Alta Gracia.p1, 4 The Persisting Problems of Sudanp1, 4 The Banaa Scholarship Fund.

d.p2, 3 Kony 2012: A Call Beyond Your Computer..p2, 3 Peace for Congo Rally.p5

ISSUE 1

VOLUME 1

2012

Stand Up For
PROMOTING INCREASED CONSCIOUSNESS OF GLOBAL ISSUES AND STUDENT-LED ACTIVISM.

Alta Gracia
by Tiffany Finck-haynes
After years of working under exploitative factory conditions in the Free Trade Zone in Villa Alta Gracia in the Dominican Republic, workers organized to create Alta Gracia, a living-wage union-made model apparel factory where they receive more than three and a half times the local minimum wage and are able to adequately support their families with healthy food, shelter, health care and education. Most importantly, workers voices are valued through an independent union and they are treated with dignity and respect in their workplace. In the year and a half since Alta Gracia opened its doors, it has made an incalculable difference in the lives of the women and men who make the clothing, their families and their entire community. Unlike other clothing brands producing university apparel where workplace standards do not comply with national and international labor laws, overtime is required, severance pay is not granted, harassment and sexual discrimination is a daily occurrence, women are forced to take pregnancy tests and collective bargaining rights are denied, Alta Gracia demonstrates that living-wages and unions are not only possible in a thriving business they are profitable. In the past year, a large and growing coalition of student groups at George Washington University have united around their desire to see Alta Gracia apparel sold in the GW bookstore. Although the bookstore currently sources minimal quantities of Alta Gracia apparel, it is the only brand that adequately implements all of the labor right standards outlined in George Washington Universitys mission statement. As students, we want to see more Alta Gracia in the George Washington University bookstore. To date, Duke university has successfully sold more than $500,000 of Alta Gracia, and other universities such as UCLA, NYU, and the University of Washington are seeing great success selling $300,000 worth of Alta Gracia. (Continued on page 4)

The Persisting Problems of Sudan

by Lindsay Woods
Sudan is a country that has been wracked by the effects of colonialism, civil war, and genocide. Decades of civil war devastated the country and ended with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005, which promised a referendum in which the southern portion of the nation could vote to secede. The government based in Khartoum has marginalized certain regions of the country, culminating in the wellknown genocide in Darfur beginning in 2003. At the time, the killings in the Darfur region of Sudan received international attention, spurring an activist movement at the hands of students and concerned individuals. It is our hope that this newsletter focused on activism and social justice will help galvanize thoughts and passionate responses to issues beyond the GW campus, The momentum and extent of the movement is admirable. Most people know that there was a conflict in Darfur, and Colin Powell even went as far as to label the conflict genocide. However, though there may have been an improvement in the situation, the crisis still goes on, and people still continue to be displaced. The lack of political will of the international community to take decisive action in Darfur does not reflect the extent of rhetoric that surrounded the movement. Doha Document for Peace in Darfur, July 2011 was meant to bring peace to Darfur, but the government of Sudan has largely ignored its implementation and many armed groups were not parties to this agreement. GW STAND, in conjunction with the International Affairs society, held a panel discussion on the current state of affairs in Sudan, called Sudan: Where Are We Now? The panelists included Jennifer Christian, Policy Analyst at the Enough Project focusing on Sudan; Hashim Mekki Hassan, a New York Life Scholar at the Colin Powell Center for Policy Studies from 2008-2010 where he focused on numerous policy issues; and Jimmy Mulla, founder and President of Voices For Sudan. Though the Darfur genocide received international recognition, little has been said about the current crisis facing the Nuba Mountain, or South Kordofan, and Blue Nile regions, where bombings of civilians, food shortages, and a prohibition of international aid organiations are currently ravaging the population. The government of Khartoum is continuing its age old

ForFor

Activism

prohibition of international aid organiations are currently ravaging the population. The government of Khartoum is continuing its age old tactics of using starvation as a weapon and attacking civilian populations. As stated by Jennifer Christian, Its difficult to get precise numbers but the numbers that the UN is reporting is approximately 400,000 civilians in South Kordofan and Blue Nile who have been internally displaced and/or severely affected by the fighting. This is in addition to the tens of thousands of civilians who have fled to the neighboring states of South Sudan and Ethiopia, and untold numbers who have died. (Continued on page 4)

