Tuesday, July 10, 2007
A break of silence for one dearly missed
Yesterday I spoke with my best friend Cindy. After our phone call ended, Cindy called back about an hour later. Her husband Rob of 13+years, whom she had been with for almost 20 years was killed in Cannon Twp., MI. Together they have 12 year old twin daughters and a 9 year old daughter. This tragic accident was caused by an 18 yr. old male who veered over the yellow line and struck Rob. Rob was pronounced dead at the scene and a 17 year old female passenger in the vehicle that struck Rob was in critical care as of today. The 18 year old driver responsible has been released from the hospital. Rob, or Dr. Rob as we all called him, will be greatly missed. He was a great man who helped many people receive dental care. Including my son and husband. One time, 2 days before our wedding my husband broke a front tooth. Our regular dentist was booked and could not get him in. After trying endlessly everywhere, Dr. Rob squeezed my husband in at the end of the work day. His smile looked great! He was always a hard worker, and always helped out. While I am deeply saddened by his loss, my heart breaks for his family. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. We love you Rob. You'll be greatly missed.
Sunday, July 08, 2007
MI Darfur Coalition Mtg.
Event: Michigan Darfur Coalition-State-Wide Meeting
When: Jul 21, 2007 10:30am-12:30pm
Where: East Lansing Public Library
950 Abbott Road
East Lansing, MI 48823
Type: Meeting
When: Jul 21, 2007 10:30am-12:30pm
Where: East Lansing Public Library
950 Abbott Road
East Lansing, MI 48823
Type: Meeting
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Lakeview high school STAND
I want to thank all the kids from Lakeview high school who held a car wash for Darfur on July 3rd. They raised over $600. Amazing! The carwash aired on the local news that evening at 11pm. I am proud of you all, especially you Linglu! Thank you for caring and believing in the betterment of mankind. And thank you Felpaush grocery store for allowing the students to use your parking lot and water! (Jeers to Meijer)
Next, this group will tackle their representative Tim Walberg. I can't wait!
Next, this group will tackle their representative Tim Walberg. I can't wait!
Thursday, July 05, 2007
The politics of Darfur
Here is the thing, an atrocity is being committed against humanity. The amount of devastion that the people of Darfur have endured is unimaginable. We in the west can not relate to this devastation. The closest we have seen was 9-11 and Katrina. And today, we still have people talking about the devastation. (And yes, people are still suffering-I am not Ann Coulter) The point being- the suffering in Darfur is so much more severe and we do nothing. People argue that we weren't there for Rwanda, and we weren't, but you must learn from your mistakes. Today, unlike in Rwanda, we are getting information about Darfur at lighting quick speeds. We have the information and means to act, yet we don't. There is this big divide between the left and right. A divide that is so great that hundreds of thousands of people are falling into the deep crevasse. I was too young to do anything in Rwanda, but I am not now. I may be a right-wing conservative or a left-wing liberal, but it won't matter in how I choose to act on Darfur.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Divest fro Darfur
SaveDarfur.org has a post called "http://www.savedarfur.org/newsroom/clips/national_ads_to_hit_fidelity_on_darfur/">National ads to hit Fidelity on Darfur." that's worth checking out...
A national activist group is planning to launch a media blitz against Fidelity Investments and Berkshire Hathaway for their investments in companies doing business with Sudan - which critics say is committing genocide against its own citizens in Darfur. The Save Darfur Coalition said it will unveil details…
Save Darfur Mtg. in Grand Rapids
I have been too busy to post lately.
School is out for 2 weeks so I am once again free. Last weekend we hosted a global day for Darfur in Grand Rapids MI. Carina Gakuba spoke, she is a Rwandan survivor. Ryan Spencer Reed spoke and displayed his photos. A rep from national Save Darfur coalition attended as well as the Mi rep from the MI divestment campaign. Over 100 people attended. Not bad for our first official event. This weekend is Chicago's Sudan Freedom walk. We are riding a bus to the event. Hopefully it is a good turn out.
School is out for 2 weeks so I am once again free. Last weekend we hosted a global day for Darfur in Grand Rapids MI. Carina Gakuba spoke, she is a Rwandan survivor. Ryan Spencer Reed spoke and displayed his photos. A rep from national Save Darfur coalition attended as well as the Mi rep from the MI divestment campaign. Over 100 people attended. Not bad for our first official event. This weekend is Chicago's Sudan Freedom walk. We are riding a bus to the event. Hopefully it is a good turn out.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Thursday, January 18, 2007
"Raid" on Sudanese embassy in Iraq
U.S. Sudan envoy to meet Darfur rebels in Chad
By Betel Miarom
N'DJAMENA, Jan 18 (Reuters) - The U.S. special envoy to Sudan said on Thursday he would travel to eastern Chad for talks with rebels from the Sudanese region of Darfur, with the aim of ending a four-year conflict that has killed 200,000 people.
