Vermont TAG Summer Update 5
Sunday, August 3rd , 2008
ATTENTION: UVM STAND MEMBERS
HELLO EVERYBODY!
August is here, and it is time to start thinking about school once again…
When thinking about the upcoming semester, let us not only consider the education we shall be receiving, but also the education of students in all Vermont public schools. Genocide education must become a new standard in Vermont schools if we have any chance of stopping such atrocities.
Our campaign is so important because it helps to establish a foundation for this new standard of education. However, it is essential that we all remember that which I emphasized in my first summer update: “anything worthwhile takes time”.
While a genocide education mandate in Vermont may be feasible in one or two years, genocide education nationwide will take much longer.
Putting an end to genocide requires an entirely different level of activism. However, in order to legitimize the incorporation of a permanent anti-genocide constituency, campaigns such as TAG are absolutely crucial. They are crucial for several reasons:
1-They emphasize the magnitude and widespread effects of genocide
2-They not only show local support for action, but they also require a unified, nationwide coalition of supporters voicing their strong opposition to such atrocities
3-They inspire millions of young people, leading many to take actions and become civically engaged (these young people who will one day lead our nation)
4-They force us all to take a more holistic view on our world, creating more empathetic and humane individuals
That being said, it will require an extraordinary effort on the part of many individuals, willing and able to volunteer their time, energy and money; fueled by a responsibility to protect and visions of change!
Shifting Gears!
Vermont Teach Against Genocide has just launched its brand new website!! Please check us out now at http://www.vt.teachagainstgenocide.org . This website is not only great for PR work and outreaching, but it is a perfect tool for UVM STAND members to utilize. It will function as a database of information, keeping you up to date on the latest campaign news and events. Also available are pages which outline our model programs, board of advisors, petition campaign, and campaign supporters. Perhaps the most useful feature of the Vermont TAG website is the “documents for distribution” page which will allow persons unaffiliated with the campaign to take action.
In just five days, the world will watch as over 200 countries partake in the twenty-ninth Summer Olympiad in Beijing. But this year, we are not simply looking to direct the spotlight on the athletes, but also on the Chinese government. Far and away the largest exporter of small arms to the government of Sudan (95%), China has used the oil trade to its advantage, ignoring the plight of the people of Darfur and profiting as genocidaires. The world must be
made aware of China’s involvement and support for the genocidal regime in Sudan. I strongly urge each and every one of you to get involved in the American Jewish World Services’ Darfur Action Campaign. Run by UVM STAND founder and recent UVM alumni Meredith Burack, the Darfur Action Campaign is a quick and easy way to show your opposition to China’s role in fueling this genocide.
As part of the Darfur Action Campaign, Meredith recently organized a protest outside of New York City’s NBC studios. NBC is the network which owns the exclusive U.S. broadcasting rights to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, and paid $900 million for that privilege. This protest was an extremely important event which aimed to pressure NBC to balance its promotion of the Games with coverage of China’s economic, diplomatic and military support of the government of Sudan. We must keep the pressure on NBC, for it has shown little interest in the crises, allotting only 7 total hours of news coverage to Darfur since 2003. So, do your part, support your fellow STAND member, and get involved with AJWS’ Darfur Action Campaign today!
Recently, a couple of opportunities have come to a head, both for this campaign and for our STAND organization as a whole:
Our faculty advisor, Robert Gordon forwarded myself and others an e-mail which outlined an opportunity for a very promising grant for philanthropic organizations such as ours. The Jenzabar foundation will be offering seven grants of $5,000 apiece to organizations which they feel are most worthy. Learn more at http://www.jenzabar.net/about_jbar/Foundation.html
While perusing the web, I fell upon a site called Understanding VT which gives out grants to worthy community organizations. Learn more at http://www.understandingvt.org/.
Lastly, and perhaps most promising, as an employee at Gap inc., I have the distinct pleasure of being eligible for their new GAP Foundations Program which will donate substantial funds to
employees who are involved in non-profit organizations such as our own. I am currently working with my human resources manager in order to devise a strategy to best approach this opportunity.
For at least one of these organizations I would like to submit a short video documentary outlining the purpose and success of STAND and/or TAG so as to capture our work and personalize our message. Last week, at the John Dau Sudan Foundation for health clinics in southern Sudan, myself, along with the Alyssa Q, began work on our promotional tape which will be brought to your attention more fully as school resumes.
