Africa Vision 36

Africa Vision 36

N’Djamena, January 15, 2008

Stop genocide now is in the country.

Why did I listen to the receptionist at the Meridian? I was quite sure Gabriel and his friends were staying there but the lady informed me there was no Mr. Gabriel in the hotel. Later I found out through another friend that he has been in the hotel since yesterday. Well tomorrow morning I will call him. Time flies when you are having fun and it does seem only weeks ago I was playing with him and his family soccer on the beach. Perhaps we can play again with Gabo on the beach soon. Gabo is his young son and he made a very nice gesture this time around. To several of the refugees in the camps in Chad he presented his favorite toys. What an adorable guy he is.

Talking with Gabriel and Katie-Jay is like a homecoming. They are similar spirited people taking the problems of the world head on. Or heart-on! Their organization does several things amongst which the following:

1. Field visits to the refugee camps in Chad
2. Camp Darfur in the USA

About the first there are several things that happen during a visit. First of all there is a live blog online. Where 5-8 minutes video-blogs are posted every day. It is about the journey but mostly about the refugees in the camp. Free rolling filming of the life of refugees in the camps. Inter-activity is the keyword and in that category follows the following. The installation in the refugee camps of kits of laptops, satellite phones, software and web cam to make it possible for the refugees to interact directly with peers in the USA. This month the first kit should be operational. I hope that a long distance friendship between the kids in the camps and the kids in the refugee camps can develop.

To assure there is more attention to the field visits several celebrities have lined up to join hands. I believe in March Macy Gray will be hopping around in Chad and one or two NBA basketball stars have visited as well. There interest is to help provide secondary schools in the refugee camp.

Camp Darfur is a collection of tents, photos, videos and mostly two to six activists traveling around the USA to bring attention to the plight of genocide in the world. When I was in the USA I had the good fortune to attend one. It is in the interaction with young and old that these camps become very interesting. There are misconceptions about how little one person can do about the situation is a country far away. I would argue the contrary every person can make a huge difference. There is an opportunity right now to build a coalition, a caucus against genocide in the world today. No more toothless resolutions by the UN but a grass root citizen driven movement to implement strict rules and regulations against perpetrators of genocide but more importantly prevention of genocide. Including the mandate to implement these rules and regulations.

Talk the talk and walk the walk.

There is a lot of hope in my mind a spiritual or humanitarian or human awakening that as humanity we can progress beyond violence and anger. First on a personal level then on a group level and finally on the global level.

No guts no glory. Why let the bullies in the world dominate the world. Why not let the kids and the elders rule?

Love is all we need.
Not a cliché but a profound truth.

I am off to meet two more team members of stop genocide now.

Catch you later

Peace,

Ashis

www.stopgenocidenow.org