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since Wed, 26 Dec 2007 20:04:17.
Salam,
I'm organizing a workshop on Sudan for the Green Rainbow Party Convention, hoping to create a friendship between Muslim Bostonians and Green Party/Rainbow Coalition members.
I would love to invite you and your friends to our upcoming event. Please forward this announcement.
FREE CHILDCARE BY A LICENSED PROVIDER WILL BE AVAILABLE.
LET ME KNOW HOW MANY KIDS YOU PLAN TO BRING.
It is a very good opportunity to learn how a grassroots political party is organized, and to consider joining. The Sudan workshop is an event we scheduled with the aim of increasing "minority" participation in the democratic process. Coming to the workshop will get you into the conference for free, to get introduced to GRP. Anyone who is registered to vote GRP (you can switch at the conference) can vote in the conference to help choose candidates.
We are trying to encourage non-GRP members to come to the conference so if you know anyone in the Boston area tell them to come to the Sudan workshop (no cost) on Aug 25 and get a free pizza lunch too.
Please do spread the word. The Sudan workshop takes place at 11-12:30 as one of several workshops. Non-GRP members are welcome to stay all day and to join the fundraising dinner/concert in the evening.
The convention will be at:
Community Church of Boston,565 Boylston St.,Copley Square.
A very short walk from the Copley Square T Stop on the Green Line and a little longer walk from the Back Bay Station on the Orange Line. 9-5 PM.
Admission free to non-GRP members!
Arabic pastries will be served.
Workshop description
- "EXPLAINING SUDAN: What's going on and what can we do about it?"
- Brief Description of Workshop (Context, Purpose, Etc.):
As a response to the recent controversy involving the framework of discussion for GRP's relationship to Africa, we are focusing on Sudan since it has been the subject of a lot of misleading media propaganda.
Our purpose is to rationally explain what kind of help Sudanese people need and the necessity of civil discourse.
Name(s) and brief information about the Presenters of the Workshop:
Our purpose is to rationally explain what kind of help Sudanese people need and the necessity of civil discourse.
Name(s) and brief information about the Presenters of the Workshop:
- Dr. Abdel-Rahman Mohamed, local Sudanese International Development Consultant and businessman, retired BU International and Development Communication Professor and CEO of AIM International, Inc., a cooperative marketing company for environmentally-safe technology transfer to developing nations.
- Loay Abdul Karim is a local engineer originally from Darfur. Loay has been involved in humanitarian efforts in Sudan in the early eighties through the early nineties, during the famine in Darfur, helping displaced children fleeing the civil war in the south of Sudan and living on the streets of the capital Khartoum, and the massive movement of refugees fleeing the famine in Ethiopia. He recently founded JP Residents For Human Rights, a study and advocacy group which aims to help and inspire US citizens to use the tools of democracy to create a more sustainable foreign policy.
- Keith Harmon Snow, an independent investigative reporter. An award-winning American journalist, whose work has appeared in THE SUN; many local newspapers; Black Commentator; Newsweek, and Japan International Journal. He attended the International Criminal Tribunal on Rwanda in Arusha, Tanzania.
- Yousef Abdallah, operations manager of the Northeast office of Islamic Relief, an NGO humanitarian aid organization, will give a slide show of his visits to Sudan. We would like to pass the hat around for humanitarian aid and environmental support in the region.
TOPIC: Sudan: Hope or Despair Showcase for Africa's Future (Why do we need to care).
One of the first African countries to gain independence, with extensive natural, agricultural, animal and educational resources, Sudan, "Africa in miniature," optimized the promise for Africa's future throughout the 1960s and 70s. With growing internal problems, environmental disasters and competing international interests and agendas, Sudan now stands as the beginning of the nightmare awaiting the whole of Africa.
Significance of Sudan:
Sudan is the most strategic country in Africa. It is described by scholars as the "Microcosm of Africa" "Africa in miniature," "Crossroad of Africa," "A bridge between the Arabs and Africans" a country with "Multiple marginality," etc.
One of the first African countries to gain independence, with extensive natural, agricultural, animal and educational resources, Sudan, "Africa in miniature," optimized the promise for Africa's future throughout the 1960s and 70s. With growing internal problems, environmental disasters and competing international interests and agendas, Sudan now stands as the beginning of the nightmare awaiting the whole of Africa.
Significance of Sudan:
Sudan is the most strategic country in Africa. It is described by scholars as the "Microcosm of Africa" "Africa in miniature," "Crossroad of Africa," "A bridge between the Arabs and Africans" a country with "Multiple marginality," etc.
- It is the largest in size 1/3 Continental US,
- Uniquely borders 10 countries,
- The only strategic depth for Egypt,
- It connects between Arabic-, English- and French-speaking Africa,
- Has one of the longest continuing and richest history, hence the characterization as the Cradle of "Human Civilization." It also has very important religious significance from Biblical to Islamic History and belief systems with tremendous potential consequences,
- Ethnically and Culturally it has almost all African ethnicities and all major defined African languages except the Khoisan of South Africa,
- Has the most enlightened, and dynamic Middle Class in Africa and the Middle East who laid the foundation of civil service, education, medical, transportation and engineering for most of the Gulf and English-speaking countries in Africa. Hence what used to be their charismatic influence on many projects and policies,
- Founding Member of the Arab League and Organization of African Unity,
- Most politicized populace and potent resistance that caused the emancipation from the shortest colonizations in Africa [Only 62 Anglo-Turkish and 54 Anglo-Egyptian] and termination of two 2 vicious military dictatorships. That is why the country is held by many African Intellectuals as a model for resistance which enable the country to play a crucial role and contribution during the liberation struggle in Africa,
- The peaks of the Marra (Dar Fur) and Nuba (Southern Kordufan) mountains sit at equal distances from the East, West and North ends of the continent of Africa [The most strategic Radar and and aerial coverage of Africa],
- It is one of the 3 most strategic centers for the security of the Red Sea,
- Has the largest oil reserves in Africa,
- Claims of the largest Uranium deposits (The Uranium Lake),
- Has the richest animal resources,
- Has the most fertile soil with extensive land and abundance of rivers and rainfall [Ideal for massive and intensive agricultural projects [hence the "Bread Basket of the World"
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