This week’s highlights: the security situation in Darfur , UN frustrations with Burma, rebel offensives in Congo, and more…

Sudan:

When you fast for civilian protection on December 3rd, you won’t be alone.  Check out these celebrities joining you in your STANDFast:

-Mia Farrow, Actress and Activist

-Samantha Power, Author and Founder of the Carr Centre for Human rights

-John Prendergast, former Clinton Advisor and founder of ENOUGH

-Nick Kristof, New York Times Columnist

-Jerry Fowler, President of the Save Darfur Coalition

Registration may be closed for STAND Out Loud, the National Student Conference 2008, but that doesn’t mean you’re left out.

Keep an eye out for more info on Chapter Retreats occurring in states around the country early in the Spring semester, and get in touch with your Outreach Coordinator on other ways to learn the activist tools we’re going over at the National Conference.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon released a report covering Dafur from January, 2008 until the present – the highlights of which are below:

Security and Humanitarian Situation

What will you give up on December 3rd?

Now that chapters are planning their STANDFasts, we’ve got the tools to help you make STANDFast the best it can be.  Check out the STANDFast site here for tips on fundraising, getting media attention, involving local celebrities, and more.

Fighting between the Ethiopian-backed Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and Islamist insurgents and nationalists continues to rage on in Somalia. Throughout the last month over 61,000 people have been displaced by fighting the war-torn country, including 5,500 people uprooted from the capital Mogadishu over the past week. In addition to the displaced, 80 civilians have reportedly been killed and hundreds more wounded.

Darfur:

The United Nations issued a statement saying that recent violence in North Darfur may be responsible for the displacement of more than 40,000 civilians. Sudan denies this.

STAND Out Loud, the 2008 National Student Conference, is just around the corner! Unfortuntately, the conference venue can only fit 400 student leaders, and registration is filling up quickly.

Remember, your spot at the conference isn’t reserved until you pay your registration fee, so get it in quickly to make sure that you don’t miss out on all that STAND Out Loud has to offer!

Fears that recent fighting in eastern DRC would spark a return to regional war appear likely to be realized, as longstanding animosity between DRC and Rwanda resurfaced this week in a major way.

On GW’s campus just a few weeks ago, 5 former secretaries of state – James Baker, Madeline Albright, Warren Christopher, Henry Kissinger, and Colin Powell – were interviewed by Christiane Amanpour and Frank Sesno. The group discussed many different global challenges, including Darfur.

The most important quote of the video? Christiane Amanpour’s shout-out to STAND: “Many, many people on campuses all over the United States have distinguished themselves by creating a grassroots movement for Darfur.”