Andrew Natsios sought permission for the talks from President Idriss Deby at a meeting in the Chadian capital N'Djamena, amid international concerns that spiralling violence in Darfur could destabilise central Africa.
Fighting erupted in Darfur in February 2003 when rebels took up arms against Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, accusing him of discriminating against the western region.
The government responded by arming Arab militias to counter the rebellion. Some 2.5 million people have been forced from their homes in a conflict that Washington has termed "genocide".
"I promised the Sudanese president I would meet the Chadian leader so he could authorise a meeting with the Darfur rebels in eastern Chad," Natsios told reporters after the meeting.
The purpose of the talks with the divided rebel groups would be to "try to convince them to adopt a common position to find a solution to the Darfur crisis," Natsios said.
A Chadian government spokesman said the president had given the talks his blessing. Chad has repeatedly denied Sudanese accusations that it supports Darfur insurgents and it has accused Khartoum in turn of backing an uprising in eastern Chad.
U.S. Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico negotiated a proposed 60-day ceasefire between Darfur rebels and the Sudanese government last week, but divisions among the insurgents have already undermined the deal and the rebels say the government has violated the truce with air strikes.
DEEP DIVISIONS
Many Darfur commanders who rejected a May peace deal with the government formed a new alliance called the National Redemption Front (NRF) and renewed hostilities in June.
Leaders of one NRF faction, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), have said there is no ceasefire.
Natsios was expected to travel to eastern Chad on Friday before returning to the capital on Saturday, according to a draft schedule from U.S. officials.
The U.S. diplomat has striven to shore up international support for resolving the crisis: last week he made a five-day visit to China, which supplies arms to Sudan and is a major investor in its oil sector.
Sudan has rejected U.N. Security Council Resolution 1706 authorising some 22,500 U.N. peacekeepers and police to take over a struggling African Union mission in Darfur.
In December, al-Bashir softened his position by agreeing to a "hybrid operation" in a letter to outgoing U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Annan said the force could include up to 10,000 U.N. peacekeepers, but Khartoum insists it should just give support to the African Union mission.
"We support the U.N. plan to deploy 10,000 blue helmets in Darfur. We are working with the African Union to have that hybrid force in Darfur. There are already 50 blue helmets on the ground who are preparing the way," Natsios said.
By Betel Miarom
N'DJAMENA, Jan 18 (Reuters) - The U.S. special envoy to Sudan said on Thursday he would travel to eastern Chad for talks with rebels from the Sudanese region of Darfur, with the aim of ending a four-year conflict that has killed 200,000 people.
Andrew Natsios sought permission for the talks from President Idriss Deby at a meeting in the Chadian capital N'Djamena, amid international concerns that spiralling violence in Darfur could destabilise central Africa.
Fighting erupted in Darfur in February 2003 when rebels took up arms against Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, accusing him of discriminating against the western region.
The government responded by arming Arab militias to counter the rebellion. Some 2.5 million people have been forced from their homes in a conflict that Washington has termed "genocide".
"I promised the Sudanese president I would meet the Chadian leader so he could authorise a meeting with the Darfur rebels in eastern Chad," Natsios told reporters after the meeting.
The purpose of the talks with the divided rebel groups would be to "try to convince them to adopt a common position to find a solution to the Darfur crisis," Natsios said.
A Chadian government spokesman said the president had given the talks his blessing. Chad has repeatedly denied Sudanese accusations that it supports Darfur insurgents and it has accused Khartoum in turn of backing an uprising in eastern Chad.
U.S. Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico negotiated a proposed 60-day ceasefire between Darfur rebels and the Sudanese government last week, but divisions among the insurgents have already undermined the deal and the rebels say the government has violated the truce with air strikes.
DEEP DIVISIONS
Many Darfur commanders who rejected a May peace deal with the government formed a new alliance called the National Redemption Front (NRF) and renewed hostilities in June.
Leaders of one NRF faction, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), have said there is no ceasefire.
Natsios was expected to travel to eastern Chad on Friday before returning to the capital on Saturday, according to a draft schedule from U.S. officials.
The U.S. diplomat has striven to shore up international support for resolving the crisis: last week he made a five-day visit to China, which supplies arms to Sudan and is a major investor in its oil sector.
Sudan has rejected U.N. Security Council Resolution 1706 authorising some 22,500 U.N. peacekeepers and police to take over a struggling African Union mission in Darfur.
In December, al-Bashir softened his position by agreeing to a "hybrid operation" in a letter to outgoing U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Annan said the force could include up to 10,000 U.N. peacekeepers, but Khartoum insists it should just give support to the African Union mission.
"We support the U.N. plan to deploy 10,000 blue helmets in Darfur. We are working with the African Union to have that hybrid force in Darfur. There are already 50 blue helmets on the ground who are preparing the way," Natsios said.
Darfur Billboard in Grand Rapids
This call is going out to all and any who can help us acquire a billboard for an ad campaign to publicize the atrocites in Darfur. Any and all willing to help with this, please respond! Ideas for the billboard as well as help in acquiring a billboard.
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