Hike for Congo 2013

Congo Activists of Michigan is proud to announce our 3rd Annual Hike for Congo on May 4th & 5th, 2013.  Hike starts at 11am both days, potluck picnic around 12:30pm.

Hike for Congo is a fundraiser for our youth parters in the Democratic Republic of Congo, "Youth for a New Society".  Their program is called the Congo Connect Project, which aims to advance the cause of social justice through creative and innovative means using art, music, and technology to promote social justice. 

They held a Peace Concert for youth in December 2012. They continue to work on the establishment of Technology Networking Centers (TNC).  TNCs are social spaces equipped with computers, internet access and other digital tools that allow the youth to connect and communicate with other young people inside and outside of the Congo.  Hikers are encouraged to raise funds for the cause.  Learn more about Congo Connect on our Congo Connect webpage.

The Hike for Congo will be a 3.6 mile forest hike in the Waterloo Rec Area, 30 minutes northwest of Ann Arbor.  There are several other trails nearby - so you can add on more miles if you want!  There is a Discovery Center to explore too (great for kids!).  Join us for a potluck picnic after the hike!

Hike starts at 11am both days, picnic around 12:30.  Meet up at the Discovery Center.

DIRECTIONS:: 

 

(from Ann Arbor to Hike start @ Eddy Discovery center) 

94W, exit 157 to merge onto Pierce Rd. toward Old US-12 (2.5mi), turn left onto Bush Rd, left to Eddy Discovery Center (17030 Bush Rd. Chelsea, MI)

Here is the trail map: 

 

http://www.michigandnr.com/Publications/PDFS/RecreationCamping/waterloo_discoverycentertrails.pdf

Sign up for the Hike for Congo - 4 steps
1) Send an email to rfcwaa@gmail.com saying "sign me up for the hike!"
2) Start fundraising. Our goal is to raise $3000 for the youth.  You can add donations to our online fundraising page here: http://www.crowdrise.com/HikeforCongo2013  

You can also make your own fundraising page for the Hike for Congo by clicking the “Join our Team” link on our crowdrise page.

3) Recruit your friends to hike! 
4) Show up and hike on May 4 and/or May 5

**BONUS:: Bring used electronics to donate to the youth! Used, but working, cellphones, laptops, digital cameras, flash drives, etc. We will mail them to our youth partners in D.R.Congo **


Join and share the facebook event page too: https://www.facebook.com/events/149675781850609    

All hikers will get a t-shirt! design TBD

One Billion Rising

ONE IN THREE WOMEN ON THE PLANET WILL BE RAPED OR BEATEN IN HER LIFETIME.

ONE BILLION WOMEN VIOLATED IS AN ATROCITY

ONE BILLION WOMEN DANCING IS A REVOLUTION

On V-Day’s 15th Anniversary, 2.14.13, we are inviting ONE BILLION women and those who love them to WALK OUT, DANCE, RISE UP, and DEMAND an end to this violence. ONE BILLION RISING will move the earth, activating women and men across every country. V-Day wants the world to see our collective strength, our numbers, our solidarity across borders.

What does ONE BILLION look like? On February 14th, 2013, it will look like a REVOLUTION.

ONE BILLION RISING IS:

A global strike
An invitation to dance
A call to men and women to refuse to participate in the status quo until rape and rape culture ends
An act of solidarity, demonstrating to women the commonality of their struggles and their power in numbers
A refusal to accept violence against women and girls as a given
A new time and a new way of being

Ann Arbor - One Billion Rising events:

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: The Flashmob and poetry reading will be at the University of Michigan Diag at the Graduate Library steps! Join us and let's make OBR AA a memorable event. Wear the colors are RED and BLACK if you can! Thank you and see you there! https://www.facebook.com/OneBillionRisingObrAnnArbor

6:00 -9:00 PM: ALL HEART - Rising: A Valentine's Day Dance

Celebrating 1 Billion Rising

YELLOW BARN 416 West Huron Ann Arbor, Mi 48113

DJ: All Over the ATLAS

All ages, all styles, ALL RIGHT! Come with your kids, your sweetheart, your sister's or solo. Come dance and play and celebrate the day. Live Art, Acro Yoga Demonstration, Ecstatic Dance, Valentines Card making, kid corner, etc.

Ypsilanti - EMU

12:00PM: One Billion Rising Flashmob: EMU Student Center - 1st floor

https://www.facebook.com/events/569606076402670

* For more One Billion Rising events throughout Michigan and the world visit www.onebillionrising.org *

Dec 5: Human Rights and Conflict in the Congo

Join us Dec 5, 6:00 -7:30pm, for Human Rights and CONFLICT in the CONGO: news, stories, discussion and action for peace in D.R.Congo.  We will explore the human rights aspect of the conflict, the U.S. role in the conflict, why the media has been virtually silent on the topic, and what we can do -as Americans- to bring peace.  We will have time for direct action right after the discussion (postcards or letter writing or other actions).  

*Plus we have special guests who will be sharing their stories from D.R.Congo*  

2024 Dana Bldg, 440 Church St., UofM campus, Ann Arbor, MI

** rsvp on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/563036757055154/

To prep for the event we suggest watching this short (26 min) documentary for general background info about the Congo conflict (warning: graphic images): "Congo Crisis: Uncovering the Truth": www.congojustice.org : http://youtu.be/vLV9szEu9Ag

Online Action to Stop M23

Four online actions YOU can take NOW to help Stop M23::

1) Sign this petition on Change.org:

http://www.change.org/petitions/susan-rice-u-s-ambassador-to-united-nations-212-415-4050-back-un-sanctions-against-kagame-museveni-for-backing-m23-terrorists

2) Sign this petition on Whitehouse.gov

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/demand-rwanda-cease-all-support-m23-and-remove-rwandan-troops-congo/JmYRbzJ8

3) Sign this petition on Avvaz.org

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Stop_the_violence_escalation_in_Congo/?wrKuTab

4) Post on twitter : We want peace in Congo, now @AmbassadorRice @Whitehouse www.StopM23.com #StopM23 #SanctionRwanda

http://www.stopm23.com/

Congo Week 2012

This year for Congo Week, Congo Activists of Michigan is collaborating with Friends of the Congo and the Dear Hillary Campaign for the Congo to send Secretary Hillary Clinton 10,000 birthday postcards for peace in the Congo.  This campaign is asking Secretary Clinton to withhold non-humanitarian aid to Rwanda until they stop supporting the M23 Rebels.

The Dear Hillary Campaign team, an activist group in Vermont, has sent us 1000 pre-stamped postcards.  Our task is to get them all signed and sent by October 26, Hillary's birthday.  We can also take pictures of our postcards and post them on facebook or twitter using tags @Hillary4Congo @CongoActivists #CongoWeek .

We will be out with postcards at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor (UM) and Eastern Michigan University (EMU) at the following times +locations:

Mon oct 15:  5-7pm: UM Michigan Union Tap Room

Tues oct 16: 12-4pm: UM Diag/AngellFishbowl

Weds oct 17: 12-4pm: EMU student union

Thurs oct 18: 12-4pm: UM Diag/AngellFishbowl

Fri  oct 19: 10-1pm: EMU student union

Mon oct 22: 2-4pm UM Diag/Fishbowl

                   5-7pm UM Tap Room

Tues oct 23: 2-6pm Ypsilanti Farmers Market

Weds oct 24: 11-3pm Ann Arbor Farmers Market

Crisis in the Congo : Uncovering the Truth

Learn a LOT about the Congo crisis by watching this short documentary film. www.congojustice.org

Take Action :: Sign this Petition

Change.org|The Proven Petition Site