Escalate level of activism about Darfur, Sudan around the New York area

A candlelight vigil to protest the ongoing genocide in Darfur, Sudan will take place at the Fountain Plaza, Washington Square Park, NYC on Monday Dec. 13 at 6:30 p.m.



This multi-denominational event is co-sponsored by the students of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, Judson Memorial Church, the Massaleit Community in Exile, the Columbia Coalition for Sudan, the Church of St. Francis Xavier, Brooklyn Parents for Peace, NYU Law Students for Human Rights, the United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, the Darfur Rehabilitation Project and the American Anti-Slavery Group's New York Chapter.

A large push needs to come from civil action

Washington Square News, the student newspaper of New York University, reports on a meeting held yesterday to educate students about the Sudan Crisis.

Speakers offered outlets to students interested in getting involved in the activism for Sudan.

"We want to escalate the level of activism about Sudan around the New York area," said speaker Williams.

Another speaker, John Prendergast, director for African affairs for the National Security Council under the Clinton administration, said:

"Five million people have died in genocidal conflicts in the Congo and Sudan. Besides physically killing Sudanese civilians, the government virtually starved its people, preventing humanitarian groups from reaching villages in need. "[The government] used food as a weapon of war. U.S. citizens essentially have control over what the higher powers in government do. [Congress] will only take on the president if there's a large push which comes from civil action."
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Please help spread the word

Although I am writing this from England, UK, there is still something even I can do to contribute to the vigil. I know of some bloggers in the New York area and John Fitzgerald at Secession asked me to keep him informed of any events in New York on Sudan so he can attend. I shall email John, Nick and Pauly in hope they may be free to attend and take some photos and write-up some feedback for sharing here.

It's a pity there are no candlelight vigils set to take place simultaneously in central London and around Europe. Here's pinging NYC Indy Media and London too, plus Indy Media for UK, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Norway, Paris (sorry cannot list complete European network here).

Please spread the word on the vigil for Monday evening. From little acorns grow trees. Thank you.



Notes for visitors to New York - the United Nations, 1st Ave. & 46th St. Officially an "international zone," the U.N. Headquarters is a symbol of global cooperation. Guided tours daily ($8.50 adults)

Washington Square Park: 5th Ave. and 7th St. Villages' main park shared by NYU students, street musicians, skateboarders, jugglers, stand-up comics, joggers, chess players, and bench warmers, watching the grand opera of it all. At the square's north end, stands the triumphal Washington Memorial Arch.

P.S. Please do not miss Jim's important posts on Human Rights and the blogging community: A Digital Green Ribbon Campaign for Darfur, Sudan, Africa! - and More on the Digital Green Ribbon Campaign for Darfur, Sudan. Feedback by email is invited and comments are open at both posts.