Ten Things You Can Do For Sudan

We were very honored to host Valentino Achak Deng, the subject of Dave Eggers' latest book What is the What, at a recent Reading Frenzy event. The crowd poured out onto the sidewalk and I'm sorry we couldn't accomodate everyone, but considering the fact that we were all gathered there to listen to the story of a man who's epic journey took him on a trek from Southern Sudan to Ethiopia on foot and brought him into contact with enemy soldiers, liberation rebels, hyenas and lions, and disease and starvation, I don't think anyone has room to complain -- read the book for Christ's sake! Anyhow, I ran off a few dozen copies of this list that Valentino and Dave created and promised to post it when we ran out. Here you go!

1. WRITE A LETTER TO YOUR SENATOR OR REPRESENTATIVE: Every time Valentino and Dave talk to experts on U.S. policy on Sudan, they ask what citizens can do to help. They always insist that one of the best things is to write a letter -- an actual, personalized letter -- insisting that this representative or senator do something about the ongoing genocide in Darfur, and about the gross misconduct of the Sudanese government in Khartoum. Remember that in 2005, the U.S. brought to bear great influence in brokering the peace between the north (Khartoum) and the south (the Sudan People's Liberation Army). When the U.S. wants to influence the Sudanese government, they surely have the power to do so. For some ideas of what to say to your elected officials, read on. 

2. TELL WASHINGTON THAT TRADING INFORMATION FOR DARFURIANS IS UNACCEPTABLE: Many experts believe that one of the primary reasons Washington is dragging their feet in doing much about Darfur is due to Khartoum's help in their War on Terror. To back up: In the 1990s, Osama bin Laden spent six years in Khartoum. Sudan is where he built his network of terror. While being hosted by the Sudanese government, he provided Khartoum with millions of dollars. In the late 1990s, after the bombings of American embassies in Tanzania and Kenya, the U.S. exerted great pressure on Sudan to expel bin Laden. They did so. (Again, the U.S. can have great influence in Sudan when they want to.) After 9-11, the Khartoum government became a very cooperative partner in the War on Terror. The U.S. could count on Sudan's intelligence community to provide information about any suspected terrorists who had worked with bin Laden in Sudan. Now, because the Sudanese have proven themselves useful in Washington's terrorist hunts, many experts believe that the Bush administration is loathe to push Sudan too hard on the genocide in Darfur, lest Khartoum cease to be helpful in the War on Terror. These same experts believe strongly that the U.S. need not be so timid. The U.S. can still exert pressure on Khartoum without fear of losing a partner in intelligence-gathering. And even if they do lose this partner, we believe that trading the lives of hundreds of thousands of Darfurians is not worth whatever bits of information we're able to glean from Khartoum's intelligence. 

3. SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT SUDAN: A number of nonprofits are aiding refugees and are working for peace in Sudan. Among them Save the Children: When Valentino and Dave traveled to Sudan in 2003, they stayed in the compound of Save the Children's base in Marial Bai. Save the Children is involved in many efforts to aid the Sudanese who have suffered as a result of civil war, and has been instrumental in bringing former slaves and abductees back to their villages of origin. Concern: Valentino and Dave flew on a Concern cargo flight back to Marial Bai. Concern brings food and supplies to war-ravaged areas. Their work in Sudan now focuses on nutrition, water sanitation, and shelter for people affected by the war.  The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR):maintained the refugee camps at Pinyudo and Kakuma mentioned in What is the What. The agency is now working to help refugees return to their communities in southern Sudan, and to make the reintegration process a safe and sustainable one. International Crisis Group: This is a worldwide think tank that monitors, analyzes, and suggests solutions to conflicts and humanitarian crises around the world. Home of John Prendergast, one of the foremost American experts on Sudan � and the expert on whom Valentino and Dave continually rely. We believe that their work in Sudan, and on U.S. policy toward Sudan, is crucial. Note: This list is far from complete. 

4. SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS LOBBYING FOR AN END TO GENOCIDE IN SUDAN: Examples: The Save Darfur Coalition: The SDC includes more than 170 organizations working toward more international involvement in combating the killing in Darfur. Contributions allow them to continue raising awareness in the media and directing pressure toward policymakers. Genocide Intervention Network: GI-Net supports African Union peacekeepers currently on the ground in Sudan by channeling private donations into the resources they need and catalyzing government support for the peacekeepers.  

