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Miss Landmine

2008-07-02T19:30:00.000-07:00

I was doing some research for a project I was doing on land mine awareness and I came across this great contest in Angola called Miss Landmine. It is held every year to help bring light to those women who have suffered lost limbs or injury due to land mines, and remove some of the stigma that exists for many of the sufferers. This is the Manifesto for the organization responsible for the event:

THE MISS LANDMINE MANIFESTO
(in no particular order)

* Female pride and empowerment.

* Disabled pride and empowerment.

* Global and local landmine awareness and information.

* Challenge inferiority and/or guilt complexes that hinder creativity-
historical, cultural, social, personal, African, European.

* Question established concepts of physical perfection.

* Challenge old and ingrown concepts of cultural cooperation.

* Celebrate true beauty.

* Replace the passive term 'Victim' with the active term 'Survivor'

And have a good time for all involved while doing so!

These are a couple of the ads created to showcase the event for media:

Really is an interesting notion, and one that we fail, here in the Western world, to play with. We hide our 'abnormalities' behind closed doors, or at least we certainly don't give them a contest or pageant. Why don't we? Clearly these women disprove our notions of beauty and flip around our notions of what is normal. This is truly a world changing idea. How can anything be the same?

More On The Need For A New Paradigm

2008-06-29T14:15:00.000-07:00

I wasn't the first and certainly will not be the last person to call for the need for a new paradigm of thinking and living. I was going through some old magazines the last couple of days and found an interview with Brad Pitt in the October 2006 Esquire magazine. In the interview he says this:

"Nature consumes and then reuses; there is a cycle to things. But humans just consume. It's obviously time for a new paradigm. And the question is, Do we adopt it now, or do we wait until we're really in trouble? We're going to have to make the tough choices. Some people are going to have to lose money, but new people will begin making money. Industry and environment don't have to be at odds with each other; they can work harmoniously."

This is just one part of the new paradigm that must be considered. What else should be included?

Im Baaaack

2008-06-26T17:36:00.000-07:00

I am finally finished school - for the foreseeable future anyways. It was a stressful last month between classes, applying for jobs/internships (although not many, as I will explain) and some health problems I have been dealing with for a couple of months now. Unfortunately something had to give in my schedule and this blog was one of the things that had to go on the back burner until some time freed up.

Today was my first day off and I am going to have the next couple of months to look after me and put some effort into some of my passion projects. It is an exciting time and I am really looking forward to this opportunity to decompress and plot out my future path. I have spent the last 20 years in school and this will be the first time when I won't be going back after the summer. My future is ahead and I don't have a clue what it will look like.

As I said my health took a bit of a turn a couple of months ago and its been a tad stressful. I had some neurological problems and as a result I am seeing a naturopath to help me get sorted out. I have been put on a slew of supplements and vitamins, revamped my entire diet, and I am about to embark on a heavy exercise program. My diet has been the tough part to get a grasp on as I can't eat wheat, dairy, mushrooms, vinegar, red meat and fried foods. Its been a rough 6 weeks I tell you! While my health problems aren't something to be happy about, I think they are a blessing in disguise. I wasn't paying attention to myself or giving myself the necessary time and this i just a reason to get back to myself. I have set a goal of losing 35 pounds by the end of the year, and 25 of those in the next 3 months. I will make sure to give some monthly updates to let you know how I am doing.

As for jobs/internships, I have been looking and expect that something will come up that both fits me and I fit as well. I will be keeping my eyes peeled for an opportunity but in the meantime I am also going to enjoy the relaxation that this brief respite will give me. There are so many things I want to do and I could really use this time to sort it all out.

I want you to know I have been collecting lots of interesting information to pass on to you readers and things will be a lot more regular now. So stay tuned and let others know about this blog.

No Posts - Your Chance to Guest Post

2008-06-14T13:48:00.001-07:00

It is a busy time right now. School is almost done (2 weeks to go) and I am still searching for a job/internship. It might not sound like much but at the moment it has my mind completely preoccupied. So I may have a chance to post something between now and then but you will have to forgive me if I don't get around to it. I promise that I will be back and that I have not abandoned this blog. Please bear with me and don't delete this feed. In the meantime if you want to write a post for others to see, please feel free to send me an email and we'll get it on here. Look forward to getting back at it!

