President Bush announced new sanctions for Sudan today. These sanctions will target 31 companies and four government officials.
The United States is also working with England to draft a UN resolution calling for an arms embargo on all of Sudan.
"I promise this to the people of Darfur: the United States will not avert our eyes from a crisis that challenges the conscience of the world."
-President Bush
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/05/29/bush.sudan.reut/index.html
May 29, 2007
May 11, 2007
This is an excerpt from the speech given at the Washington, DC Diplace Me event by Norbert Mao, the mayor of Gulu, Northern Uganda.
Many of you don’t know what is happening in northern Uganda. I don’t blame you. There are also many Ugandans who don’t know what is going on in northern Uganda. Because of television, many Ugandans know more about what is going on in Baghdad than what is going on in northern Uganda. The humanitarian catastrophe in northern Uganda has been neglected. The question is why? Is it because of default? Is it by design? But that is not the subject of my speech tonight. There will be another day to discuss that. The important thing is that the suffering must end and it is up to us to end it.
The world has also been guilty of a conspiracy of silence. People have continued to suffer and no one seems to be bothered. The rebel group - so vicious, so capricious, and so malevolent – has unleashed a suffering on our people, which we cannot comprehend. The rebels have killed people, but that is just part of the story. 97% of the deaths in northern Uganda is a direct result of the conditions in the camps. The rebels are only responsible for 3% of the deaths. That is why tonight is very important because you are tackling the foundation of the suffering, the 97% of the people who are dying due to the conditions. Now, like any other country, Uganda has got neighbors. We have Kenya, we have Tanzania, we have Rwanda. You would think that our neighbors should be the ones to come to our aid. That’s why I am so moved tonight to see that people who are so far away are the ones who are so concerned about the suffering of my people. You are thousands and thousands of miles away, but you are the ones who have showed that you care the most.
The international community is now supporting the peace process in Juba. I have been to the rebels. I have met them. They have expressed the desire to talk peace...
Our desire is to see peace, freedom and prosperity in northern Uganda so that Gulu can become a haven again. The displaced people should go home, but after more than 10 years in these camps they need help. They need material support from a country like yours. A country which is so rich, that sometimes I think it has more cars than people. We need the moral support of the USA. We need the moral support from a country that produced the Declaration of Independence and the Emancipation Proclamation. So, standing here in the shadows of the Washington Monument, I say to you, the young people of America: stand up for the rights of other young people in the world...
Tell your leaders in the Congress and the White House, let the displaced people go home. Write to them, call them, threaten not to vote for them if you must. Let them do something. Let the US government support the peace talks going on in Juba.
People of America, the cause of the suffering people in northern Uganda is your cause. You have said, “we want peace, we want the displaced people to come home, we want northern Uganda to become a haven again, so that the ordinary people can go and till their land.” We stand together with you. We the leaders of northern Uganda, we stand together with you and I’m sure everybody who matters is listening. I have come all the way to share your faith that every war has an end...
-Norbert Mao, Mayor of Gulu, Northern Uganda
Many of you don’t know what is happening in northern Uganda. I don’t blame you. There are also many Ugandans who don’t know what is going on in northern Uganda. Because of television, many Ugandans know more about what is going on in Baghdad than what is going on in northern Uganda. The humanitarian catastrophe in northern Uganda has been neglected. The question is why? Is it because of default? Is it by design? But that is not the subject of my speech tonight. There will be another day to discuss that. The important thing is that the suffering must end and it is up to us to end it.
The world has also been guilty of a conspiracy of silence. People have continued to suffer and no one seems to be bothered. The rebel group - so vicious, so capricious, and so malevolent – has unleashed a suffering on our people, which we cannot comprehend. The rebels have killed people, but that is just part of the story. 97% of the deaths in northern Uganda is a direct result of the conditions in the camps. The rebels are only responsible for 3% of the deaths. That is why tonight is very important because you are tackling the foundation of the suffering, the 97% of the people who are dying due to the conditions. Now, like any other country, Uganda has got neighbors. We have Kenya, we have Tanzania, we have Rwanda. You would think that our neighbors should be the ones to come to our aid. That’s why I am so moved tonight to see that people who are so far away are the ones who are so concerned about the suffering of my people. You are thousands and thousands of miles away, but you are the ones who have showed that you care the most.
The international community is now supporting the peace process in Juba. I have been to the rebels. I have met them. They have expressed the desire to talk peace...
Our desire is to see peace, freedom and prosperity in northern Uganda so that Gulu can become a haven again. The displaced people should go home, but after more than 10 years in these camps they need help. They need material support from a country like yours. A country which is so rich, that sometimes I think it has more cars than people. We need the moral support of the USA. We need the moral support from a country that produced the Declaration of Independence and the Emancipation Proclamation. So, standing here in the shadows of the Washington Monument, I say to you, the young people of America: stand up for the rights of other young people in the world...
Tell your leaders in the Congress and the White House, let the displaced people go home. Write to them, call them, threaten not to vote for them if you must. Let them do something. Let the US government support the peace talks going on in Juba.
People of America, the cause of the suffering people in northern Uganda is your cause. You have said, “we want peace, we want the displaced people to come home, we want northern Uganda to become a haven again, so that the ordinary people can go and till their land.” We stand together with you. We the leaders of northern Uganda, we stand together with you and I’m sure everybody who matters is listening. I have come all the way to share your faith that every war has an end...
-Norbert Mao, Mayor of Gulu, Northern Uganda
April 30, 2007
For 22 years a rebel army terrorized the people of nothern Uganda...
Peace talks occuring now are the best chance for stability in decades...But no one knows what will happen...
So, thousands live in internal displacement camps...unable to return home...
So, on April 28, thousands of people across the United States gathered for the thousands diplaced...