5. SUPPORT THE VALENTINO ACHAK DENG FOUNDATION: Valentino is the director of a new foundation which will direct all the income from What Is the What. The funds will go to the following: 

• The educations of other Lost Boys in America: As can be seen in Valentino's life, even with support networks, it's very difficult for Sudanese in America to attain college educations. Valentino intends to give as many college scholarships as his foundation can sustain. 

• The Literacy Center of Marial Bai: in the summer of 2007, Valentino will travel back to Marial Bai and will begin work on a large complex in Marial Bai which will feature a library (the first-ever in the region, where any books at all are scarce); a women's education center (in a region where school for girls and women is discouraged); and a youth activity center (where youth can learn leadership and conflict resolution skills, while also enjoying sports and crafts and other constructive activities). 

• To learn more, visit www.valentinoachakdeng.com. To donate, send your tax-deductible donation to The Valentino Achak Deng Foundation, 849 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110. You will be sent a notice confirming the donation and its tax deductibility. 

6. SUPPORT SUDANESE COMMUNITIES IN YOUR REGION: There are Sudanese all over the United States, and it doesn't take long to find a community near you. Rest assured that communities of exiles and refugees near you can use your help � financially, logistically, and with the myriad other adjustments to life in the United States. 

7. SUPPORT DIVESTMENT EFFORTS: The Sudan Divestment Task Force is coordinating dozens of �targeted divestment� campaigns around the world. Their approach focuses on maximizing impact on the Sudanese government while protecting Sudanese civilians and the organizations that provide for them. Since U.S.-based pension funds have more than $90 billion invested in Sudan-related holdings, the potential impact is significant. California has already adopted the targeted divestment model, and legislation is pending in several other states. You can help by examining your own investments (the task force provides a screening tool on its website-- www.sudandivestment.org, and by getting involved in campaigns in your area�in your city, your state, your school, or your company. www.sudandivestment.org

8. SUPPORT THE PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENT OF SOUTHERN SUDAN: According to the peace agreement signed between the government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Army, in 2011 the south will be able to vote on whether or not they want to secede from the north and become their own autonomous country. This is the course favored by Valentino Deng and most southern Sudanese. But in order for this to happen, the international community needs to maintain pressure on Khartoum. If the current course continues, whereby the world stands idly by and watches Khartoum annihilate its own people in Darfur, there will be little chance that the Sudanese government will honor their agreement to allow the secession of southern Sudan. Already the southern Sudanese are preparing for another civil war. But it doesn't have to be this way. If the world supports the southern Sudanese financially and politically, the nascent government of southern Sudan will grow stronger, and Khartoum will find it more difficult to violate their agreement. 

9) PRESS FOR PUNITIVE MEASURES AGAINST THE REGIME: The same government prosecuting the genocide in Sudan is the one that was primarily responsible for 2 million deaths in southern Sudan. How long are we going to allow this to occur without imposing some kind of cost? In your letters to members of Congress, you should demand that they support UN sanctions on responsible Sudanese officials and their businesses, and demand that the U.S. declassifies and shares its considerable intelligence with the International Criminal Court to accelerate indictments against those officials. 

10) WORK THROUGH YOUR PLACE OF WORSHIP: If you belong to a church, synagogue, mosque, or temple, get your community involved in Sudan advocacy. Many national religious organizations have taken up the cause, but it is more meaningful when a local group contacts their Congressperson or Senator and tells them that this issue is important to them as voters and as people of faith.

Following Eggers Lecture, the third screening of Paul Freedman's Film: Sand and Sorrow  was shown. When this movie is mass distributed and shown, I encourage all people to see this movie. It held a great deal of information about the conflicts in Sudan. I believe that anyone who sees this movie will not be able to stand by and let it happen any longer. Students through out the lecture hall had difficulty on holding in their emotions, and who could blame them? The Sudanese people are beautiful. They had such a distinct niche in the desert and way of life. This movie also allows you to understand much of the economic and political conflicts. This movie started with an inspirational quote, and it really stuck with me and allowed me to continue through the whole movie, no matter how harsh the reality of the situation became.