Human Universals

2008-05-27T15:28:00.000-07:00

On Pangea Day, Donald Brown spoke about his years of studying humans for universal things we all have in common. He has compiled a list and this is it. Human Universals.

A New Paradigm

2008-05-27T05:04:00.000-07:00

I have mentioned previously that in order for the world to be changed there needs to be a realignment of values, in other words, a paradigm shift. Our entire way of thinking needs to be changed. In order for this to happen, unfortunately, it will require that this new way of thinking be created for the average person. The average person is more passive in their way of living, they are dictated by the system in which the live within, instead of actively questioning and engaging the system. We, the people who want to see a change in the system, the ones who actively think about the world we live in, must create a new one. A paradigm defined with hope, inspiration, global values, etc.

Craig Kielburger had a great quote today in the Toronto Star about just this shift in thinking. He said, "The idea behind (it) is that if we're going to truly end poverty it's more than just writing a cheque. It's shifting how young people look at the world, how they shop, how they vote, how they give of their time". His brother and him describe it as a movement but I think it is more than just that. A movement can fade over time, whereas a shift in the way we live our lives is timeless.

Try to think about how you can contribute to the paradigm shift, where would you be able to influence those around you to change the way they think about their interaction with the world. Actively make the world a better place and don't just wait for someone else to create your new world for you.

It Starts With One Person

2008-05-26T13:06:00.001-07:00

Here is a great video showcasing the power one person has to start a movement. Through action others will follow.

Would Tim Horton Be Proud?

2008-05-25T17:10:00.000-07:00

I read an interesting story today about a Tim Hortons manager berating an individual for purchasing food for a homeless person and then leaving her in the restaurant to eat it. Apparently it was this stores policy not to allow homeless people to eat in the restaurant because they are 'too messy', regardless if they are a paying customer or not.

Ludicrous. Appalling. How dare they treat another human being with such disrespect. A policy against homeless people? They should be brought up on charges of discrimination. It crosses the line. Sure the restaurant must provide an atmosphere where all customers must feel comfortable and not to be bothered, so I can understand a no panhandling policy, but to deliberately target homeless people as being less than human is too far. Sure, they are ok if the homeless person wants to pay for the food, but to enjoy it like any other customer would be against the rules.

What happened to caring for people down on their luck? lending a hand when someone is down? What I would like to know is how many donuts Tim Hortons discards on a daily basis. Why not offer them to those who are starving and in obvious need of some help. Afraid that more homeless people might show up looking for a handout? That argument has always blown me away, "If we can't help everyone we wont help anyone" is essentially what they are saying. If every Tim Hortons gave out a dozen donuts to homeless people then, without doing the math, my guess is every homeless person would receive one. 12 donuts. How many do they throw out?

Homeless people aren't to be treated with disdain, they should be treated with the respect you or I would give each other, to our families, and to our friends. I am appalled that this happens and I hope this isn't the last we will hear of this story. I hope that in the coming months we hear reports of this particular Tim Hortons being reprimanded, or a customer boycott against them. It shouldn't happen, and Tim Horton would be disgusted if he were alive to see it.

Whats Worth More

2008-05-18T16:25:00.001-07:00

Let me ask you this:

What is worth more
A dollar or a kind word
A dollar or a smile
A dollar or hug
A dollar or giving hope
A dollar or a minute or your time

We get so caught up in giving money we forget what all of us can give. You don't need a dollar to make a difference. I know what I would rather receive and while a dollar for some can make the difference between life and death, it doesn't change the fact that everyday we could give so much more, and change the lives of so many more without a pocket full of money. What is worth more to you?

Triage and An Imperfect Offering

2008-05-12T17:34:00.000-07:00

One of my idols is Dr. James Orbinski. He is an incredible human being having taken part in several of Medicines Sans Frontiers missions in some of the most horrible conditions imaginable. Recently, he came out with both a book and a documentary about the experiences he has endured and the sense of understanding he has tried to find. I picked up my copy of the book, An Imperfect Offering, but haven't yet been able to crack it open. It is next on my list to read, however.

I also came across the website for the documentary, Triage, which has the following synopsis.

"Leaving his young family behind in Toronto, Canada-where he's a university professor and doctor-Orbinski returns to Africa, revisiting the past and engaging with the present. He hopes that here, in the place where he witnessed humanity literally torn apart, he can rediscover the true heart of humanitarianism.