KONY 2012: A CALL FROM The Banaa Scholarship Fund BEYOND YOUR COMPUTER By Haley Aubuchon and Brian Browne
By Liz Cox
It can be strange to think the present will become the past, put into textbooks, studied, remembered. The KONY 2012 video and campaign will likely be a minor point, yet is a perfect focal point for tension and emotion of its time. Both Joseph Kony and Invisible Children were around before this video took the internet by storm. But KONY 2012, the video produced by Invisible Children, did not happen in a vacuum. Far from it. These past couple years have been turbulent, and less than halfway through 2012, its looking to be no less rife with conflict, tension, and disappointment. In 2008, the US financial system collapsed and brought the worlds down with it. By the time President Obama stepped in with a bailout, it was too late - the damage had been done under George W. Bush, when the bailout was needed most but didnt happen. The economy in shambles, the 2010 US Congressional elections brought in a new wave of ultra conservatives. But low and behold, they didnt magically fix the economy overnight either. 2011 saw protest and revolution in the Middle East, from Tunisia to Egypt to Libya. It looked hopeful - everyone loves a success story, and the world needed one. But dictators cracked down and despite the momentum, the Arab Spring came to a halt. Which brings us now, to 2012. Despite significant gains, the economy is still suffering. People who want to work cant find jobs with the 8% unemployment rate. College students, facing crushing debt, will likely be underemployed, if employed at all. Congress is tearing itself apart. Elections loom in November, and its shaping to be an ugly fight. And its not always easy to find a beacon of hope outside US borders. The Euro almost collapsed (and still could), the murder rate in Mexico increase almost daily, and the Congo has become the deadliest conflict since WWII. Needless to say, frustration is mounting. Countries are having a hard time keeping themselves together, let alone others. But people are not oblivious to the suffering of the rest of the world. Not only can we not find jobs while politicians debate the merits of birth control, we read about Assad massacring his own people daily. We have reached a boiling point. We want to do something, but no one has all the answers to the ever growing mountain of global problems. So we sit, in class and at work, horrified, at a loss for solutions. Then comes KONY 2012. A 30 minute video on Joseph Kony, the LRA, and child soldiers. But the video doesnt just describe the situation - it offers action. Action anyone can take. And yes, the video advocates a military intervention to capture Kony - and Im not coming down on one side or the other here - but its something to do. A clear cut answer. And so the video exploded. Garnering over 100 million views by the end of March (the same month it was uploaded), it sparked the powder keg of frustration mounting for several years. People came down for or against it. (Continued on page 3) Progressive student groups are almost always at the forefront of social and political movements. Its great to see such passion and energy from our fellow peers at GW who are leading these efforts and coming together to work towards their goals. This newsletter and others like it are a great testament to students who work tirelessly to achieve real change and show those who doubt us just how dedicated and proactive we students can be. Banaa itself is an example of how taking action on our campus can create unexpected opportunities for extraordinary change. In 2006, members of GW STAND rallied for divestment from GWs economic entanglements with perpetrators of genocide in Sudan. They did not achieve this goal, but their strong efforts earned them a unique opportunity: to set up a scholarship at GW for a Sudanese student. This is not at all what they were hoping for, but the students saw the scholarship as an innovative way to bring peace to Sudan. They founded the Banaa program with the goal of educating students from the most marginalized regions of Sudan, bringing scholars together to learn leadership and peacebuilding skills that they could then take home. In Banaas first year we received over 170 applications for admission to GW. Of all the applicants, a young refugee named Makwei stood out, becoming the first Banaa scholar in 2008. Makwei has accomplished so much in the past four years. He has published two books, interned at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum and the World Bank, and will graduate this spring with a double major in philosophy and economics. We are so thrilled about his success as a student, knowing that he will take his valuable insights home for the betterment of his home nation. Above all, we are happy to have Makwei as a great friend, whose experiences bring us a unique glimpse into a culture and a society that we otherwise never would have been exposed to. Following the programs initial success with Makwei, Banaa remains committed to making our scholarship program sustainable for many years to come. Since its founding, Banaa has added and trained a number of new student leaders to run the organization, and has expanded to the University of Rochester, where two Banaa scholars are currently studying. Mo, a Darfuri student, and Sameer, from the Nuba Mountains region of Sudan, are both enriching our program with their studies and (Continued in page 3)

