We are just about a week away from our big trip and the kids are completely excited. Caleb talks daily about all of the things he is going to show Joshua. To be honest, I can't wait to spend 6 days together as a family just having fun and spending time together.
In some ways, I feel that since Joshua came home I have been so consumed in integrating him into our family that it is easy to forget where he came from. The last 8 weeks have been wonderful and it is an effort to take a moment to remember the crisis in the Congo still exists, minus one child. The DRC's situation is extreme and unless action is taken by the worldwide governments things won't get better. I have been reading a book called Not on our Watch by Don Cheadle and John Prendergast. Out of their work an organization was formed - The Enough Project. Click here to read more www.enoughproject.org. This is a great site to educate ourselves about the situations in Congo, Dafur, Chad and Uganda. I have also been inspired from a campaign that has been started by college students world wide. Congo week is Oct 19-25th and during this time university students are hoping to educate and inspire the world about the DRC. Visit their site to learn more www.congoweek.org. In summary...
The Congo is the greatest humanitarian crisis in the world today where nearly 6 million people have died since 1996, half of them children 5 yrs old or younger and hundreds of thousands of women have been raped all as a result of the scramble for Congo's wealth. The United Nations said it is the deadliest conflict in the world since World War Two. However, hardly anything is said about it in the media. Can you imagine 45,000 people dying each month and hardly a peep from anyone in the age of the Internet? This is literally what has happened and continue to happen in the Congo. There is a media white-out about Congo and no worldwide resolution to end the conflict and carnage there.
There is a very exciting development among students throughout the globe. In October 2008, students from the US, Canada, England, Belgium, Germany, France, Brazil, Jamaica, Norway, Korea, Ghana, Mali, South Africa, Columbia, etc. etc will organize events (films, lectures, demonstrations, and more) on their respective campuses dealing with the Congo situation. We are calling it "Break the Silence" Congo Week where at least 100 countries and 1,000 university campuses will participate in a week of activities in solidarity with the students of the Congo.
The purpose of the Break the Silence Congo Week is to raise awareness about the devastating situation in the Congo and mobilize support on behalf of the people of the Congo. It will take place from Sunday October 19th to Saturday October 25th. The key organizers are students from North Carolina A&T , UNC Chapel Hill, UNC Greensboro, University of Maryland, Howard University, Bowie University, and Cornell University.
So often we think we are just one person unable to do much in the world. I definitely feel like that, however I have begun to realize that if I learn as much as I can, tell others as much as I can, and speak up as much as I can, maybe one voice can eventually join thousands and finally be heard.
1 comment:
A great post! You are absolutely right - we all have to spread the word about what is happening in the world.
Beautiful family picture!
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