We wrote our country's leaders...
We made and decorated our shelter....
We prayed...
We learned more about the crisis...
And we informed others...
April 25, 2007
DISPLACE ME: SCHEDULE
April 28
3-4pm arrival and check-in
4-6:15pm hut construction, letter writing, tell me your story, and tri tent
6:15-7:15pm filming with the signs
7:15-8pm speakers
8pm video: welcome
8:05pm video: water
8:35pm video: food
9:05pm video: Emmy
9:45pm video: education
10pm night commuter profile
April 29
7am wake up
9am clean up
10am home
3-4pm arrival and check-in
4-6:15pm hut construction, letter writing, tell me your story, and tri tent
6:15-7:15pm filming with the signs
7:15-8pm speakers
8pm video: welcome
8:05pm video: water
8:35pm video: food
9:05pm video: Emmy
9:45pm video: education
10pm night commuter profile
April 29
7am wake up
9am clean up
10am home
April 23, 2007
US BACKS UGANDAN PEACE TALKS
The United States Government welcomes the agreement between the Government of Uganda and Lord's Resistance Army to extend the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and to resume peace talks on April 26. A durable peace agreement that puts an end to the 21-year old conflict and the suffering of hundreds of thousands of displaced northern Ugandans is vital to the region and to the future of Uganda.US State Department
April 18, 2007
Global Night Commute: April 29, 2006
Last year more than 80,000 people slept outside in over 100 cities for one night to bring attention to an unseen war.
At One Time We All Said We Would Do Anything for the Invisible Children
Invisible Children: Diplace Me "Leaving our homes to bring them home."
Washington, DC
Where? National Mall- Corner of Constitution Ave. and 15th street
Pittsburgh, PA
Where? Schenley Park, 1 schenley park
ALL LOCATIONS
When? April 28-29 Check in starts at 3pm
Why? To encourage US government support of the Juba Peace Talks to end the 20 year war in N Uganda
What to bring?
-Enough cardboard to build something the size of a small tent.
-A sleeping bag.
-A 1.5-liter bottle of water (with airtight seal-to be collected upon entry).
-A box of saltine crackers (yes, they need to be saltines, with sealed packaging- to be collected upon entry).
-A current photo of yourself wearing a white t-shirt with a red X.
-Enough cardboard to build something the size of a small tent.
-A sleeping bag.
-A 1.5-liter bottle of water (with airtight seal-to be collected upon entry).
-A box of saltine crackers (yes, they need to be saltines, with sealed packaging- to be collected upon entry).
-A current photo of yourself wearing a white t-shirt with a red X.
Want to sign up?
Go to www.invisiblechildren.com/diplaceMe/ and add your name to the list.
(Remember: you can attend even if you don't sign up.)
April 8, 2007
N Uganda: IDP Update
For some of the hundreds of thousands of Northern Ugandan Internally Displaced Persons (IDP), life has changed in the past months. Men sit leisurely talking with each other -- no longer talking in hushed voices. Maize grows along the road and people stroll through the village.However, with no comprehensive peace deal, many people feel it is too dangerous to leave IDP camps. Adding to an already desperate situation, the United Nations has announced plans to reduce funding for food aid affecting IDPs in Northern Uganda (due to lack of funding).
Check out the link for continued updates on N Uganda. http://www.ugandacan.org/
*picture from USAID photo gallery
March 24, 2007
INVISIBLE CHILDREN: DISPLACE ME
What are you doing April 28? Thousands of people slept outside last April to bring attention to the conflict in Northern Uganda. We were appalled by the horrendous acts committed by the Lord's Resistance Army on innocent people. We said we'd do anything for the invisible children.
Now that violence has lessened and the Juba Peace Talks seem to be starting again, we cannot forget about the many Internally Diplaced People (IDPs). With recent news that the United Nations will cut the World Food Program's food aid budget to IDPs and refugees from Uganda by half, it is even more imperative that we bring attention to this crisis.
The Invisible Children's Event, Displace Me will be occuring in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Denver, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Pheonix, Pittsburgh, San Fransisco, Seattle, and Washington, DC on April 28-29.
To learn more about IDP Camps, or to sign up to attend the event, visit
http://www.invisiblechildren.com/displaceMe/
Now that violence has lessened and the Juba Peace Talks seem to be starting again, we cannot forget about the many Internally Diplaced People (IDPs). With recent news that the United Nations will cut the World Food Program's food aid budget to IDPs and refugees from Uganda by half, it is even more imperative that we bring attention to this crisis.
The Invisible Children's Event, Displace Me will be occuring in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Denver, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Pheonix, Pittsburgh, San Fransisco, Seattle, and Washington, DC on April 28-29.
To learn more about IDP Camps, or to sign up to attend the event, visit
http://www.invisiblechildren.com/displaceMe/
UGANDA: PEACE TALKS WILL CONTINUE
The Lord's Resistance Army agreed to resume peace talks after the Ugandan government partially met a rebel request for a new mediator and a change of location. Other concerns voiced by the LRA included security and fear over the alleged bias of Southern Sudan's government.
Although the talk location will not change and the government of Southern Sudan will remain the principal mediator, governments from five other countries will also mediate. These countries include: South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and The Democratic Republic of Congo.
To view the original article, visit
http://www.worldvision.org/donate.nsf/child_news/tawv_uganda_20070316?open&lid=uganda_LN&lpos=main
Although the talk location will not change and the government of Southern Sudan will remain the principal mediator, governments from five other countries will also mediate. These countries include: South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and The Democratic Republic of Congo.
To view the original article, visit
http://www.worldvision.org/donate.nsf/child_news/tawv_uganda_20070316?open&lid=uganda_LN&lpos=main
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