Sunday, February 11, 2007

Recommended Reading List

Some reading and viewing recommendations were made at the last SAIDC meeting:

What is the What? by Dave Eggers
(Lost boys of southern Sudan--fiction)

Acts of Faith by Philip Caputo
(Aid workers in southern Sudan--fiction)

"The Devil Came on Horseback" (documentary film)
(Based on experiences of Brian Steidle in Darfur)

Tuesday, February 6, 2007

Sudan Divestment in Texas

SAIDC has joined a statewide movement to divest Texas from companies that fund the Sudanese government. This movement is led by the Sudan Divestment Task Force, the Genocide Intervention Network, and STAND (Students Taking Action Now in Darfur).

The Texas legislation calls for a "targeted divestment" model which focuses only on companies that provide revenue to the Government of Sudan and do not substantially benefit the Sudanese people.

70-80% of Sudan's revenues from foreign investment go to its military--by putting economic and political pressure on these companies to pull out of Sudan, we can impact the Sudanese government's ability to fund the genocide.

To date, six states, five cities, and over 30 colleges and universities have approved restrictions on their Sudan-linked investments. Twenty states (including Texas) will consider targeted divestment legislation in 2007.

Both the International Crisis Group and Human Rights Group have recommended economic santions to help resolve the crisis in Darfur.

Help Texas take a stand for Darfur!

Please write, call, and visit with your state legislators.
Senate Bill: Information and Talking Points
House Bill:Information and Talking Points
Find your Representatives!

Learn More: Texas Divestment Campaign

Learn more: Divestment Movement

Get Involved!
Contact SAIDC

Monday, February 5, 2007

Understanding Sudan Series

Understanding the Genocide in Darfur
And learning what action it takes to stop it

A two part series on “Understanding Sudan” will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27 and Feb. 28 at University Presbyterian Church, 300 Bushnell (corner of Shook and Bushnell, one block west of Trinity University.)

7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27
“Bearing Witness: Crisis in Darfur” with Ruth Messinger, president of American Jewish World Service.
Messinger will bring the latest information about recent events in Darfur, the urgency of the situation and efforts which have been made to bring this genocidal situation to the world’s attention.

7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28
“The Lessons of the World's Longest Civil War: Southern Sudan” with Bobbie-Frances McDonald, founder of the Sudan Advocacy Action Forum.
McDonald will provide important background information about Southern Sudan and the connections with the ongoing Darfur genocide. She will explore the problems facing southerners today and why this is relevant to Darfur's future.

Ruth W. Messinger is the president of American Jewish World Service, an international development organization providing support to 300 grassroots social change projects throughout the world. Prior to assuming this role in 1998, Ms. Messinger was in public service in New York City for 20 years. In honor of her tireless work to end the genocide in Darfur, Sudan, Ruth Messinger received an award from the Jewish Council for Public Affairs in February 2006. In tribute to her life’s work, she was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Hebrew Union College in 2005. For the past six years, she has been named one of the 50 most influential Jews of the year by the Forward.

Bobbie-Frances McDonald is the founder of Sudan Advocacy Action Forum, (www.sudanadvocacy.com), a grassroots effort endorsed by the Presbyterian Church (USA), and committed to educating people about the crisis in Sudan and informing them of ways they can support efforts for a just and lasting peace for all Sudanese.

McDonald has traveled extensively to Sudan over the past 7 years. She is part of the Darfur Advocacy Network via Action by Churches Together (ACT) and Caritas. In September, 2006 she traveled to Khartoum representing Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA). Her work is at the local, national, and international levels.