Monday, October 02, 2006

Plaza Art of Richmond donates to Awer's art show...

Plaza Art Artist Materials and Picture Framing have decided to generously donate stretcher bars desparately needed to remount the artshow being put on by Awer Bul for the Nov. 12th event. The artshow will be hung before, during and hopefully after the event which also includes a short documentary Awer made about his acclimation to Richmond from his refugee camp in Kenya. There will be around 16 paintings for view, and some pieces will be for sale which directly benefit Awer's art program and is also going to help the refugees aid in paying for the tuition of refugee children (primary and secondary). Many thanks to Plaza Art and look forward to the announcement of Awer's art opening coming soon!

DPAA passed, finally, still need to keep pressure on...

So the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act was finally passed through Senate and House just recently, although the part supporting divestment was deleted. So Osmosis is picking up the divestment campaign as another intiative to help stop the genocide in Darfur. Divestment is probably a new issue to most, and is meant to be used as a last resort and that time is here! Already several US states have divested from companies doing business with Sudan, and many colleges across the nation have divested including places like: "Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Brandeis, and Brown universities have already divested; so too has Dartmouth and, perhaps most significantly, the University of California (March 2006). They should be commended for their path-breaking decisions, and serve as national examples. Even more impressive is the comprehensive divestment announced by Amherst College (February 2006), along with its public commitment to push the divestment campaign forward in multiple ways." (excerpt from Sudanreeves.org)
Also, impressively the state of CA recently divested:
CALIFORNIA DIVESTS FROM SUDAN...Governor Schwarzenegger holds public signing! - 9/25/06
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was joined by actors George Clooney and Don Cheadle, former Secretary of State George Shultz, executive members of the Sudan Divestment Task Force and other community leaders at a public signing for AB 2941, adopting a targeted divestment from Sudan for California's public pension funds. The Governor also signed AB 2179, which completes the University of California's targeted divestment from Sudan.
(www.sudandivestment.org)
So we're getting great progress, lets keep it going!

DPADO founder speaking in Richmond Oct. 3rd!!!

Mr.Suliman Giddo,founder of Darfur Peace and Development will be the key speaker at an educational event hosted by the World Affairs Council here in Richmond, Oct. 3rd at 7pm. The event will take place at the St. Benedictine school located at 304 N. Sheppard St. and is open to the public!
I'll be there, hope some of you all can make it too!