Darfur Movie Night

On August 6th, I held the movie night for "This is Darfur: Guisma's Story" in the homely house of David Lindblad. (Fruit Heights, Utah.) My close friends attended, and I was elated to have planned and shared such a stirring, knowledgeable house party with them. (The three part movie can be watched online here.)

Julianne R., David L., Cameron M., McKenna P., Jake A., Cole E., and Nariman Z.

When everyone arrived, the short documentary, "This is Darfur: Guisma's Story," was screened. It portrays a little girl, once living in Darfur, Sudan, now living in a Chad refugee camp. Guisma survived a world with death all around her, and lost her home. Many refugees are living in terrible living conditions. Her family wants to return home to Darfur. Something needs to be done about the Janjaweed that performed and are still performing the inhumane tragedies in Sudan, and the man behind the monstrosity, Omar Al-Bashir, needs to be stopped.

According to the Save Darfur Facebook page,

Since February of 2003, the Sudanese government under Omar Al Bashir has been arming and financing Janjaweed militias to murder and rape non-Arab (African) Muslims in the Darfur region of the Sudan. Al Bashir's regime has also routinely conducted air strikes over Darfuri villages and refugee camps.

Stated on the Save Darfur website, "Overall, the UN estimates that roughly 4.7 million people in Darfur (out of a total population of roughly 6 million) are still affected by the conflict."
As a side note, the video below talks about how the Nuba Mountains, near the new North/South border of Sudan are recently being targeted by Omar Al-Bashir.



After the documentary, we signed post cards addressed to Obama and had a discussion. (My boyfriend and friends are much more knowledgeable on these topics! I have much room to learn!) Since the first film was fairly short, we played another documentary, "The Devil Came on Horseback." It's about an American named Brian Steidle that witnessed the horrors of the Darfur Genocide firsthand. It's a powerful movie and I would highly recommend it! The photographs were horrific and sad. It was moving to say the least, and put the genocide and refugees in an understandable context. Many voiced that this documentary impacted them much more greatly than the first one. But I believe both were a good pair to watch together.

I want to thank everyone that came to the movie night. I am truly grateful for the support. =)

Roots Extending to Heaven

Hello, my dears!

I want to get as many people interested as possible to come partake in knowledge and know-how thanks to i-ACT , or else you are an oober lame-o, and don't deserve any title above being a super oober lame-o! But if you aren't a lame-o, and are cool and classy, then spread the word if you'd like to come hang out and be a cool cat with friends, learning about Sudan and the happenings in Darfur. Anyone and everyone slightly interested will be invited to chill on a couch and watch a story about a girl in Darfur named Guisma. I haven't seen the whole video yet, but I am eager to watch it, especially with good friends. =)

For years now, Darfur has been trampled with genocide, and displacement and death are still occurring today. According to the i-ACT page, There is "continuous fighting in the area, lack of access by humanitarian organizations, and little to no representation in negotiations has left the average Darfuri citizen in a dangerous limbo–with no end in sight."

Guisma’s eyes have seen what no child should ever see. Her home was destroyed. Brothers and sisters died. Most of her life lived as a refugee, with little hope for a safe and nurturing future — but Guisma still smiles. Guisma is Darfur, bombed and oppressed — but still beautiful and resilient. You have the opportunity to participate in creating a better future for her and all of Darfur. By participating, you shine a light on Guisma and Darfur’s road to peace.

This movie night will happen sometime in the next month, or so. I have signed up, but haven't set a date yet until I know when there's a best available time to do it.
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In other news, I finished a mixed media drawing tonight, and I hope you interpret it in any way that inspires you. =)