Skype with DRC

Skype with our partners: 
Youth for a New Society
December 14, 2013: 12 noon: 
UofM UgLi Library room 2134: 
Ann Arbor

Human Rights Day Candlelight Vigil

Dec 10: Human Rights Day Candlelight Vigil
6pm: UofM Diag
This Human Rights Day Candlelight Vigil is for *all* human rights issues ~ anyone can speak about any human rights issue.  Please bring info, stories, poems, or quotes to share.  Also bring candles if you have them, some candles will be provided.

Congo Week 2013

Activation Station

Tuesday, November 19, 5:30-7:30pm

Undergrad Library, room 3048, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Our Congo Week events are finally here.  Stop by the Activation Station, gather all the tools and resources you need to be a fully activated powerful knowledgeable Congo Activist!!  You can view the short documentary "Crisis in the Congo", pick up fact sheets, look over book suggestions, join discussions, write a letter to our president or senator, sign a postcard, give suggestions for future events/activities, or ALL of the above!  Stay for the full 2 hours or just drop in for 5-10 minutes.  If you only have one minute stop in and sign a postcard!!  Grab a handful of postcards to take to your friends and family! 

"Crisis in the Congo: Uncovering the Truth"

Thursday, November 21, 6:30pm

Student Center, room 347, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti

Film screening of the short documentary "Crisis in the Congo: Uncovering the Truth" (26 mins) followed by discussion.  This film is packed with information - even if you've seen it before you will probably learn something each time you see it.  We will also have postcards available for you to sign (and some to take home for friends).  Watch the trailer here: http://youtu.be/u0EOJRQZSyI

Postcards to Sec. John Kerry

We have 800 postcards to send to Sec. John Kerry!!!!  We need YOUR help getting them all signed and mailed!!!!  Attend one of the events above to sign a card OR I can drop some off at another time/place in AnnArbor OR email me (rfcwaa@gmail.com) your address and I can mail some to you.  *We need stamps* ~ please bring some!!  Where will you mail your card?  Take a photo of yourself mailing the postcards and upload it to our social media pages - or tag us in your pic.  Click here to read the postcard in full: http://congojustice.org/postcard/ 

Congo Week

Congo Week 2013 is coming up soon!  Our Congo Week events for Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti will be later than the global Congo Week ~ our events will be November 5-12.  Details TBA.  Local events will include:

- Film Screenings and discussion

- Dear John Kerry postcard campaign

- Cell-out cellphone boycott

- ....more TBA

Launch Reception: "Transforming Violence & Conflict into Hope & Innovation"

September 23: 4-6pm: Rackham West Conference Room, University of Michigan

Reception hosted by the African Studies Center to honor Dr. Denis Mukwege and Dr. Gustav Mushagalusa, Democratic Republic of Congo and the launch of the project "Transforming Violence and Conflict into Hope and Innovation: Establishing a Center of Excellence for Training and Research in Bukavu, DR Congo. This project, housed in the School of Nursing, is a recipient of the Provost's new The Global Transformations Program, Phase One Award. This award will facilitate the development of an already highly promising collaboration between faculty and staff at the University of Michigan and Dr. Denis Mukwege and Dr. Gustav Mushagalusa.To inaugurate this phase of the project, Dr. Mukwege and Dr. Mushagalusa will be visiting U-M from September 22-25.

Co-sponsored by the Rackham Graduate School, the Department of Afroamerican and African Studies, the School of Nursing, the Ross School of Business and the Office of the Vice Provost for Global and Engaged Education

http://www.lsa.umich.edu/daas/events/ci.launchreceptiontransformingviolenceconflictintohopeinnovationmon23sep2013_ci.detail

Fellow Peacemakers & Friends,

It's that time of year again 4 yet another Peace & Diversity Celebration in A2. This will be our 8th year running! We are so blessed 2 have seen this continue 4 so long!!

P.E.A.C.E. DAY stands for Promoting Ethnic And Cultural Equality Day.

