Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Am I Not Human?




Join The Roots of Humanity on the 27th of every month in asking the unified, persistent question that has the answers collectively needed, within it.
We ask on behalf of our human siblings lacking in access to the most basic of communication tools, or barred from communication by their governments:



Am I Not Human?

Download this month's ebook: 'Where Do We Go From Here'



Click the image to download.


Crossposted at UltravioletUnderground
and Liberator Magazine

Friday, August 8, 2008

8/8/08 Take Part In The Dalai Llama's Global Handshake

UPDATE below:





Extending your virtual hand is very easy and extremely meaningful to the world community. Please join this action before the commencement of the Olympic games. We can overcome the division of China and other countries who would ignore the need for real talk about global issues, with this symbolic act of unity.

Today also raises a very important question.
Where do we go from here?
There has been much uproar focusing on the host of this year's Olympic games, China. DreamforDarfur.org has worked hard to raise awareness and action for Darfur. Save Tibet.org has continued to strive for justice. Olympic sponsors have been boycotted (I still don't eat Mcdonald's or drink Coke right now... and will probably continue to boycott them).

But what next? The ICC has called for Bashir's arrest.
But there are still not enough peacekeeping troops deployed as promised.

Your ideas, and sentiments regarding where we go from here as a global village to take action even in the smallest of ways to cause magnificent ripples for our human siblings everywhere from Darfur to Tibet, to Haiti, to Burma to Uganda, To The Congo and so forth.


Email Rootsofhumanity@gmail.com and include a link to your 'Where Do We Go From Here' post before the 23rd of the month and we may print it in the next Roots of Humanity Ebook.

Shine on Freedom Fighters.


Crossposted at UltravioletUnderground


Watch Dream For Darfur's Opening Ceremony:
Alternative Opening Ceremony




Sign up For The Darfur Olympics

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Sudan 'Lost Boy' Lopez Lomong Heads to Beijing Olympics

UPDATE: Lomong Will Carry US Flag at the Olympics!


The Electronic Village participates in the 'Am I Not Human?' blogging campaign on the 27th of each month. Our goal is to raise awareness necessary to eliminate human rights abuses in Darfur, Haiti, Tibet and elsewhere.


Joseph Lopepe "Lopez" Lomong is a Sudanese native who fulfilled his dream when he qualified for the U.S. Olympic track team.

He finished third in 1,500-meter race at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Ore. The top three finishers in the event earn Olympic berths. He made the U.S. team on his first anniversary as a United States citizen.

Lomong fled Sudan and spent 10 years in a refugee camp. He left the camp in 2001 and found a home and a family on Otisco Lake. He's one of six Sudanese boys who were taken in by Robert and Barbara Rogers.

When he became a citizen last July, Lomong said he wanted to represent the U.S. at the Olympics to show appreciation for the country that offered him a chance to start a new life.

His track career earned him a contract with Nike. Last year, he won the 1,500 meters -- almost a mile -- at the NCAA track and field competition, representing Northern Arizona University. He took time off from college to train for the Olympics. He has one more semester to finish his bachelor's degree in hotel management.

Lomong is an Olympic athlete who remembers his roots. He is a member of Team Darfur. Team Darfur is a group of Olympians using their fame to bring attention to the atrocities taking place in Darfur. I encourage all 'villagers' to cheer for any Team Darfur athlete that competes next month in the Beijing Olympics. They deserve it!

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

08|08|08 Protests and Rallies On and Offline

Crosspost from Modern Musings

Intel from: Reporters Without Borders

BEIJING GAMES 2008

Come and demonstrate outside Chinese embassies and online on 8 August

Reporters Without Borders is calling for demonstrations outside China’s embassies in London, Madrid, Berlin, Paris, Washington and Stockholm on 8 August, when the Olympic Games opening ceremony will be taking place in Beijing. Two demonstrations will be organized on 7 August in Rome and Ottawa. A rally is also planned outside the Olympic Museum in the Swiss city of Lausanne.

