TAG Summer Updates
Wednesday, June 25th , 2008
UVM STAND MONTHLY
SUMMER TAG UPDATE (3)
ATTENTION: UVM STAND MEMBERS
Greetings to all!
It has been six weeks since our summer began, and only nine weeks remain until we are all reunited. While work has occupied a great deal of time, Vermont STILT (Summer TAG Independent Launch Team) members continue to work diligently, making sure all Vermonters learn of the greatest failure of mankind…genocide. Recently, tensions resurfaced between armies from the North and South, when the city of Abyei in central Sudan was obliterated on the 14th of May. This oil-rich region was bombarded with heavy gun fire and bombings by Northern troops, leaving death and destruction in their wake. As a result of the attack, thousands were forced to flee the area, adding to the millions of Sudanese already displaced and homeless. Many fear that the country is on the brink of civil war once again.1
In regards to the TAG campaign, we still have much to do. I have revised our model legislation to incorporate the steps leading up to genocide. It centralizes around issues of tolerance, prejudice, harassment, violence and human rights. By understanding the preceding stages of genocide, we are better prepared to combat it. 2
I’d like to welcome back Elizabeth “Libby” Landis. Most of you have not met Libby, but she just returned from a year in Europe and was one of the first members of UVM STAND in 2006. I’m excited to say that she will be joining our team here over the summer, along with Alana Oudeker who will take the place of Lauren Migliaccio who has left for Europe. Because I am so grateful for their efforts, Summer TAG members will be receiving personalized shirts.
In the upcoming weeks, we will launch the ETC Campaign. The Every Town and City campaign is an idea I devised with the help of several legislators, particularly Representative Jason Lorber of Burlington. The goal of ETC is to visit and petition in every town and city in Vermont. Once we have reached our signature goal for each town, we will send the signatures to the towns’ representatives.3
Presently, one of our main priorities (aside from legislative meetings, petitioning and surveying) is assuring that Vermont educators will support the campaign. Friday, I have a meeting with Rich Wise from South Burlington High School. Rich is also one of the leading members of the Vermont Educators Association (VEA), which is comprised of 11,500 teachers. This is an important meeting because Rich may be crucial to the success of this campaign. As a friend and colleague of our ally Principle Burke, I am very optimistic that I will be successful in gaining his full support. With the help of Rich Wise, I will have a direct link to the VEA, and can establish widespread support there.4
Today, STILT members traveled to Putney, VT (near Brattleboro) to meet with state representatives Mike Mrowicki, Sarah Edwards and Virginia Milkey to discuss sponsorship as well as ideas for the bill. Also joining us was Amelia Struthers (a teacher from Putney) and Katherine Nolan (High School Outreach Coordinator for Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts) from Brattleboro High School. We discussed several important issues, including the idea of starting with a legislative resolution and building from there, as well as getting involved with Peace Jam.8 All were very supportive. Katherine will be petitioning for us over the next few months before going off for her freshman year at Wellesley College.
Upcoming meetings of importance include:
Thursday, June 26th: Rep Scheuermann (in Burlington, VT)
Thursday, June 26th: Rep Minter (in Waterbury, VT)
Thursday, July 3rd: Rep Heath (in Essex, VT)
Monday, July 21st: Speaker Gaye Symington (in Burlington, VT)
Tuesday, July 29th: Rep Obuchowski (in Montpelier, VT)
Lastly, on the weekend of July 26th/27th, UVM STAND members will be traveling to Brattleboro to take part in a large fundraising event for the Jon Dau Foundation for Lost Boys.5 If the name sounds familiar, it is because Jon Dau was one of the lost boys featured in the film “God Grew Tired of Us”. We will be bringing Achier Mou, Atem Deng, and Deng Adit down with us so that they can also share their stories. This two day event will include music, storytelling, fundraising and showings of God Grew Tired of Us (along with some strategic petitioning).
WHERE EVERYONE IS AT…
*Michelle Farley from Austin, TX has stepped down as the policy director for TAG National, but someone will soon be assigned to continue her work on a Strategic Plan for our state.
*Matthew Heck from Wichita, KS has begun work on the Vermont TAG website. He recently finished running a marathon for Darfur called, “Never Ignore, Never Forget”.
*Patrice Hutton from Johns Hopkins University is preparing to take over as the Director of the TAG National Campaign.
*Chris Fries will be traveling to Minnesota from July 9-14 to visit family, but will attempt to contact STAND members in the Minneapolis region while he is there.
*Scott Warren and Colin O’brien are taking Africa by storm, and are currently visiting the refugee camps on the Chad/Sudan border.
*Greg Kuo in South Lyme, CT continues his great work as TAG National outreach coordinator and still plans to join the military in August
*Will McKeen and Josh Groll have just launched the North Carolina TAG campaign
Respectfully Yours,
Christopher J. Fries
Links:
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1. Abyei Story (May 30th)
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1810...
2. Revised VT TAG Legislation (June 23rd)
Teaching Tolerance Through Social Studies: An Act To Establish Human Rights and Genocide Education in Vermont Schools
3. ETC Campaign
Every Town and City Petition Template
4. Vermont Educators Petition
Vermont Educators For Human Rights and Genocide Education
5. Jon Dau Foundation Fundraiser (July 26-27)
Schedule of Events
6. What is currently happening on the ground in Darfur? (June 20th)
MSNBC Article
7. What can you do over the summer?
STAND Action Pack
8. Peace Jam
http://www.peacejam.org/