In Triage: Dr. James Orbinski's Humanitarian Dilemma, Patrick Reed's feature-length documentary, Orbinski travels to war-torn Somalia, the first place he was posted with MSF in 1992; then to Rwanda, where he was MSF Head of Mission during the 1994 genocide. Finally he goes to Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, where it seems humanitarian dreams go to die.

Filmed in an intense vérité style, Triage presents a unique view of the world through the penetrating eyes of Orbinski. He refuses to turn away when confronting troubling memories or realizing disturbing truths and, in the most unlikely of places, he finds where bonds of solidarity are forged and human spirits remain unbroken.

Orbinski has seen lives saved and lives lost and has personally witnessed a world gone astray. In Triage: Dr. James Orbinski's Humanitarian Dilemma, he searches for a new path and invites the viewer to follow."

Check out the website for Triage to check out the trailer for the film.

Amnesty International and Imagine

2008-05-12T08:14:00.000-07:00

Amnesty International and Yoko Ono teamed up recently in a new campaign for human rights. Using John Lennons song Imagine (which I posted here), Amnesty recreated the song in a video with children passing along their dreams for a better world. I am a big fan of the song, and am now a big fan of the campaign. Here is the video for your viewing pleasure:

AMAM - Association of Woman Against Genital Mutilation

2008-05-12T07:59:00.000-07:00

I came across this really good advertising campaign. It is provocative but gets the point across in a way that no one can miss. Not-For-Profits are gradually getting better at making things that people respond to and this is a great example. The same old PSA's don't cut it anymore, people tune out.

Maybe it is wrong in a way and some people will certainly disagree but the message has to be catered to the mainstream. The early adopters and those who care without hesitation will read or watch anything, but the mainstream is far more choosy and, yes, not as responsive. Marketing a cause will alienate some but it is about creating groundswell, and moving the paradigm, which can't be done by the early adopters (what I will call those who are on board from the start regardless of marketing) alone.

Catering and directing ads at this large population of people can in some ways prove fruitless, however, it is more about graduating this group up towards the early adopters. This is done bit by bit, little by little, through awareness and information. Most people are not ignorant, they are just uninformed and if you can inform them they will respond.

In this day and age where people see hundreds upon thousands of ads a day getting an important message across is increasingly more difficult. It will require something poignant and provocative just like this campaign. Not everyone will respond but they will notice and that, as much as anything, should be the idea.

The 11th Hour

2008-05-10T11:52:00.000-07:00

I watched a great documentary today called the 11th Hour. Leonardo DiCaprio produced and narrated the film about the environment and the role of humans in both its degradation and how we can fix what has gone wrong. It is a compelling film with a far broader look at the relationship we have with the planet than just global warming. It is both informative and moving and certainly worth either the rental or purchase. I attached the trailer if you have not yet watched it. There is also two accompanying websites, one for the film and one for people looking to take action. The film website can be viewed at 11thhourfilm.com, and the action website can be seen at 11thhouraction.com

Make The Difference Network

2008-05-09T14:16:00.001-07:00

A new social network for those looking to make a difference has popped up. This time it is backed by some celebrity firepower. Created by Jessica Biel and boasting other celebrities such as The Rock (Dwayne Johnson), Brian Griese, and Gabrielle Union amongst others. The following is the description of what MTDN is:

"Make The Difference Network (MTDN) is a cause-oriented social network that connects nonprofit organizations with potential donors and increases awareness for small-to-medium nonprofit organizations.

Our Misson is to democratize giving by increasing the visibility of thousands of nonprofit organizations and empowering potential donors to search, select and fund these organizations’ specific “Wishes” and then to see the results of their giving."

It will be interesting to see if all these "Make a Difference" Social Networks can coexist and indeed live up to their missions. They are great for connecting people and hearing about what others are up to but I have yet to see one post success stories of the site being the protagonist for creating good things. It just seems that they are used to highlight what is already happening and I would like to see one of these social networks pop up and take that as its raison d'etre. My other criticism of all these social networks is that they bite off a lot at once without letting the user figure out how things work and how they can make the most of their experience on the site. I log on and I am immediately daunted by everything that is available to me and I don't know where to begin. I usually end up clicking through a couple of pages and then logging off because there is just too much information. I think that a greater focus needs to be achieved when starting these sites, and instead of creating more of the same they should work together with other sites so as not to splinter the effects that they can have. If there are 4 million people spread out across 10 sites then it becomes difficult to keep up to date on all that is going on out in the world, effectively stifling what is possible. It is a real problem throughout the not-for-profit world but one that needs to be addressed.

