Random stuff

There has been much talk on the campaign trail of hope and change, rhetoric which is largely responsible for the victory of President-elect Barack Obama. Across the nation and world, there is unprecedented excitement about the new administration and its potential to change.

The first time I heard Samantha Power, author of A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide, speak, she told a personal story that’s remained extremely meaningful for me in considering how to approach my role as an activist. The story had to do with the pitfalls in her relationship with the atrocities that she works to portray; she recounted how, working in Bosnia during the war, she was able to begin to make a name for herself as a journalist.

Today’s youth have been nicknamed Generation Q– the Quiet Generation. While this may seem ironic to those who have dedicated themselves to the anti-genocide movement– or any of the other critical movements of our time– the reality is that too often today’s youth are associated with ipods, video-games, MTV addictions, and perhaps most tragically, apathy.

As activists we often feel like we are alone in the world and that we are some of the only people that care about making genocide history. However, this outlook on the movement is totally false and thankfully there are other crazy people in this movement (known affectionately as members of the STAND Leadership Team, or SLT) that have no quells staying up till after one in the morning to discuss the ICC indictments and the Responsibility to Protect Doctrine.

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.

Not getting enough money from your school to STAND against genocide?

Check out CGI U, a new project of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI)! CGI U is made for students like you who are trying to tackle the most important global issues of today.  CGI U will be distributing $150,000 to student projects dealing with global issues.