China Must Act

We must keep the pressure on the Chinese government, which is not just the majority shareholder in PetroChina, but also Sudan's largest foreign investor, a major political supporter, and a key arms provider.

In fact, the Chinese government recently demonstrated its support of the Sudanese regime by providing a $13 million loan to build Omar al-Bashir a new presidential palace. Most disturbingly, China sells arms to Sudan, weapons which are used by government forces and the Janjaweed militia to maim and kill innocent Darfuris.

It's time for China to fully invest itself in ending the genocide by using its unmatched influence to convince Sudan to cooperate with international efforts to end the violence and build a lasting peace in Darfur.

While Fidelity's announcement is a positive step, victory will be achieved only when the people of Darfur are safe.

And China has the power and influence to help make that possible.

China must lead the world in pressuring Sudan to follow through on its commitments to cooperate with international efforts to end the violence.

Pressure the Chinese government here: http://ga6.org/campaign/china_must_act/i35nwgg40bk5mxk?

UN Peacekeeper In Darfur Fatally Shot

U.N. peacekeeper in Darfur fatally shot Sat May 26, 11:34 AM ET


A United Nations peacekeeper who was among a small group of reinforcements sent to Darfur was shot to death at his residence — the world body's first casualty since its long-negotiated arrival in the troubled region, officials said Saturday.

Gunmen looted the home of the U.N. peacekeeper — an Egyptian lieutenant colonel — in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, and fatally shot him.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070526/ap_on_re_af/sudan_darfur_2;_ylt=ApWthVJjRLmmet3L_w_eBOAF1vAI

Guess whose birthday it is!

Happy Birthday Mrs. Donohue!

Have a happy
Have a happy
Have a hap-hap-happy Birthday!
You may be getting older
But so much wiser along the way!
So have a happy
Have a happy
Have a hap-hap-happy Birthday!

Music from Rudolph's Shiny New Year (goes along to the tune "Have a Happy New Year)
Adapted Lyrics by Ricky

China creates special post to handle Darfur crisis

BEIJING, China (AP) -- China appointed a special envoy dedicated to the Darfur crisis after facing international pressure to do more in the war-ravaged Sudan region.

The issue is becoming increasingly associated with the Olympics -- a source of immense national pride.

The move Thursday came after a group of U.S. politicians demanded China step up its efforts to persuade Sudan's government to stop the bloodletting in Darfur.

"We hope to solve the issue by political means," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said. "We are ready to make joint efforts with the international community, including the U.S."

China, a veto-wielding permanent member of the Security Council, buys two-thirds of Sudan's oil exports and sells the African country weapons and military aircraft.

Jiang said Thursday that Liu Guijin, a former ambassador to Zimbabwe and South Africa, was appointed to the newly created post of Special Representative to African Affairs, and for the foreseeable future he would focus on Darfur because the situation there had "drawn significant international attention."

More than 200,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million made homeless in four years of bloody attacks from Arab militias allegedly sponsored by President Omar al-Bashir's government.

The attacks began after black African Sudanese rose to demand autonomy for the vast western Sudan region.

A letter to Chinese President Hu Jintao from 108 members of the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday suggested that unless China changes its policies in Sudan, the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games could become a disaster for the Chinese rather than the image enhancer Beijing is expecting.

French politicians already floated the idea of a boycott during their recent presidential race and American actress Mia Farrow has also called on corporate sponsors of the Games to pressure China to do more to help stop the violence in Darfur.

China bristles at such attempts to tarnish the Games. Last month, China's Assistant Foreign Minister Zhai Jun said anyone who advocated an Olympic boycott over Darfur would have to be "either ignorant or ill-natured."

China's leadership has been widely criticized for not using its influence to do more to stop the Darfur crisis. It has blocked efforts to send U.N. peacekeeping forces to Darfur without Sudanese consent.

Now, it is trying to carefully calibrate its actions on Darfur by demonstrating to critics a willingness to help in the region while not overly embarrassing or alienating Khartoum.