ABOVE: The kids who run Banaa at the Clinton Global Initiative

The Banaa Scholarship Fund

(Continued from page 2)

active involvement in student orgs on their campus and the diaspora movements of their people. Banaa is also expanding these efforts starting with two exciting developments this year: the addition of a new scholar at both GW and Rochester this fall, and a summer summit for all of the current scholars. We are eagerly waiting to find out who the next scholars will be, among them we expect to welcome the first female Banaa scholar. We look forward to meeting the two newest scholars at our summer summit. The summer summit is a realization of one of Banaas original objectives of bringing scholars from diverse regions and ethnic groups within the two Sudans together. By gathering the scholars in DC for two weeks, they will be able to meet with NGO leaders, learn about life in the USA, and hone their storytelling and professional skills. It is our hope that they will come away with meaningful experiences from the workshops and events, and build valuable connections with each other, Banaa student leaders, and professionals in DC. There are dozens of progressive orgs on campus doing amazing things, but what makes Banaa special and unique is the ability to have a direct and tangible impact on the lives of real people who we would otherwise never get to meet. If you are interested in supporting our efforts to aid Sudan through education we urge you to get involved. Tell a friend at another university about the program and see if they are interested in bringing a Sudanese scholar to their campus. Email us or visit us at www.banaa.org. -Haley Aubuchon is currently a sophomore majoring in history and communication in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences. Brian Browne is currently a sophomore majoring in philosophy.

Kony 2012: A Call From Beyond Your Computer (Continued from

page 2)
Fierce debates abounded over Facebook. It didnt take long before major news networks were showing it. Everyone had an opinion - not always substantive, but they took a stance and stood by it. There are many points for and against this video. But this isnt about the actual video - its about what the video represents, and how we, as a new generation, respond to what we believe to be gross injustices. One of the big critiques of the 30 minute video is that it oversimplified the situation. And yes, the half an hour youtube video undoubtedly oversimplified the decades long conflict arising from hundreds of years of history. Because you cant get 100 million people to watch a two hour documentary on the conflicts in Africa. Its even impressive that many people watched a 30 minute video aimed at high school students, since most people seem to have trouble making through a music video. Invisible Children had to strike the balance between keeping people interested and imparting crucial information. And they are clearly good at the essence of what they do - marketing. It is because we wont pay attention to more, read article longer than half a page, and think 140 characters is the maximum character limit for all thoughts, that we are unaware and undereducated about conflicts like Kony. Everyone agrees Joseph Kony is the most despicable of human beings. There is no excuse or explanation in existence for what he is doing. I want him to be caught and brought to trial at the ICC. Not only would it bring him out of power, but it would also be a huge victory for the international court system.
But I do not believe this, or other major action on issues you feel passionately about, will happen by clicking share, like, or retweet. Social media has enabled great strides in communication and information sharing, no doubt, but it cannot be our main form of activism; not our only form of activism. Where we once took to the streets, we now take to Facebook. Conflicts are not ended via youtube, and this is no exception. So stop your internet rant, step away from your computer, and join the history books. -Liz Cox is a junior majoring in Economics

PICTURE ABOVE: Makwei, the first banaa scholar at GW

The Persisting Problems of Sudan (Continued from page 1)