I wish MTDN the best of luck and urge you to check it out. It may be exactly what you are looking for in your social network.

100 People: A World Portrait

2008-05-09T13:56:00.001-07:00

A friend sent me a link to this website today and I thought I would share it. It is called 100 People: A World Portrait and here is a blurb from the website that explains what it is all about:

"The 100 People Foundation exists to provide a structure and an organization for the project 100 People: A World Portrait. We believe that visual arts-based educational and multimedia programs are the most powerful channels through which we can build awareness, facilitate communication about diversity and activate change within our global community.

The project will find and capture in film, photography, music and text 100 individuals who represent the global population, proportionate to annual global surveys and statistics. This World Portrait will be used to make an introduction between the peoples of the earth and to facilitate a greater understanding of the diversity and the commonalities among us."

The project will publish a book, movie, photography exhibit, a school curriculum and the website. The project is already underway and you can check out some of the videos online at the website at 100 People. If you have a minute to check it out I urge you to do so. I think it is an important realization to understand the makeup of the world and the place you inhabit within it.

Tomorrow is Pangea Day

2008-05-09T13:52:00.000-07:00

It is a big day tomorrow and I hope you are able to see what will be an amazing experience. Pangea day will be broadcast around the world tomorrow from 2-6pm Eastern time and is available on CityTV here in Canada. 24 films from all around the world. 24 different views on one earth. If you want to learn more about the show and where you can catch it log onto the website at Pangea Day

Random Kindness

2008-05-02T11:36:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, in an alternate universe maybe, a stranger will do something kind for someone like open the door, or maybe say excuse me, or flash a smile, or offer spare change for the bus fare. It only happens so often and we hardly ever get to bare witness to it. Which I find absolutely astounding. At one point these things were called manners, or if a man did he was chivalrous, either way they were more than expected they were normal behavior.

Now I have been a fan of shows, movies, and organizations that in the past decade have made highlighting people who make random kindness regular behavior again. A few years back there was a great movie called Pay It Forward. It was nothing new but it made famous the act of being kind again. Since then we have seen many books and television shows take on the same idea but it still hasn't caught on. It is still an act of the minority to be openly kind to everyone including those you don't know. It is easy to be nice to those you know but alien to be nice to those you don't. That is the true measure here though. This is what character is. The person who opens their heart to all those they meet, who can care regardless of being intimately knowledgeable of a person.

I became familiar with this great organization called The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation a few years back. It acts as a meeting point for all those people who wish to share their ideas and experiences with integrating random acts of kindness into their daily lives. It is a celebration of those who care and of those who deserve some praise. We watch Oprah's Big Give and we lose sight of the fact that the things they were giving to were things that should not exist in the first place. Schools full of children unable to afford books or a wholesome meal. It shouldn't take an international television show or a website to make people notice the plight of our neighbors - the people we pass every day on our way to work. Here is the truth, the krux of it all: Kindness should not be random, it should be a part of our lives - a big part of our lives.

We shouldn't have to highlight kindness, we should not have to qualify kindness with random because that means it isn't done all the time, inherent in all that we do. If I could leave one lasting message it would be that kindness emanate from all that you do to all that you meet. Do me a favor and take that as your life mission. It may not happen overnight but little-by-little and day-by-day you will notice the world around you change. Your outlook will change, the people around you will change, everything will change. The paradigm will shift and the qualifier will drop and the people, organizations, movies and t.v. shows will stop. That is the world I want to live in. That is the world I want to impart on people. Kindness should be a way of life, so make it yours.

Food Crisis

2008-04-29T08:08:00.000-07:00

As many of you will probably already know at this point, there is a global food crisis currently taking place. While you may not have yet felt its effects, make no mistake, it is a major problem with global consequences. All over the world riots are taking place as people are starving to death. Basic necessities such as, rice, flour, corn, maze, have doubled or tripled in price over the last year. For people living on less than $2, or in many cases less than $1, a day it means more than just a few extra cents a week. It means pulling your child out of school so the rest of the family can eat for another week, it means another child may have to work, it means that what little possessions a family has will be sold to get the extra money. It means that eventually they will be unable to afford the basics to life.

