Kobe Bryant Speaks Out

Kobe Bryant takes a stand for the people of Darfur. In a public service announcement issued through Los Angeles-based non-profit Aid Still Required Bryant calls for a united action to stop the genocide. The PSA was aired March 5, 2007 on ESPN, just in time for the NCAA tournament hype.

“In Darfur, hundreds of thousands have been murdered, mutilated–families torn apart,” says Bryant. “We have the power to save lives, to restore lives, to change the world.”

15 NBA players have taped public service announcements, all calling for support in Darfur. “Please take a stand with us. Together we have the power to change the world,” Bryant says on the PSA.

Bryant joins the fight for Darfur with NBA notables Steve Nash, Tracy McGrady, Luol Deng, Derek Fisher, Baron Davis, Grant Hill, Emeka Okafor, Andrew Bynum and many more in speaking out about the atrocities. Others involved in Darfur advocacy include Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Sheryl Crow, Mia Farrow, Common, Ellen DeGeneres, Donovan McNabb, Jessica Biel, Don Cheadle, Desmond Tutu, and Barack Obama.

We need Oprah’s name on this list. We could use her help.

Aid Still Required

Aid Still Required (ASR) is a non-profit, humanitarian organization focused on rebuilding communities through sustainable solutions in the aftermath of natural disasters and human crises. “We believe everyone, everywhere, is entitled to live in dignity, health and peace. We view post-crisis situations as opportunities to do just that. By approaching restoration on an ecologically friendly basis and utilizing a region’s native environment, Aid Still Required ‘builds back better’ and builds back green,” ASR states in its mission statement.

Please visit ASR’s website at www.aidstillrequired.org

Photo from http://www.hiphop-elements.com

Team Darfur

Athletes speak out against the atrocities in Darfur. An international coalition of athletes known as Team Darfur is committed to raising awareness about the crisis in Darfur. The organization is supported by over 200 athletes from Angola to the U.S. Team Darfur promotes a campaign that aims to educate the global public of the conflict in Darfur leading up to the 2008 Olympics.

Team Darfur was co-founded by Olympic gold medalist speed skater, Joey Cheek, and UCLA water polo player, Brad Greiner. Cheek raised over $1 million in 2006 when he announced that he would donate his bronze medal to relief in Darfur. Cheek then encouraged other athletes to do the same. At the same time, Greiner realized that if athletes wore a symbol acknowledging the Darfur conflict, people of the world would notice and support efforts to raise awareness and support relief funds for Darfur. Supporters can wear Team Darfur sweatbands and bracelets to show their concern for Dafur.

Team Darfur’s Website includes a list of athletes, a pledge to sign, and a place to purchase Team Darfur products to show support. The athletes’ coalition maintains a positive message that “calls for a celebration of the Olympic spirit, not a boycott.”

The Lane County Darfur Coalition has invited Team Darfur to attend the U.S. Olympic Trials in hopes of putting the spotlight on Darfur. These efforts will have a great impact on the success of the Lane County Darfur Coalition’s campaign, “Bring the Olympic Dream to Darfur.”

Here’s a list of a few of the U.S. Athlete’s that support Team Darfur:

Joey Cheek – US, Speedskater
Jon Rankin – US, Track and Field Athlete
Grace Taylor – US, Gymnast
Peter Cipollone – US, Rower
Nikki Stone – US, Aerial Skier
Genai Kerr – US, Water Polo Player
Maria Cruz Garcia – US, Speedskater
John Naber – US, Swimmer
Amber Stachowski – US, Water Polo Player
Nathaniel Mills – US, Speedskater
Jessica Mendoza – US, Softball Player
Jonathan Page – US, Cyclist
Jennie Finch Daigle – US, Softball Player
Allison Wagner – US, Swimmer
Kelsey Kooreman – US, Triathlete
Philip Dunn – US, Race Walker
Jarrod Shoemaker – US, Triathlete
Doug Lennox – US, Swimmer

Go to http://teamdarfur.org to join the team and sign the charter.

Photo can be found on http://www.teamdarfur.org

 

 

Bring the Olympic Dream to Darfur

Over the past four weeks, I have been working with the Lane County Darfur Coalition to plan events around the Olympic Trials in Eugene. In hopes of inviting Darfur groups from around the nation to the U.S. Olympic Trials, LCDC is busy with proposals, organization and plans.

We have found it to be incredibly difficult to create awareness when the general public does not understand what the term “genocide” means. Others are not knowledgeable about the crisis in Darfur. In addition, the public does not understand the connection with China and Sudan. And then, people can’t grasp the parallel of the Beijing Olympics to the Nazi Berlin Olympics of 1936.

It has become a PR challenge. The mission is to create awareness of China’s involvement in Sudan surrounding the Olympic Trials. LCDC realizes that this may be the last chance to have an impact on the crisis in Darfur. LCDC does not want to be seen as the radical activists on the other side of fence.

How do we create a positive message when the circumstances are incredibly horrific in Darfur? The stories are not pretty. People are suffering and dying. Each day, the people of Darfur fight to stay alive without the proper health care, food or water. It will continue unless China allows the U.N. to deploy peacekeepers in Sudan. China also needs to pull out economically from Sudan and stop suppling military weapons. The issue is complicated, yet at the same time I find it simple. It’s a humanitarian issue. People are dieing for reasons of greed and power. How far have we come from the Holocaust? It is 2008, and genocide still continues.

LCDC has created a campaign, “Bring the Olympic Dream to Darfur,” to place a positive spin on this deadly issue. It will be necessary to educate the 200,000 spectators and sports fans of the large influence China has in Sudan. LCDC will create easy ways for people to help, including writing to government officials and Olympic sponsors, signing a petition, and wearing a wrist band or t-shirt to show support.

LCDC wants to use this opportunity to spread awareness by sending a positive message about the chance China has to be the change.

If only China could hear the words of Gandhi; “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

It is a difficult lesson to learn, but keeping the dream alive is hard.

Take a look at LCDC’s website to learn about upcoming events http://lcdarfurcoalition.org

Photo was taken Jan. 20, 1986. Photo can be found at http://www.mlkonline.net