Thursday's move also followed the release of an Amnesty International report this week claiming that China and Russia were breaching a U.N. arms embargo by letting weapons into Sudan. Both countries denied the allegations.

Article Courtesy of CNN.com

Plan B

Nearly a month has passed since President Bush gave Sudan another "last chance" to cooperate with international efforts to end the genocide. Unfortunately, the Sudanese government has once again failed to end the violence in Darfur.

The time is up. The Bush administration must move ahead with a strong multi-tiered and multi-lateral plan of tough sanctions and effective measures to press Sudan to cooperate with the international community.


The people of Darfur simply cannot afford any more "last chances" for the government sponsoring the violence against them. Plan B (which was originally supposed to launch in January) has been delayed long enough.

Tell the White House to stick to its deadline and finally implement - and enforce - tough U.S. sanctions against Sudan, and to introduce a tough Security Council resolution at the UN.

Go to: http://ga6.org/campaign/where_is_planb/i35nwgg49be83nm? and urge Bush to enforce Plan B!

Divest for Darfur

Have you heard of divestment? It's one of the key tactics that
was successfully used to end apartheid in South Africa and it
can help end the violence in Darfur, too.

To "divest" means to withdraw investments from companies who are
supporting the genocide in Darfur by doing business with the
government of Sudan.

Join me in fighting the genocide by urging Fidelity and other
investment institutions to divest their holdings from any and
all companies doing business with the government of Sudan.

Click the link below to sign the Divest for Darfur petition now
and help cut off financial support for the government-sponsored
violence in Darfur!
http://ga6.org/campaign/fidelitydivestment

Diplomacy is crucial, but economic pressure may prove an even
more powerful way to force Sudan to cooperate with international
efforts to end the genocide.

Sudan has been very responsive to economic pressure in the past
so we have reason to hope that they will pay heed to the
divestment efforts.

Please do not stand by while the violence continues - you can
make a difference.

Click below to add your name to the Divest for Darfur petition
to Fidelity now.
http://ga6.org/campaign/fidelitydivestment

Then please forward this message to your friends and family and
ask them to join you in supporting divestment.

If you'd like to make a donation to support the campaign, visit
the link below now.
http://www.SaveDarfur.org/Donate

Thank you for your help.

Bowling Event on Saturday, May 12th

Join Long Islanders on May 12, 2007 from 1-4pm at Farmingdale Lanes bowling alley. Bring your friends and family to this fun-filled event aimed to raise awareness and charity to Darfurians in need. With your support you can help us reach our goal of $10,000. Attendance fee is $10 pp.(lunch is included.) Time is running out. Together we can help "Strike Out Genocide!"

Hosted by: Long Island Darfur Action Group.

LIE to exit 49S or Northern State to exit 40S. Travel south on Rt. 110 for 2 miles. Make a right onto Conklin St. Farmingdale Lanes is 1/2 a mile on the right at 999 Conklin St. (516/631)-249-4300

May 4th Meeting Summary

Great attendance at the meeting on May 4th and I felt that we really are beginning to take action!

- Announcement that a request to "officially" host this committee has been submitted for the 2007-2008 school year.

- Update on the 400,000 pennies project. Decision needs to be made about the charitable organization the money will go towards.

- Public Service Announcement writing. Each committee may want to write one for their activity. We could record them in the radio studio and/or have them scripted on index cards and read/played at WUSB, 90.1FM.

- Discussion about how to structure future meetings: announcements, committee updates, then committee break-out sessions....

- Committees then got to work. From my understanding the following occurred (feel free to add/correct any of this!):

400,000 Pennies - discussion as to where to put more water jugs, need for signage to promote the project, possible letters to teachers asking for them to announce in class.

New committee - Street Market Idea - Sell tables to vendors in the gym, possibly arts and crafts. More is being looked into.

Pizza Sale - Possibly scheduled for Monday, May 21st.

Comedy Hypnosis - Contacted High School East to arrange for a date to use the Little Theater. Should hear back soon.