We, here in the developed world, take for granted the fact that we can purchase a bag of flour or rice without much consequence. It is readily available on the shelves, in comparison to a box of Captain Crunch it costs very little, and even as the price rises we hardly notice when the grocery bill exceeds $100 a week for the family. However, the rest of the world does notice. If you can manage it, I encourage you to visit the World Food Programs website and make a donation to the Fill the Cup campaign. $15 will feed 10 children for a week. If you want to learn more about the food crises I have added a number of links that a classmate of mine gathered. There is also a series of pictures below that illustrate some of the glaring differences between the haves and have-nots.

Germany: The Melander family of Bargteheide
Food expenditure for one week: 375.39 Euros or $500.07

United States: The Revis family of North Carolina
Food expenditure for one week $341.98

Italy: The Manzo family of Sicily
Food expenditure for one week: 214.36 Euros or $260.11

Mexico: The Casales family of Cuernavaca
Food expenditure for one week: 1,862.78 Mexican Pesos or $189.09

Poland: The Sobczynscy family of Konstancin-Jeziorna
Food expenditure for one week: 582.48 Zlotys or $151.27

Egypt: The Ahmed family of Cairo
Food expenditure for one week: 387.85 Egyptian Pounds or $68.53

Ecuador: The Ayme family of Tingo
Food expenditure for one week: $31.55

Bhutan: The Namgay family of Shingkhey Village
Food expenditure for one week: 224.93 ngultrum or $5.03

Chad: The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp
Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or $1.23

Some more reading if you want to learn more:
1. How to stop the global food crisis - BBC
2. The New Economics of Hunger - Washington Post
3.Rising Food Prices to top UN Agenda - Reuters
4. Rising Food Prices - Chatham House Report
5. UN Scientific report on fixing the world food system
6. Credit Crunch? The real crisis is global hunger - The Guardian

Spilled Paint

2008-04-27T11:52:00.000-07:00

I received this picture from a friend. The world is such a beautiful place, so colorful and extraordinary. This picture comes with the caption "The day God spilled the paint"

End of the Semester

2008-04-27T11:33:00.000-07:00

So I have been noticeably absent lately and I do apologize. My time has been consumed by end of semester assignments and tests and I haven't had much time to sleep let alone write anything insightful. I am glad to say that it is now over and I can again breath. I missed two big days this past week and I hope you had a chance to read about them elsewhere, or more importantly to celebrate them. Earth day was April 22 (Tuesday) and African Malaria Day was April 25 (Friday).

I would also like to announce that Million Dollar Youth, the organization I was formerly working for, is hosting a concert on May 31 here in Toronto at the Opera House. Doors will open at 7pm and there are some really popular acts on the bill. I attached a poster below with more details and hopefully you can make it out.

Life On Hold

2008-04-20T14:55:00.000-07:00

As a young adult still doing post-secondary education I am often reminded that "real life" starts after graduation. While I have always liked to think that this is a faulty premise I recently figured out, through some introspection, that I have indeed been treating my life like it is on hold. Waiting for the real part to start, treating life like I have time to practice. I don't know why I did, but am sure it has to do with protecting myself. I stopped dating, put projects on hold, postponed doing things that I wanted to, all because I think I might be scared to actually do them. Doesn't seem like me but it makes sense.

I told myself a couple of years ago that I wanted to see the world. Live in some odd locations, see the tourist spots and go down the unbeaten path. For this reason I also told myself I didn't want to get involved with someone. I didn't want someone to hold me back, and I knew that if I was dating someone at the time I left then my heart would be torn between achieving my dreams and living with one. I didn't want to hurt someone else and I didn't want to hurt myself. I wanted to avoid the risk so I preemtively stopped myself from even considering it. I put my heart on hold.

I wanted to start a couple of online projects, all of which I have stalled on. I pick away at them as I can but have not put any considerable energy into making them happen. I have done this because I know if I do that they will either be a nice success, requiring further energy and time, or be an utter failure and a huge disappointment to me. I don't put in the time because either way the result will be hard to take in. I do it for self defense because the dream of them is so grand to me and I am acutely aware that the reality might not be quite so grand.

