Dear Friends ~
I am the mother of 14 children. Like mothers everywhere, I worry about their safety and security. But my worries pale in comparison to those of the mothers of Darfur, Sudan. Every day, these courageous women face unimaginable brutality as they do their best to protect their children.
In my family, our mantra is "With knowledge comes responsibility." Today, each of my children is finding his or her way to make a difference. My son Ronan and I work as representatives of the Genocide Intervention Network, which aims to protect people facing genocide and mass atrocity all over the world.
It is an honor to share Mother's Day with the heroic women all over the world who are finding ways to protect their families in the face of tremendous odds. This Mother's Day, I'd like to invite you to join me, my family, and the entire GI-NET team by keeping the mothers of Darfur in your heart.
In peace
Mia Farrow
on behalf of the Genocide Intervention Network
Movement Updates
18 arrested in peaceful Darfur protest
18 students, including STAND Student Director Scott Warren, were arrested [1] on Sunday, April 13, outside of the White House. The students were among at least 500 people who marched to the White House to commemorate the "Global Day for Darfur." Click here [2] to watch CNN's video of the protest.
China feels the heat of Summer Olympics
In San Francisco, thousands of Darfur activists [2] protested the official Olympic torch route. Earlier this month, leading Darfur organizations issued a press release [2]calling on world leaders to not attend the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics, prompting all three US presidential hopefuls to issue similar statements.
COMING UP: Protests outside of Olympic corporate sponsor headquarters. Email AAlicea@standnow.org [3] for more information.
Senate Resolution 470 passes unanimously!
On April 14, Senate Resolution 470 [3] passed the Senate by unanimous consent with 23 co-sponsors! This resolution calls on the international community and regional actors to commit to achieving an effective resolution to the national and regional conflicts in Chad, the Central African Republic, and Darfur, Sudan.
Election season means making our values heard
The campaign season is in full swing, and the presidential candidates are talking about everything from the economy to lapel pins. But what are they saying about Darfur? Tell the candidates that you won't cast your vote until they outline a clear plan to end the genocide, starting from day one in the White House. Click here [4] to send the candidates a message and let them know that YOU vote for Darfur!
Mark your Calendar!
TV broadcast of The Devil Came on Horseback: April 25
The National Geographic Channel is airing The Devil Came on Horseback [5] on Friday, April 25 at 6:00 pm EST. Click here [6] for local listings.
Mother's Day is May 11
After five years of conflict in Darfur, most women who have managed to survive the destruction of their villages now live in camps where they are at risk of rape and attack every day. This Mother's Day, please consider honoring your own mother with a contribution to GI-NET's Civilian Protection Program [6], which offers protection to the courageous women of Darfur. Click here to make a donation in honor of your mother today. [6]
Upcoming budget vote in Congress
The 2008 budget left a shortfall of $334 million in funding for Darfur peacekeeping this year. This Spring, Congress will vote on a supplemental funding bill that could ensure the success of the UNAMID peacekeeping mission. Look for an action alert in the coming month asking you to call 1-800-GENOCIDE [7] and urge your members of Congress to support an additional $334 million for peacekeeping in Darfur.
New Resources
GI-NET Blog
On the blog [7]: Pope Benedict [7] at the UN; New ENOUGH paper [7]; Alex de Waal [7]; Darfur photo journal [7]; Ban-Ki Moon [7]; CNN [7], Roger Winter [7] and more. Plus, how did a GI-Net t-shirt reach a UNAMID worker [7] in Sudan?
Rapid Response Network
Get an alert on your desktop [7] when breaking news hits!
ENOUGH Report: "Creating a Peace to Keep in Darfur"
Click here [8] to to learn what urgent steps must be taken to create a lasting and comprehensive peace in Darfur.
The Bush Administration has exactly one week left to implement the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act [9]. What is the president waiting for? With your help, we made 500 calls to the White House last week. Help us make 1,000 more today! Call 1-800-GENOCIDE [10] and tell President Bush to stick to his promises by fully enacting SADA by April 29th!