In Paris, those wanting to take part should meet at 1 p.m. at the corner of Avenue George V and Rue de la Trémoille in Paris’ 8th district. Reporters Without Borders will distribute “Beijing 2008″ T-shirts to participants, as well other material for a peaceful demonstration.

Here are the times and venues of the demonstrations in the other cities:

- Berlin: in front of the Chinese embassy (Jannowitzbrücke) from 1 p.m. onwards on 8 August.
- Washington: near the Chinese embassy (2300 Connecticut Ave) from 8 a.m. onwards on 8 August.
- Stockholm: outside the Chinese embassy (Lidovägen 8) at 1 p.m. on 8 August.
- Lausanne: outside the Olympic Museum (Quai d’Ouchy 1) from 5 p.m. onwards on 8 August.
- Rome: outside the 4th district town hall at noon on 7 August.
- Ottawa: outside the Chinese embassy (515 St. Patrick Street) from noon onwards on 7 August.
- London: outside the Chinese embassy (49-51 Portland Place) from 1 p.m. onwards on 8 August.
- Madrid: outside the Chinese embassy (Calle Arturo Soria, 113) from 1 p.m. onwards on 8 August.

The aim of these demonstrations is to call for the release of Chinese journalists and human rights activists who have been imprisoned, and for an end to the harassment of those who been placed under surveillance or forced to leave Beijing. The Chinese government has not kept the promises to improve respect for human rights that it made in 2001, when Beijing was chosen to host the 2008 Olympics.

Reporters Without Borders is also organizing a cyber-demonstration on 8 August at this web address: http://www.rsfbeijing2008.org.

Internet users all over the world will be able to come and protest outside a virtual version of Beijing’s Olympic Stadium, waving a placard with the slogan of their choice.

—————————————————————–
Quitterie de Livonnière
Communication
Reporters sans frontières
47 rue Vivienne
75002 Paris
Tél :+33 1 44 83 84 56
Fax : +33 1 45 23 11 51
E-mail : quitterie@rsf.org
Sans une presse libre, aucun combat ne peut être entendu. Soutenez Reporters sans frontières.
Without a free press, no struggle can be heard. Support Reporters Without Borders.

Friday, August 1, 2008

It’s Been a Year: Where’s the Darfur Peacekeeping Force?

From Air America Email Newsletter

It’s Been a Year: Where’s the Darfur Peacekeeping Force?

Dear Air Americans,

As you may know, in March of this year Air America’s Thom Hartmann traveled to Darfur to see firsthand the plight of the people of Darfur.

Five months later the question remains...

How long must the people of Darfur wait?

One year ago today, the UN announced that a peacekeeping force would finally be sent into Darfur to protect civilians and aid workers.

While not solving the crisis, the move was hailed as a ray of hope for the people of Darfur. At 26,000 strong, this force was planned to be the largest peacekeeping operation in the world.

However, a full year after its creation, the force has only 9,000 troops and is struggling to do its job. The world has failed to provide the troops and equipment that were promised. And the violence in Darfur continues.

We are asking the Air America community to help bring relief to those caught in the middle of this conflict by taking action with our friends at Oxfam America.

Tell President Bush to do all he can to fully deploy the international peacekeeping force in Darfur.

The troops now on the ground come largely from an existing African Union force that was unable to provide protection on its own. It’s not a recipe for success.

Worse, the troops lack proper equipment—from much-needed helicopters down to basics such as food, boots, and helmets. Some troops have resorted to putting blue plastic bags over their old helmets in order to make the helmets regulation UN blue.

Not surprisingly, many Darfuris say the force is unable to make a difference in their lives. The UN-African Union Mission UNAMID alone cannot solve the Darfur crisis—the world must pressure the parties to the conflict to immediately cease hostilities and return to negotiations. But a full force of 26,000 could significantly improve the situation in Darfur by providing real protection for civilians.

Call on President Bush to keep his promises and protect the people of Darfur.

The people of Darfur have waited too long for protection. Thank you for taking action on this urgent issue.

Sincerely,

Tim Fullerton
Oxfam America Advocacy Fund