"Where there is no hope, we must invent it." Albert Camus

After the screening, Freedman spoke. He informed the audience that his voice as narrator would be replaced by the voice of George Clooney in just two weeks following the screening. This would help it gain attention. He then began answering questions and a couple of things stood out to me from his answers. The first being that everyone he encountered, including himself, that had gone to Africa and met with the refugees realized how small the world is, and how these people are NOTHING different than ourselves. They share the same love for their families and friends. The next thing that stood out to me was when he explained that this was an issue of morality. If we allow these things to happen in other countries, when our country possesses the power and leverage to change the outcomes, what is to happen to America's future when scarce resources becomes a major issue? He reminded us that the world is not getting better, that in a given amount of time clean water will be scarce. If your neighbors are different from you, who is to say that they would not gain up on you and your families and communities?

After the movie, I met with my sister and Mario, her boyfriend, and we ate and visited some of her friends before I passed out in the Kerk Clark Dormitory after my long day of traveling, and hard evening of current genocide education. You could imagine the dreams that filled my unconscious hours.

Bright and early, I arrived at the STAND breakfast and was informed of different accomplishments made in the Western Region of the STAND organization. An inspiring accomplishment was in the welcoming letter from Erin Mazursky, the Stand Director, "On October 5th of 2006, the day of STAND's global DarfurFast, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi commended the students in saying, 'The issue in Darfur would not be nearly as much of a priority if it weren't for the mass student mobilization that has taken place on college campuses today. When students speak, we listen. You challenge the conscience of the world.'" This statement really encouraged me and showed me how important it is that us students take a stand. Our world depends on us to take our jobs as the informers and the leaders in the Anti-Genocide movement. The rest of the world would soon follow our command and dedication.

Following our welcome I attended Activism Bootcamp: Advocacy, Media, and Divestment Workshops. At the advocacy workshop we were taught on how to write effective letters to Senators and representatives.
Key details in advocacy include: 

• to introduce yourself as a member of a community, for example, your business, club, or place of worship
• to "remind" about the current situation
• to acknowledge and show appreciation for past actions supporting the anti-genocide awareness movement
• to press their  current status in supporting the movement (Great Resource: DarfurScores.org)
• to be specific on what legislation is coming up and how you would like them to act on it
• to inform that you will be following up
• follow up until it is their time to vote
• follow up after they have voted on the legislation

Advocacy Resources:

• Find step-by-step advocacy guides, current talking points for Congress, and more at http://www.standnow.org/take_action/advocacy . Also, find Genocide Intervention Network's most recent action alerts and other info at http://www.genocideintervention.net/advocate .
  
• Read up on legislation and your members of Congress at www.DarfurScores.org .
• Read up on divestment, and get involved with a campaign in your area, at www.SudanDivestment.org .
• Stay well-informed: sign up for STAND newsletters and GI-Net news and action alerts.
• General info on Congress: www.congress.org , www.house.org , www.senate.gov

The next workshop I went to was on Media. Here we discussed Media Tips, writing effective media alerts, and writing effective press releases. See http://standnow.org/materials/media for more information.

    The final workshop on Divestment I found especially encouraging for the anti-genocide movement. The idea behind divestment is to have a criteria to find the worst offenders and begin by engaging the company not to support business transactions that fuel a genocide or human rights violations. If they do not respond after engagement there is a sell-off period. When a company's shares have a weakened demand , the companies respond. Sudan has shown to be very responsive to sanctions and economic pressure.
SudanDivestment.org is the source! They are currently looking for more Divestment Task Force Members.

After these workshops, I realized how exhausted traveling the day before had made me and I went to visit with my sister Ann, and shortly fell asleep. It was very refreshing seeing Ann. I have not seen her very often since she began school at Berkeley last semester as a freshman. Going and seeing her in her zone made me very proud. Berekely is a very business oriented, fight-for-a-spot kind of place. Ann is making it. Ann is thriving in the competition. Ann is , frankly, the shiznat.

