Blog

I thumb my way through the dry, holier-than-thou-government-language, thirty-five page document entitled “The Massachusetts Guide to Choosing and Using Curricular Materials on Genocide and Human Rights Issues” as I stand outside of State Senator Augustus’ office, nervously waiting for the wall clock to strike 10:30, or at least 10:20.

Darfur:

• Two Darfur rebel groups accuse the Sudanese army of mounting new attacks in North Darfur
  
• Egyptian and Ethiopian forces are set to deploy to Darfur, however UNAMID continues to face challenges
  

This week, the Congolese national army, FARDC, announced a new initiative to crack down on rape and other human rights abuses committed by its troops. In a related development, MONUC, the United Nations peacekeeping force in DRC, announced the completion of training for two more FARDC battalions, part of a program aimed at supporting the creation of a more professional army.

As much as I hate to admit it, I’m a born and raised native Texan and I have spent all my life in Texas (unless the 2 and a half months I just spent in DC count). Being an activist in Texas often seems lonely and from what I’ve been told of the rest of the Southwest region, this sentiment is echoed by many others. As the Southwest Regional Outreach Coordinator for colleges I want to let everyone who has ever felt isolated or as if they are the only ones who seem to care, you are definitely not alone.

STAND will be hosting its 2008 National Student Conference November 7-9 in Washington, DC! Join student activists from across the country as we come together to learn from policy experts and each other about how to be more effective advocates to end the ongoing atrocities in Sudan and ensure that we "STAND Out Loud" against genocide in our world.

Put your dedication to ending the conflict in Darfur and your flare for multimedia together by entering to win the Citizens for Global Solutions Multimedia Contest 2008!

A couple of weeks ago, a student from a nearby university emailed me, asking for feedback on an event he wanted to host. He told me he was so upset about the genocide, and that he wanted orchestrate something really big and radical.

Despite China’s desire to hide its connection to genocide, Friday’s Olympic Opening Ceremonies will serve as a powerful reminder of the ongoing violence in Sudan and one man’s long road to safety in the United States.

Lopez Lomong, a Sudanese lost boy and a member of Team Darfur, will bear the flag for the United States this Friday at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.  Lomong, who received US citizenship in 2007, was nominated for the honor by Olympic team captains.

The Beijing Olympics are just around the corner, and much of the world is waiting for the Games to begin. But the people of Darfur have been waiting much longer for something much greater: the stability and safety they need to return to their homes.

Last month I had the opportunity to speak to a group of international students studying at Princeton University over the summer. The topic was community activism in the United States. Sixty of the brightest high school students from around the country and the globe were seated before me in the lecture hall, listening to my experiences as a member of STAND. As I started to explain the history of STAND and how it is making a difference in the world today, I realized how proud I was of this organization; for what it does, and how it motivates teens like me to stand up and get involved.