The panel brought out the idea that many different marginalized groups struggle to make a place for themselves in Sudan, as seen in the secession of the South and agitation of groups in Darfur, South Kordofan, Blue Nile, and parts of eastern Sudan. All of these groups have a common enemy in the government of Khartoum but have been unable to join together to resist their marginalization. As South Sudan struggles to create a strong democracy, facing oil diversion by the North which claims authority over the Port of Sudan, arms flowing in from the North, and instances of inter-communal violence, the North also faces issues of Khartoums continued repression. The main ideas to consider from the discussion are the enormous challenges facing the fledgling nation of South Sudan, the continuous rhetoric of the international community versus the reality of impunity, and the fickle nature of attention that conflicts receive. Those of us outraged by the genocide in Darfur should once again feel angered by the current crisis in the Nuba Mountains; however, aside from recent coverage by Nicholas Kristof and Ann Curry, the suffering and violence appears to be met with silence. The issues are complex, and the road to solving the problems faced in both Sudan and South Sudan is a long one. But the discussion promoted by the panel and the media coverage of current, ongoing conflicts is an important one to have. The student movement against the genocide in Darfur must not be forgotten, and the challenges continuing to face Darfur, South Kordofan, Blue Nile, and the emerging government in South Sudan must not be lightly dismissed. This is the same old game that Khartoum always plays. It commits genocide against its people again and again and again. And its happening again today, and the international community is largely sitting and watching it happen, said Jennifer. The energy and outrage that swept the nation upon the outbreak of violence in Darfur needs to be channeled once again into positive actions to call attention to ongoing crises. Students and youth here and within Sudan are an important force in the fight to galvanize the necessary political will to address Omar Al Bashirs continuing decimation of his own population. -Lindsay Woods is currently a sophomore majoring in International Affairs, with a concentration in Conflict Resolution.

More Fair Trade at GW, Alta Gracia Apparel (Continued from page 1)
We call on George Washington University to match the proven success of our peer institutions by bringing $300,000 of Alta Gracia to the bookstore. Despite meetings with the bookstore manager and staff where workers from Alta Gracia were present, Folletts (the company that owns the George Washington University bookstore) has failed to increase orders of Alta Gracia. It is unacceptable to the student body to spend our university budget on less socially responsible brands. In 2010, the our university expressed, Were extremely proud to be part of this monumental launch in an article in the GW Hatchet, which explained Alta Gracia apparel would be sold in the George Washington University Bookstore. However, Alta Gracia clothing is hard to notice in the bookstore because most of the clothing is currently out of stock and hidden on displays in the back of the bookstore. However, we call on the bookstore to increase wholesale orders of Alta Gracia apparel and sell the apparel where its signs are prominent and the racks displaying its t-shirts and hoodies are easily located to commensurate the brands centrality to the universitys values and mission. Its promotion should exceed the space and signage given to other mainstream brands. With the availability of a product such as Alta Gracia, which is superior to all brands in its embodiment of the universitys values, equal or superior in quality, and competitive in wholesale price, its hard to understand why it hasnt been made more readily accessible to students.

The sustainability and success of this uplifting new business model and the hope for a better future for garment workers around the world rests in our hands. We as consumers must create a larger demand for Alta Gracia. We know Alta Gracia will sell well at George Washington University. Not only will it sell well, but also it will show the community how the Colonials are leading the way, locally and globally, with social responsibility.
As students, it is our responsibility to demand the bookstore stock its shelves with Alta Gracia apparel. The sooner Alta Gracia is readily accessible at George Washington University, the faster well prove a just factory model is not only possible, but successful and the faster we can transform the entire apparel industry to mirror the standards of Alta Gracia, benefitting workers and communities in all parts of the world to create a just global economy. -Tiffany Finck-Haynes is a senior majoring in International Affairs.