On Sunday, the final day, the attendees of the conference where to choose from two workshops from eight choices. My first choice was Sudan -- A Citizen's Perspective w/ Ahmed Mahgoub, Sudanese writer and human rights activist. He discussed this paper regarding the Darfur Conflict:

Sudan: In the Quest of Unity
(Urgent call to president Bush: Situation in Darfur is tragic, but not hopeless, redirect Mr. Andrew Natsios and go for workable option of plan B)
Citizenship & Right to self-determination
"Discussing Thomas Marshall, Francis Fukuyama, and modern theory"

1. In political and legal theory, citizenship refers to the "right and duties of the members of a nation-state. Sounds good, however, Sudan is not a nation-state. In fact, Sudan so far is a state-nation! Sudan emerged to the 21st century with historical & compound structural problems all rooted to the pre-capitalistic age! The concept of citizenship & right to self determination must be addressed with enough consideration to the Sudanese complex reality:

• Sudan exercising an overwhelming profound socio-economic crisis
• From historical point of view, Sudan facing the era of nationalistic movements, such movements bear its major questions and seeking the appropriate solutions
• The root of marginalized ethnicities problem lay with the central government that is poor governance, uneven distribution of wealth and marginalization from state power and decision making structures,
• Sudanese politics resemble a true plighted model. Such model may continue to prevail heralding new surges of war and disastrous end results

2. Though the modern theory of citizenship indicates that the urban collectively is relatively immune from the demands of a monarch or state, however in Sudan of the present day, the vast majority of peoples, tribes and ethnicities and not immune from the demands and coercion of the religious state

3. Modern theories of citizenship interprets that in pre-capitalistic societies citizenship may be limited to certain classes and races, however in case of Sudan of the present day we can fairly assume citizenship within ideological context is also limited to the Islamic religious groups and sects as well to the descendants of the Arab clans.

4. Historically the citizenship has expanded with democratization and mainly with industrial democratization to include a wider definition regardless of sex, age, race, or ethnicity, therefore it wouldn't sound as a simplistic approach if we conclude that: prospective of Sudanese citizenship is firmly linked to the successful mission and struggle for true democratic transformation which stands as genuine political slogan of Sudanese arena, raised and adopted by all forces advocating liberal politics and radical democratic politics as well.

5. Thomas Marshall (1893-1982) an English sociologist and professor of sociology at London school of economics, he is the best known for his theory of citizenship, he argued in (class, citizenship and social development 1963) that citizenship has expanded from legal rights (such as fair trial) in the eighteenth century, to political rights (such as voting) in the nineteenth century, to welfare rights (such as social security and payments) in the twentieth century. Shall this Anglocentric evolutionary mode will apply to Sudan with it's very special particularities and complex reality ? ! It sounds true alarming quest which entails rethinking and reexamination ! Let me draw your attention to one paradoxical and query issue that verified itself recently in the Sudanese uniqueness, it's the slogan of the right to self determination! Can anyone tell me how could it happen and took place in Sudan ?  Only four years when Sudanese soothers will go for practicing the right to self-determination, a matter that will be quite irrelevant to both theories of European liberal nationalism that reshaped and remapped Europe from hundreds city-states to 30 countries, as well the classical Marxist nationalism theory that had its influence on eastern Europe. While the reality in south Sudan is dominated by tribal primitive and pre-capitalistic relations, both modern theories entails the presense of the modern political and economic relations.

    "I believe the question and concept of citizenship and the right to self-determination has to follow it's own Sudanese particularities and it will emerge as consistent to its complex realty rather than following blindly the liberal nationalism theory or even the orthodox Marxism one

6. In his article Darfur and African state building published with new York times, Fukuyama comes to the following Statements:

• If the conflict in Darfur is genocide, it is also quite different from German treatment of the Jews or the Hutu slaughter of Tutsi in Rwanda, unlike those cases it emerged out of the struggle of a territorially-defined ethnic group for autonomy or independence from a bigger political entity
• the basic problem in Darfur is Sudan itself ; Sudan is a typical African colonial creation, the darfur rebel group were inspired by the SPLA's achievements in 2005, the represent the same ethnic groups, indeed the same tribes as the one in power in neighboring Chad, and if African borders were drawn rationally to represent the underlying ethnic and tribal realities, Darfur should be part of Char and not Sudan
• Ultimately, Fukuyama comes to conclude that: I don't see any reason why Darfur should not have the same options as southern Sudan ? It either be granted full autonomy under it's own political leadership or it should become part of Chad if that what the local population wants

