Darfur-blog

Nothing Tomorrow and the Galvin Meeting

2005-03-30T16:55:00.000-08:00

So, there's no meeting tomorrow on account of the fact that we wouldn't have much to do.

I met with Mr. Galvin about our organization today, gave him the proposal, and I guess he's going to talk to Mr. Hughes about it within the next couple of days. He's not sure whether we're going to get the okay on fundraising. I'm going to be mad if we don't, but there are definitely ways to work around something like that. Apparently, the semantics of the signs and advertising count. Regardless, after this week, hopefully things will start moving a little bit faster. If we can't get something together at school, then we'll start holding awareness meetings for the community in the library or at TCAN or something. And we can do a community fundraiser, as well.

Meeting #2

2005-03-22T19:03:00.000-08:00

Thursday. Ms. Disalvo's room. Right after school. I'm trying to get a movie together but now I'm not so sure that it can happen this week, grr. However, I know everyone has sports and stuff, so perhaps it's better this way.

Hunger Strike

2005-03-17T18:59:00.000-08:00

Hunger Strike for Darfur

Basically, they're collecting pledges from people across the country to go without solid food from sunrise until sunset for at least one day between March 16 and March 20. I'm going to do it on March 20 (Sunday).

Revision...

2005-03-15T12:50:00.000-08:00

Alright, as I said in the e-mail that I sent out this morning, there will be no meeting on Thursday due to Thursday's being a half-day. However, there will be one the following week.

After The First Meeting...

2005-03-10T14:44:00.000-08:00

A grand total of 26 people came to our first meeting. I'd say that that was a pretty good turn-out.

The first fundraiser that we're doing is unofficially called "Lunch For Darfur" (somebody think of a better name). First, we're going to make a huge display of posters, pictures, and one-liners, so that people are forced to deal with what's going on. Then, that same day we're going to ask that they give their lunch money ($1.90 or thereabouts?) to our fundraiser instead of buying lunch for themselves that day.

Also, I've been in touch with two people from Amnesty International (I think that I mentioned this during the meeting) who will come in and give a talk. I'm thinking that it might be pretty effective to make it into an assembly, though I'm not sure whether the school will let us. It's worth a shot.

Finally, letter-writing. It came up that the House of Representatives wouldn't be able to do much, but after the meeting I realized that it was the House that passed a bill officially declaring that the conflict fell under the category of "genocide," so I think it might be worthwhile to write them letters. Letter-writing will probably take place in a couple of weeks.

The agenda for the next meeting consists of:
- Sifting through pictures and designing posters
- Watching a movie about the conflict
- A little bit more of the history of the conflict
- Figuring out our fund-raising situation

And that's the way the cookie crumbles. Remember, the best form of publicity is word of mouth.

The Beginning

2005-03-08T13:12:00.000-08:00

This is the Darfur activism club blog. Here, news about latest developments in Darfur, minutes from the club meetings, and any ideas that you guys have will be posted.

Our first meeting is on Thursday (3/10) right after school in Ms. Disalvo's room. I understand that there is also math league that day, so there will be another meeting in a week or so. Tell people to listen for the announcement in the morning, and tell people about it in general.

You know, a great number of the people who I've brought this whole thing up to haven't even heard of Darfur, and don't know what's going on?

This is a good site for the history of the conflict.

And here is a 10-minute long movie about the crisis.

Ok, so, let me know if a) you can come and b) if there's a better day of the week for you for meetings.