Bags 4 Darfur: Some Direction For What We Could Do

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Some Direction For What We Could Do

I am copy and pasting an e-mail from Winnipeg Walk4 Darfur for your information; and in hopes that some or all of you will raise your voice for justice.

Hello friends and supporters of Walk4Darfur

I hope you all enjoyed the documentary screening, and learnt alot. However today I want to share with you an excellent opportunity to have an impact on the situation in Darfur.

Yesturday (March 4th) the ICC issued an arrest warrant for the Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity. While this is great news, Al-Bashir has retaliated against the Darfuri people, he has ordered the explusion of 10 aid agencies in the region. This is horrible news, and now is the time for us to stand up and call for action.

We urge you to take the time to email your local representative, as well as the foreign minister Lawrence Cannon about this information (The current Canadian statement can be found at http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://w01.international.gc.ca%2FMinPub%2FPublication.aspx%3FisRedirect%3DTrue%26Language%3DE%26publication_id%3D386902%26docnumber%3D58) Email Addresses for you local MP's can be found at http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://canada.gc.ca%2Fdirectories-repertoires%2Fdirect-eng.html. Below is a quick email template please feel free to edit it as you see fit.

Dear _____,

While although Canada has recently issued a statement about their commitment to Sudan and support for the ICC process. In light of recent and important developments, I would request that the Government of Canada:

1) Commit to ongoing support for an ICC process against Bashir that is robust, efficient, and sensitive to its short-term impacts on civilians.

2) Honour its commitments to UNAMID, and advocate for the Mission's full deployment. For the ICC's work to be effective, it must be supported by a robust peace process. This is Canada's Forte.

Many thanks for your time.

Kind Regards,

__________

For information about the arrest warrant and the expulsion of the humanitarian groups please go to http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.cnn.com%2F2009%2FWORLD%2Fafrica%2F03%2F04%2Fsudan.expel%2Findex.html%3Firef%3Dnewssearch

Please do what you can!

Thank you
--------------------

1 comment:

gophercheeks said...: Great timing Joyce.... I am on it!!; March 6, 2009 at 2:53 PM

Post a Comment

About The Bags

Frequently asked questions answered here.

Read about the project here.

Read about the history of Darfur here.

Play a game to end hunger here: http://www.freerice.com/index.php

Re-joyce.

I've always been a scrounger. Raised by a frugal prairie farm woman who reduced, reused, and recycled long, looooong before it was trendy; I've come into the concept of re-purposing honestly. I am silly-in-love with anything vintage-ish, and am powerless against it when I discover it stacked on card tables in someone's garage, or stale and lonely in a thrift shop.

As a responsible consumer, here's what you can feel good about:

*the bags are fashioned from recycled fabrics purchased at thrift shops, garage sales, and fabrics donated by generous supporters.

* Most of the thrift shops are themselves humanitarian aid fund raisers.

*while keeping this stuff out of the landfills, you get to enjoy little pieces of history. Fabrics that used to function as tableclothes, aprons, bedspreads, sheet sets, coats.... Well, you get the idea.

*the proceeds of the project are intended for food aid to people in camps in and around the Sudan via the United Nations World Food Programme.

The bags are distributed in "good faith"; the fabrics within each piece can not be warranteed due to their unknown fiber contents. I myself treat my bags with little caution- throwing them in the wash, hanging them on the line to dry. I cannot offer any guarantees though, and do not offer refunds or returns; although I am certainly willing to do reasonable repairs. Although in a sense one is purchasing a bag, the bigger vision is to partner in feeding the hungry.

Interested in supporting the project? Visit my ETSY shop, top of the page. E-mail me with any question at re(dash)joyce(at)live.ca

Feel free to copy the "bag button" on the sidebar if you would like to place it on your own blog or web page.

Thanks for your interest!

Funds Sent for Aid

Grand Total: $32,918.00
$24,918.00 total to wfp
$2,097.00 to MCC Sudan, 2013
$400.00 to CMU Outtatown in 2013
$4,172.00 total for 2012
$910.00 to UHCR in 2012
$2,142.00 to WFP in 2012
$400.00 to CMU Outtatown/Guatamala 2012
$720.00 women to women in 2012
$240.00 to women to women in 2011
$6,203.00 to WFP in 2011
$4,078 total in 2010
$525.00 to WFP in 2010
$200.00 to UNHCR in 2010
$175.00 to Save Darfur in 2010
$3,178.24 Women For Women Int'l 2010
$5,385.00 in 2009
$210.00 to Mennonite Central Committee '09
$100.00 to Siloam Mission in 2009
$200.00 to Save Darfur in 2009
$10,658.00 to wfp in 2008