Next week, President Obama will speak at the United Nations General Assembly and attend a meeting on Sudan with other world leaders. This weekend and throughout the next couple of weeks, activists will be taking actions aimed at encouraging the U.S. to implement a strong policy and be a proactive force for peace during a fragile moment in Sudan. Enough and our partners in the Sudan Now coalition are supporting a variety of these actions that we wanted to inform our readers about during this time of increased opportunity to influence and strengthen our policy on Sudan.
— SEPTEMBER 19 – Global Day for Sudan —
My Home: A Walk Through Children’s Memories of Darfur
Where: Los Angeles, CA
Open to: General public
Art exhibit hosted by Stop Genocide Now, Jewish World Watch, and the Sudan365 coalition. More info at http://www.stopgenocidenow.org/home/2010/06/12/1227
Stand Up Against Poverty
Where: Josie Robertson Plaza (Lincoln Center), NYC
Open to: General public
In 2000, world leaders committed to ending extreme poverty by 2015 signed up for the Eight Millennium Development Goals, or MDGs, which set out targets for doing so. Ten years later, progress toward these commitments is off track. The Lincoln Center Plaza will be the site for all the action, with a vibrant exhibition on these landmark promises to end poverty, exploring progress under each one, information on what needs to happen for it to be achieved, and how citizens can get involved.
Save Darfur will lead a 30-minute segment on Sudan at 3:30 p.m., featuring a musical element and speakers from Sudan and international institutions. Save Darfur will also have a booth with materials and action opportunities. More information at http://www.standupnyc.org/.
24 Hours for Darfur Briefing & Discussion
Where: 691 Coney Island Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
When: 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Open to: Sudanese diaspora
At this briefing and discussion, 24 Hours for Darfur researchers will present the findings from pilot research conducted in N’Djamena, Abeche, and the Gaga refugee camp in May and June 2008 and primary research carried out in each of the 12 Darfurian refugee camps in eastern Chad from April to July 2009. They interviewed a total of 2,152 refugees. This report documents their views. The briefing and discussion with cover the findings of the report, preview a new film on Darfurian views, and provide a forum for discussion with members of the Darfurian diaspora. More details can be found at http://www.darfurianvoices.org/.
Sudanese Community Discussion with Government Officials
Where: 691 Coney Island Avenue, Brooklyn, NY (same location as the 24 Hours for Darfur)
When: Immediately following the 24 Hours for Darfur Briefing & Discussion
The Save Darfur Coalition will issue invitations to Congressional representatives and staff at the U.S. Mission to the U.N. to attend a discussion with the Sudanese Diaspora on the afternoon of September 19.
— SEPTEMBER 20 —
Sudan365 Deliveries
Where and when: TBD
On 9 January, 2010, a global drumbeat echoed around the world as people across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas came together to call on their governments to prevent a return to serious, widespread conflict in Africa’s biggest country, Sudan. In 2011, Sudan faces one of the most momentous events in recent African history: the landmark referendum where South Sudan will vote on whether to become an independent country. The resulting video, A Beat for Peace, produced by Jamie Catto and Splinter Films was featured on the YouTube homepage and received over 100,000 hits in its first day. More details to come at http://www.sudan365.org/
— SEPTEMBER 21 —
Activist Conference Call hosted by Sudan Now partners
Where: (877) 210 – 8943 / Conference ID# 11940412
When: 4:30 p.m. ET
Hear from Mark Lotwis of the Save Darfur Coalition and John Prendergast of Enough discuss the most recent policy developments on Sudan and lay out next steps for the activist community on how to best influence the Obama administration.
Photo: Sudan activist with U.N. facepaint (Credit: Janessa Goldbeck)