Darfur Peace & Development - Annual Report 2008 & Urgent Request

Darfur Peace & Development Organization (DPDO) has released its Annual Report 2008*, here. DPDO is the only Darfuri-led U.S.-based NGO still operating on-the-ground in Darfur, Sudan.

Emergency request: We were going to leave this at the release announcement, but donations are off due to the global financial crisis. While this is understandable, DPDO finds itself short to pay day-to-day operations, much less development. If you look at administrative costs, you will see that they are very low.

DPDO is asking for emergency donations of $1, $5, or $10 through the website & its Facebook page. Things are tough, really tough. If you can help, please know that anything you donate goes straight to people on-the-ground.

A big thank-you to all.

(*Printed copy requests through the website or download as a PDF).

[Peak Near Wilfag by Susan Burgess-Lent, DPDO/all rights reserved/cover of DPDO AR2008/all rights reserved]

L'eau pour Darfour...

So if we write it in French, will that be more stylish? Italian? That's tomorrow. Yes, we're feeling defeated. Over a year of mostly chipper, we-can-do-it cheer-leading isn't working. Reporters, except for Nick Kristof & a few others, no longer bother. to mention Darfur. If Angie or George C. show up, maybe. Even then...

The first photograph is a Darfur Peace & Development Schools of Peace; the second is its water system. No kidding. You should see how gets there (if it does). People, people, people. For one moment, would you please stop "hearting" & squealing over the latest thing you want & think about being thirsty? And there's not a drop to be had...or it's filthy dirty. Do you think these folks are just going to have to get used to this? Why should they? That was not the reality before 2003 for most of them. They had water just like you--what if someone took away your water tomorrow? You want to know the basic difference between your situation & theirs? Luck. Fate. You were born elsewhere. That's it. You didn't do anything to deserve better; they didn't do anything to deserve worse.

Sigh. Please go here to read about Clean Water Project & maybe you can give $5.00. We don't have a job & we just did. A little challenge.

[Photos by Susan Burgess-Lent/DPDO/all rights reserved; if by some miracle you want to use any SBL pix for a fundraiser, pls contact GG's editor]

The Beijing Olympics & Darfur

Keep the spotlight on Darfur during the Olympic Games. Join with Darfur Peace & Development Organization in a unique kind of activism.

On August 8, China and the Olympic sponsors will kick off the Beijing Olympics.

With your help, we will remind the world, the sponsors, and China that immediate action is necessary to resolve the desperate situation in Darfur.

DPDO is collaborating with Dream for Darfur to webcast the Darfur Olympics -- daily alternative programming during the first week of the Games.

The Darfur Olympics will feature reports by Mia Farrow from a Darfur refugee camp, exclusive video clips of conditions, background reports and daily opportunities for action.

To kick off this week of activism, watch the "Alternative Opening Ceremony" on August 8.
Musical artists REM, Talib Kweli, Carly Simon, and many others have donated music videos to help us ensure that the world does not forget about Darfur.

SIGN UP to watch the DARFUR OLYMPICS and the ALTERNATIVE OPENING CEREMONY

Journey of the Darfur Basket

The Amber Chand Collection partners with Darfur Peace & Development Organization to develop the widest possible market for baskets made by IDP women. The Darfur Women's Center serves as home for the Kutum Women's Association of skilled basket weavers. Their cooperative venture is designed to produce sustainable income and a viable business enterprise for the benefit of all members.

Our friend Susan Burgess-Lent, Program Director for DPDO, travelled to Darfur in May & June. This short video is from that trip.