ceremony on the plaza side.

In the summer of 2008, athletes from around the world will be competing at the XXIX Olympics in Beijing, China. The theme of these games – "One World, One Dream". But the world is asking: Can the Olympic Games truly stand for "One World, One Dream" while China is underwriting the genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan? China buys more than $2 billion worth of oil from Sudan. The Khartoum regime has used much of its oil wealth to commit mass atrocities in Darfur, including arming militias that are attacking villages. In addition to being empowered by an influential voice on the United Nations Security Council, China continues to import 70% of Sudan’s oil. With those funds Sudan purchases weapons from China, which are used to commit genocide on the people of Darfur.


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From Our Providence Torch Relay's Torch Lighting at Waterplace Park
What Was Said...

We meet here to stand with the people of Darfur. We honor the Darfuri families, who live with injustice with every breath they take. Instead of participating in and watching the Olympics of Beijing, China next summer, they will be living under a tree, piece of plastic or makeshift shelter. After a moment of silence - we will walk the unlit symbolic Olympic torch to the front of the Fidelity Office where we will light it. (Fidelity Investment Company takes American citizens' mutual funds and invests in Chinese oil companies, PetroChina and Sinopec, in Sudan - thereby funding the genocide with USA citizens money.) The gong will be struck 8 times to signify the beginning of our Torch Relay on behalf of the Darfur people, who should be included in the Beijing, China Olympics, whose chosen theme is ONE WORLD, ONE DREAM. The number 8, Chinese number, ba, is considered the luckiest number. It is no coincidence that the Summer Olympics in Beijing will open on 8/ 8/08 at 8:00 p.m. While our symbolic Olympic torch was lit, the three statements were said in unity:

€ This flame honors those who have been lost and those who suffer.
€ This flame celebrates the courage of those who have survived.
€ This flame symbolizes the hope we share for an end to the violence in Darfur and an end to genocide everywhere.”
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This ceremony today is a way to address the Darfur crisis – a way to demand that international community takes action now. We choose this Torch Relay as opportunity to tap into the ideals of the Olympics, but also to call on the host of the 2008 Olympics, the government of China, to do more to help end the genocide. Your presence today shows your concern for Darfur – those gathered here are acting in ways our leaders should, but have not. Today, we gather to call on China to take immediate and urgent action on Darfur. All of us here - and joined by activists around the country, and the world - are part of a growing anti-genocide movement – a powerful civil-society force that is working to address the Darfur crisis, and to be powerful and informed enough to address genocide anywhere as unacceptable. There are 60 Torch Relays in 60 cities taking place in the United States over a few months time.

Edward Mutanguha
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While I have been thinking about this day, I remembered when my father invited an Olympic track star to speak at our high school’s annual athletic banquet. I grew up in Indiana and my father was a high school teacher and coach. This track star was the son of a sharecropper and the grandson of a slave. He also was the first American in the history of Olympic Track and Field to win four gold medals in a single Olympics. The story of Jesse Owens is relevant to today’s Torch Relay event. The year that Mr. Owens became world famous was in 1936 at the Berlin Olympics, that are also known as the Hitler Olympics. It is worth noting that on March 22, 1933, the first extermination camp was opened in Dachau, Germany and began its ugly business of committing crimes against humanity that later was called – genocide. So at the same time that the death camps were operating, people and Hitler were sitting in the stands watching the Olympian athletes in Berlin compete. The Olympic Torch Relay as we know it today was actually introduced at the very Olympic games in Berlin in 1936.

Today, the Official Website of the Beijing Torch Relay states “The Olympic Flame is the highest symbol of the Olympic spirit. The Olympic Torch Relay is a celebration of human peace and friendship. Under the guidance of International Olympic Committte, Beijing is working closely with the relay cities around the world, widely promoting the theme of ‘One World, One Dream,’ upholding the torch relay concept that is ‘a journey of harmony’ to make the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay a complete success.”

I dare to say - that complete success is not possible, if the “journey of harmony” is soiled by the lack of extending the theme “One World, One Dream” to Darfur. China needs to use its influence with Sudanese President, Omar al-Bashir, to help bring the genocide to an end.

While the Olympics’ host country has the world’s eyes on it, we ask the 2008 Olympic theme to not exclude the Darfuri people, but to include the Darfur people. While it sits on the UN Security Council, China supports the Sudanese government…the government who has been coordinating the genocide in Darfur with the janjaweed for over four and half years with weapons purchased from China. Darfur is a part of the world and needs the Olympic dream desperately.


Like the irony of the Berlin games in 1936, the 2008 Beijing games will have its own irony if China ignores its role in the Darfur genocide.
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Three Things to do were given to the crowd:

1. The current bill in the Senate – SUDAN ACCOUNTABILITY & DIVESTMENT ACT – referred to as S-A-D-A, SADA, must be passed over any Presidential veto. The House sister bill passed 418 to 1. You can help and ask our Senators to sponsor this bill by calling 1 – 800 – GENOCIDE. “We the People” have power that needs to be utilized.