UVM senior Alexandra Bambery and a volunteer from Champlain College have already begun researching these and other grant opportunities; and I cannot express enough the importance of fundraising for our cause, as we enter next semester with a tight budget following our Keynote Speaker from last semester. So please, find time to research these opportunities!
In regards to the John Dau fundraiser, it was a smashing success! Thanks to the efforts of Mary and Gordon Hayward (event hosts), the two day event raised over $10,000 dollars for health clinics in southern Sudan. Accompanying me were: TAG Assistant Director Alyssa Quinlan, and three “Lost Boys of Sudan”-Deng Adit, Achier Mou, and Chiengkuach Mabil. The fundraiser included showings of the documentary “God Grew Tired of Us” which featured John Dau himself, musical performances, speaking engagements, and chances for the Lost Boys to tell their incredible stories. Hundreds of spectators were inspired by stories of flight, starvation, displacement and resilience. At the end of the second day’s events, one woman, after hearing UVM’s Deng Adit speak of returning to Sudan to see his family, pulled me aside and offered to raise $5,000 to send him home.
To learn more about the John Dau Sudan Foundation, visit: http://www.johndaufoundation.org/
While walking through the Hayward’s beautiful garden, I had the chance to hold a candid conversation with John. He is a fascinating man who is even more selfless and virtuous than I had imagined. He is motivated by only one thing, and that is his love and responsibility for his people back home. I have never met a person so true and honorable, and was moved by his diligence. I was able to become close with John, and his Sudanese friends from Syracuse, exchanging contact information and sharing thoughts about the conflict. John was very interested in coming to speak at UVM, and I told him that we would definitely be in contact with him in regards to scheduling an engagement. We should strongly consider this opportunity, as he is an educated, inspiring speaker.
Since the last update, I have met with two legislators: Rep. Obuchowski, and Rep. Zuckerman.
*Rep. Obuchowski is an extremely admirable man, with good values and a strong heart. He was straightforward with Alyssa and I, telling us that funding would be next to impossible to come by. While meeting with Rep. Obuchowski, he showed us a budget forecast for Vermont’s upcoming fiscal year…it was eye-opening. Vermont usually begins the year with a surplus-this year, we will find ourselves more than $30 million in debt. Nevertheless, Obuchowski told us to “shoot for the moon”, as our bill will be watered down no matter how we choose to introduce it.
*Rep. Zuckerman was an all-around advocate to the cause. He immediately offered to co-sponsor our bill, and has already submitted our sample legislation to the drafters for a sample draft. While this is not the final legislation we will be submitting, David believed that we might benefit from simply having a draft for distribution. I am very enthusiastic about having David as a co-sponsor, because I believe that with him “what you see is what you get”, and I have really liked what I’ve seen so far.
On a separate note, I would like to remind you all that we are still hoping to petition at the Champlain Valley Fair from August 23rd-September 3rd. Please let me know if you would be interested in helping out, I will compensate you for your tickets.
I am currently looking into reserving a room in the State house sometime next spring for a TAG Lobby Day. While I have yet to confirm any plans, I have many opportunities which I am currently looking into. If you have any ideas for a lobby day, don’t be shy to let me know. I hope to invite high school students, teachers, legislators, parents and UVM students to Montpelier in order to lobby our legislators once session begins (catering and hired speakers are strong possibilities).
Lastly, I have been in contact with Meredith about the creation of a VT-TAG Board of Advisors. While this idea is still in the making, we believe that there is strong support from influential Vermonters, and with the proper tools we can create a legitimate board to oversee our campaign strategy and fundraising. To learn more about our proposed Board of Advisers, visit our website and click on the “Documents for Distribution” page.
Whatever free time you have during the next month, I urge you to take a moment and see what you can do for the cause. The more people you tell, the faster the grassroots can grow. As campaign coordinator I want to make you all a promise-“I will not back down until I see a significant, sustainable increase in genocide education in the state of Vermont.” I hope that you will all join me on this journey, helping me to fulfill my promise. Political savvy can only get us so far- to pass a mandate will take an inspirational movement by UVM STAND members and the people of Vermont. Lets Get to Work!
Respectfully Yours,
Christopher J. Fries