ABOVE: The Alta Gracia Team at the Bookstore

Conflict Minerals: A Call to Action and a Rally to Remember

By Lindsay Woods
What do we want? Peace. Where do we want it? Congo. When do we want it? NOW. Voices rang out in the streets of Washington DC as students, activists, and NGOs came together on November 21 to march in solidarity with the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The energy was palpable, as voices, drum beats, and the sound of blowing whistles blended together in a symphony of support for the Congolese people, only growing louder as the group stopped in McPherson Square and at the White House. Here in the United States, we had the right to exercise free speech and assembly, as the people of the DRC awaited elections on November 28 and feared political violence. It is time for the current administration and all future administrations to know that there is a movement and constituency that feels Project, Falling Whistles, and Friends of Congo spoke and joined together in the common goal of raising awareness and support for the cause. We heard testimony from a former child soldier, who has experienced the intense suffering associated with armed conflict, and who stressed the fact that although we are seemingly a world away, we are all the people of the Congo. We are all one people. We can no longer allow the blatant exploitation and degradation of the DRC, which in reality should be one of the richest nations in the world. The natural treasures and resources should benefit the people of the Congo rather than perpetuate their unending suffering. We heard from Falling Whistles, who spoke about children too small to hold a gun sent to the front lines of war armed with only a whistle, a terrible reminder that has been appropriated as a symbol of peace and protest. Falling Whistles announced their Face Campaign, in which students and activists took pictures to put a face on the names of those who support peace in the Congo, and then sent them directly to the White House. The Enough Projects Raise Hope for Congo had us text the word Congo to 30644 to join their mobile action network. Above all, we raised our voices to all who would listen. Political will does exist to end the rape and mass atrocities occurring on a daily basis, and we will not be silenced. The rally was the culmination of months of planning and outreach, but it was only the beginning. While it has been several months since our Peace for Congo Rally, we are still actively engaged on
-Lindsay Woods is currently a sophomore majoring in International Affairs, with a concentration in Conflict Resolution.

the issues. GW STAND along with other student groups are looking to begin the organization of our Campus Free Conflict Initiative in partnership with the Enough Pojects Raise Hope For Congo Campaign. Please email us at gwstand@gmail.com for more information or to learn how you can get involved. Do your part to become a part of the movement. Make good of the electronics upon which we are so dependent but which fuel such violence, research this conflict and research actions you can take to become involved. And then use social media to spread the word to others. There are many resources available: Raise Hope for Congo and Falling Whistles have web sites with a wealth of information and suggested actions

compassion for those who are dying, being raped, and being forcefully displaced because of the conflict in the DRC, which is funded and fueled by the exploitation of conflict minerals. We can no longer turn a blind eye to the fact that our electronics contain minerals which directly contribute to such suffering, and in November we made that very clear. Together with students from schools in the DC area, along with activists from organizations such as Raise Hope for Congo of the Enough

Why We Are Writing To You

Greetings, Everyone knows that students at the George Washington University are politically active. Even if you arent a political science wonk youve probably attended one of the big name speaker events hosted by the College Democrats or College Republicans. Or maybe youve been at a frat party when a health care debate breaks out. This newsletter serves as a reminder that political activism comes in all shapes and sizes and shouldnt be contained in the realm the dorm room or mainstream politics. Debate can only get us so far, there comes a time when we must begin making moves. There are many student groups at GWU doing amazing advocacy work on campus and all across the city that GW STAND is proud to be part of. GW STAND was created as a part of the student movement response to the genocide in Darfur which began in the 2003. Since then, STAND has expanded the conflict regions it addresses by standing in solidarity with the people of South Sudan, D.R. Congo and Burma. We are always looking for new ways to advocate and to strengthen our efforts. This year GW STAND has connected and worked with many NGOs and activists through the DC area from Sudanese artists to OccupyDC. Building these personal relationships with other DC students, NGO leaders, and Sudanese and Congolese diaspora members has been the most rewarding experience in building our activist network this year. Face-to-face advocacy is still considered the most effective and even in the age of politics going viral this important aspect cannot be forgotten. We hope you talk about these issues presented in this newsletter and share it with your friends, spurring a discussion. While I would love for you to come out to our events next year, join GW STAND, and become the next leaders of the student anti-genocide movement that is not why we are writing to you. We hope you read the following articles and see what a small group of dedicated activists have been able to accomplish in one short year. We hope you take away that making a difference in the cause you believe in doesnt have to start after graduation. We urge you to take up a megaphone (hey, you can even borrow ours!) and join the movement which inspires you the most whether it be about stopping the Keystone XL pipeline, immigration reform, freeing political prisoners in the U.S. or human rights in Burma. Your voice matters. Use it. IN SOLIDARITY, GW STAND