Discussion:
I like Fukuyama's key statements, it follows new traditions in social sciences and mainly those significant major changes introduced to political economy, such impacts come from the rising of new philosophies and concepts of human rights, globalization of trade and marketplace as well the ongoing pressing humanistic trends that require peaceful solution for political and economic conflicts. However let me state the following regarding the particularities of Sudanese realty:

• As long as there will be Sudanese forces who interpret it's economic and political interests within Islamic Ideology, then cycles of wars and national fiasco will continue, this is why genocide in Darfur will never cease and this is why Khartoum Islamic Fundamentalist wouldn't apply to resolution 1706
• Actually the political slogan of right to self-determination has emerged in Sudanese arena, that means oppressed ethnicities are no longer able to continue living with the dominating oppressor nationally. This is why Darfur should get the rights that Fukuyama has proposed
• Historically experience tells that: oppressed nationalities/ethnicities having their extensions in neighboring countries will almost evaluate the matter in preferential way (this is why the Russian polish receded and joined Poland escaping the national oppression, while Hungarians, Germans, Chezcs went for unity within new Austria escaping possible and expected oppression within their homelands), Now Fukuyama is right, Zaghawa and other African Darfuri ethnicities keep looking with longing eyes to their cousins ruling in Chad, while keep looking with retiring eyes to their oppressor citizens ruling in Khartoum
• If genocide will continue, racial and religious bipolarity will go to the maximum, Khartoum will never apply to the UN resolution 1706, in fact no wise person will say let the Darfuri rebels continue fighting the tyranny of Khartoum to secure the precious Sudan's Unity, In fact Unity that require the demise of a whole ethnic groups, displacement of millions and death oh 100 thousands is by definition will be a bad unity
• Still advocating the Unity of Sudan, being with a secular radical democratic Sudanese politics and with due consideration to the assumptions stated by Fukuyama, I have to add the following different as well crucial points:
• As long as the Darfuri national movement will continue to strive for new secular united Sudan rather than seeking a limited national concessions like that depicted with DPA, as long as they deserve to get their right to self-determination
• with all due consideration to fears expressed by Sudanese unionists and with all regards to the to tribal vacillations and divisions within the Darfur people them self, I recommend the right to the self-determination as an appropriate approach to a democratic united Sudan and as a sole legal and humanistic guarantee against any possible new cycles of national oppression and dishonoring of accords

This speaker really moved me. I would like to go through and read this over and over again. Do my own follow up research and understand all the complexities.

I then attended a Marketing you Darfur awareness Campaign workshop with Gabriel Stauring, co-founder of Camp Darfur and stopgenocidenow.org . When we walked into the door he handed each person a picture of a Sudanese refugee. He had just gone to Africa and taken these pictures of people in refugee camps. I still have my picture of a girl. It is a great reminder that these people are out there praying that their situation can change.

I then said my good-byes to Ann and Mario... sadly... Attended the Camp Darfur and Die-in. The camp had a row of tents in the shape of a "U" and was created in timeline style of historical genocides ending with Darfur. Each tent was filled with information, books, and pictures from each genocide. After some time exploring the Camp. We were asked to join in the center of camp and "die" for ten minutes. A form of protest to represent all the people lost in the Genocide.

I then found my UCLA friends and we headed back around 3:30. By 10:10 I had just made my train down to San Diego.
This week has been a fast paced week. I've cought up with my school, laundry, and cat needs, but not quite my room yet. I have been changed by my experience up at Berkeley and by all the great people I have been meeting. I am starting a San Diego City College Chapter of STAND, but most importantly, networking with people in San Diego who will help make a difference.

I really believe that the best thing we can do as citizens of the world is be aware, be conscious, and love all of god's creations.
Contact me for more information on how you can help in a GLOBAL EFFORT TO STOP GENOCIDE!