Sept 22

12-4pm

University of Michigan Diag

https://www.facebook.com/events/153043924878617/

Highlights of the day include:
FREE ADMISSION!
FREE PEACE FOOD (www.dominosu.com)!
FREE PEACE TEA (www.peaceicedtea.com)!
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT BY LOCAL ARTISTS!
LIVE PAINTING BY PICARDO ART (http://picardoart.com/)
FUN FOR ALL AGES!
Yoga Session (www.ashtangamichigan.com)
Face Painting
Chalking (www.chalk4peace.org)
Peace Puppet (www.facebook.com/peacemommalovesu)
Peace Pinwheels
Arts & Crafts
Penny Poll
Japanese Calligraphy
Post Parade March
Human Peace Sign Picture Pose

The artist lineup for this year's event:

Opening Ceremony w/ Matthew Darling 11:45-12:00
Ryan Castelli 12:00-12:15
Willo 12:15-12:30
Starr Bryan 12:30-12:45
Matthew Darling 12:45-1:00
Mike Fall 1:00-1:15
One Race Human 1:15-1:30
New Day Sun 1:30-1:45
SJ Brennan 1:45-2:00
Trezz Larry 2:00-2:30
Cheripop 2:30-2:45
Freestyle & Beat Box Gap Fill 2:45-3:00
'Nique LoveRhodes & The Blue Flame Dreams 3:00-3:30
New Day Sun (Round 2) 3:30-3:50
Closing Remarks 3:50-4:00

IMPORTANT NOTES:
- 2:30PM – PIZZA WILL ARRIVE! YUM! =P
- TEA & WATER AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE DAY…

The event this year is being sponsored (so far) by:

Ashtanga Michigan (www.ashtangamichigan.com)
Being Who I Want 2 Be (www.mrpeace.net)
Cole Johnston Photography
Congo Activists of Michigan (www.congoactivists.blogspot.com)
Department of Peace (www.thepeacealliance.org)
Domino's Pizza (www.dominosu.com)
Great Lakes Peace Jam (www.greatlakespeacejam.org)
Greening Detroit (www.greeningdetroit.com)
Institute for Global Education (www.instituteforglobaleducation.com)
Michigan Peaceworks (www.michiganpeaceworks.org)
Michigan Peace Team (www.michiganpeaceteam.org)
Mizzion Photography
Moveable Peace (www.moveablepeace.org)
Orchid Lane (www.orchidlaneonline.com)
Pax Christi of Michigan (www.paxchristimi.org)
Peace Day TV (www.facebook.com/PeaceDayTV)
Peace Education Center (www.peaceedcenter.org)
Peace Iced Tea (www.peaceicedtea.com)
Peace Zones For Life (www.boggscenter.org)
Picardo Art (http://picardoart.com/)
Quietdown Press (http://quietdownpress.com/)
St. Joseph Parish (http://www.saintjosephsouthlyon.org/)
Student Peace Alliance (www.studentpeacealliance.org/)
Students Empowering Students (http://ml-in.facebook.com/group.php?gid=25757903504)
The Szawala Family


Thank you & PLEASE help spread the word...ALL are welcome! =)

Peace In,

The Peace Crew


More Info...
PEACE DAY's have reached college campuses across Michigan since 2006. The intention of the yearly events has been to encourage further connection, tolerance and acceptance of diversity in all life aspects ranging from race to color to age to gender to religion. Pro-peace in nature, they look to create a welcoming atmosphere to provide an excellent opportunity for people from different backgrounds to network with each other. It is not a panacea by any means to achieving greater equality. It is though one of many programs we as a society will have to consider to closing the cultural injustice gap.

Vision:
Create a day that provides an excellent opportunity for people from different backgrounds to connect and network with each other, by highlighting an appreciation for diversity, by promoting a greater respect and awareness of diversity, and by addressing issues of acceptance, peace, love and unity, that, in turn, will help serve as a continued step toward sustaining a lasting change across our campus and community.

Health in D. R. Congo

We will be having a discussion about health in D.R.C. with two special guest doctors from Samuteb hospital in Kapanga region of Katanga province, DRC. 


July 20, 2013
7-8pm
room 3048, Undergrad Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
**Please RSVP on the facebook event page if you will be attending -we want to be certain that our room is the right size -thanks**

Bring questions.

facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/436989493065013

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 *