2. Learn about divestment by going to
www.Sudandivestment.org or www.investorsagainstgenocide.org

3. Go to
www.dreamfordarfur.org to the the “Take Action” page and sign the petition to the International Olympic Committee .

Use Your Voice for people who presently have no voice. Let us not be defined with our inaction or lack of speaking up when the right thing to do is to speak up and until we are understood. Genocide Stops With Us.


We thank you so much for attending the Olympic Dream for Darfur Providence Torch Relay.
We use this torch relay to highlight the ideals of the Olympics, while calling on the host of the 2008 Olympics, the government of China, to do more to help end the genocide in Darfur. As you can see, you are part of something powerful and important. We stand here today and call for an end to the Darfur crisis. We know Americans want to help the people of Darfur, and participating in our relay and taking our actions is an important way to do this.
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Submitted for www.savedarfur.org website:

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.) were the words that began the day.

On October 27, The Providence, Rhode Island Dream for Darfur Torch Relay and Ceremony was welcomed by student and community activists, in spite of the forecast for rain. In Rhode Island’s first opportunity to come together and stand united with people around the world, the message was for the Beijing Olympics theme of “One World, One Dream” to include Darfur in The Dream.

Lighting the torch at the Fidelity Investment Company door, a symbolic Darfur family, the Mays, began the relay after the 50 gathered people cited three statements of solidarity for the Darfur people and 8 gong strikes – the Chinese lucky number - by ten-year old Sara Mays. At the RI Statehouse lawn, Edwin Mutanguha carried the torch up the hillside of steps handing the torch to his twin brother, Edward Mutanguha. Edward carried the torch to the stage at the Statehouse plaza to the song of “Miyela Africa” where the crowd grew to 180. The t-shirts worn by the crowd stated “I CARRY THE TORCH FOR DARFUR”.

Speakers included U.S. RI Representative James Langevin, Providence Mayor David Cicilline, Mindy Wachtenheim, Board of Director member of the Holocaust Education and Resource Center in Providence, Rhode Island, Scott Warren, Executive Director of STAND and Sandra Hammel, the Providence organizer. Keynote speakers were twin nineteen year old Rwandans, Edward and Edwin Mutanguha, freshmen at Salve Regina University in Newport.

Edward and Edwin shared their personal stories of their life with genocide. The attendees were leaning in listening to both young men tell us their perspectives of living as refugees for 7 years: speaking to a man who had his arm chopped off to keep his head from being severed in Rwanda’s genocide, being told by the elementary school principal not to eat fish in the river because their countrypeople’s bodies were floating down it in 1994, feeling uneasy and unwelcome living as a refugee. Edwin said, “Today I stand in front of you as a student, a fellow human being and a responsible citizen of the world. Today, we are all uniting for a common cause, all from different backgrounds, but with one thing in mind, to be responsible for each other and be conscious of what is going on around us. Our world is becoming a global village and it is no longer possible for us to live obliviously and inconsiderately.”

Edward spoke from his heart “I would like to remind everybody about something that you have that the rest of the world envies; your FREEDOM. With this freedom, comes rights. I urge you to use your rights as citizens of a free nation to help the people of Darfur obtain their freedom and their right to live.”

The Mutanguha young men’s wish is for people to know what is happening to the Darfur people and to do what it takes to stop the genocide. Edwin asked “Let us do all that is in our power to ensure… a beacon of light. I implore you to change the message that we are sending to our brothers and sisters in Sudan. Let’s change ‘Never Again’ to ‘Not Now, Not Ever; Not On Our Watch!’”

Edward and Edwin brought their classmates from Salve University

Applause broke out when Sandra Hammel said "'Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.' We are here to say we are not silent about Darfur." (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)

Music was provided by the RI Darfur Ensemble, including “A Prayer for Africa” in Swahili, African instruments accompanied “Kwaheri”, also in Swahili. “One Voice” with Darfur lyrics infused and the inspiring song, “Stand Up for Love”.


Attendees signed the Dream for Darfur Petition to the International Olympic Committee to tell the IOC: “Bring the Olympic Dream to the People of Darfur”.

Edward Mutanguha signing the Rhode Island screen to be forwarded to Washington, D.C. for the December 10th Olympic Torch Relay on Human Rights Day.

We got media coverage from the following places. I have removed the links as they no longer take you to the relevant article.

Libya on Yahoo! News Photos

Newport This Week

Newport Daily Newspaper

CBS local station, Channel 12 aired a news clip October 27 and 28.

A Providence Dream for Darfur Torch Relay video will be uploaded at Youtube.

Murabeho.

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