I share these examples because my attention of them was brought into view recently. I realized that the world I was creating around me was in fact not the world I wanted and yet it was of my own doing. I set myself up in a box that I could make sense of, a world I felt in control of; but the box was holding me back. With these constraints in my life I was failing at the game. I told myself it was practice, and that it could wait, but I felt fragmented. Sometimes it takes an event or a person to come in your life to help you realize that right now is the only time we have to live. Tomorrow is just a figment of the imagination. It doesn't exist until it happens and if you live thinking - believing - that it will lead or bring the life you want, then you are setting yourself up for failure. You are depriving the world of an integral part; YOU.

Life can't be broken into tiny, divisible parts. It isn't neat and tidy, and by trying to make it so you separate yourself from the possibility of life. By putting up these barriers, by setting up controls, you cut yourself off from chance. Tomorrow may never come, but right here and now is for sure. It is the only sure thing in life. It is the only thing that wont let you down. Here and now will always be here until it isn't anymore and then it wont matter. There is no practice round, you get one shot at it. One opportunity to the make the most of. Set yourself free.

We Campaign

2008-04-18T20:17:00.000-07:00

The Alliance for Climate Protection is set to launch a new campaign called the We Campaign. Al Gore is part of the organization and they have some major people taking part in the campaign, in/on all forms of mass media. I have attached one of the ads below but there will be several others joining it on television, radio, print, and on the web. I think it is another great example of how traditional marketing methods can be harnessed for the use of something more. Check it out and let me know what you think.

The Last Lecture

2008-04-17T08:59:00.000-07:00

This video was posted on YouTube about a year ago and if you haven't yet seen it you should take some time and check it out. Randy Pausch, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and given about 6 months to live. As a result he decided to present his last lecture as if it really would be his last. It is an inspiring talk and worth the time it takes to watch.

Let me ask you this: What would you say to a group of people if you had one last chance to do so? if you knew today was your last day on earth? We are all guilty of taking time for granted but take the time to think about it what you would say, even take the time to write it down in a letter to the person you would say it to. Time is precious so take advantage of it.

Disappointment

2008-04-16T13:40:00.000-07:00

We have all at times become disappointed in life. With someone, over something, we can't escape a let down here and there. It is a part of life, unfortunately, that not everything goes our way. However, take a second to think about that. The mere notion that we could become so wrapped up in our own lives that we forget that our disappointment could infact be another persons proudest moment, is cause for concern. The world does not revolve around us, which is a good thing. The world is not ours, which is a good thing.

You should take disappointment and flip it around. Take a new perspective on life, take a step back and examine the possibilities that can come from disappointment. The old saying of when "one door closes another opens" is a comment on how we should look at the world. Take applying for a new job, what looks to be a perfect job and one that you would die for might not be right for you. If you don't get the job then the person who did get it may have been perfect for it, maybe it was their big break, maybe they needed it more. We live in a world where we think about "me" first, but not only could we be much happier, but we could allow those around us to be happier as well.

Disappointment rubs off on others. Our bad mood is projected out on the world and we propagate the I/Me way of thinking. People see that we are wrapped up in our own problems and our own negativity that they react by doing the same. Others will look at us and see how self-centered our thoughts are and they will do likewise. Try the opposite sometime. The next disappointment you have turn it around. Propagate the feeling of a "We" world, one where your disappointment is another persons moment. See what kind of a reaction those around you give. See how that in turn makes you feel. The positive will come back, the people around us will think about "us". The world will be a better place.

Disappointment can seem like an insurmountable mountain. It will plant itself in the middle of our lives and take them over. The solution is to think about things as if we are already at the top. Life can be a magical success or an utter failure - it is a choice you can make.

Global Day For Darfur

2008-04-13T08:10:00.000-07:00

Today, April 13, is Global Day for Darfur. All around the world events will be held to bring to focus what is happening in Darfur. To learn more about the day and to see if there is an event in your area visit www.savedarfur.org

Here in Toronto at Nathan Philips Square, there will be a gathering with a few bands and a couple of notable speakers. Check it out here at Day 4 Darfur. It should be an enlightening experience.

If you don't have the chance to attend I still urge you to show your support by logging onto SaveDarfur.org and signing the petition. Every little bit helps. After attending the Rwandan Genocide Memorial on Friday it saddens me to think that 10 years from now I will also be attending one for Darfur. We said "Never Again" and I think it is about time we stand by our words.