August 2010 Notes
Congo Action Now
Democratic Republic of Congo Committee
August 15, 2010
Present: Coleen Houlihan, Antonieta Gimeno, Peggy Barrett, Marie-Ange Bunga, Moni Haji Mkanga, Pat Aron
Congo Action Now held an enthusiastic meeting on August 15, 2010. The meeting began with check-ins. A number of CAN members were absent because of work, school, or family demands. Coleen recommended the HBO film “Sometime In April” that was set during the Rwandan genocide.
The group first reviewed our list of suggested 2010 activities. The possible vigil sites we have identified are Quincy, Somerville, and Jamaica Plain. We may decide to have our next house party in October (as part of the Dear Hillary Campaign). CAN continues to actively support legislation. We have not yet gotten information on whether the Boston City Council might consider passing a resolution on the war and sexual violence in the DRC. Moni will contact Councillor Pressley to discuss this possibility. Antonieta suggested that Councillor Arroyo would also be a good person to contact. Peggy will look into the role of the aldermen in Somerville and whether they might consider a resolution.
We were happy to welcome Marie-Ange and Moni from the Harvard Congo Initiative. This group was organized at the Kennedy School of Government last year - it has been very active and has sponsored numerous events including a forum that attracted a large number of students and others. The group is planning a series of events for Congo Week III in October, possibly a movie and panel. Coleen suggested that the initiative look into a presentation of Ruined. The group is also considering planning a demonstration (possibly at City Hall Plaza) and it is working to identify people in the media who might be interested in covering the events. Moni suggested the Haley House as a possible location for events – it supports progressive causes. Congo Action Now signed on as a co-sponsor of the Congo Week activities. The initiative will let us know as planning proceeds.
Pat provided information on the Dear Hillary for the Congo Campaign. She spoke with the organizer who is hoping that people in every state will hold an event on October 26 (Secretary Clinton’s birthday). The goal is to generate 10,000 postcards and 10,000 electronic messages to urge Secretary Clinton to try to make a diplomatic solution to the crisis in the DRC a priority of U.S. foreign policy. Congo Action Now will register as a participant. We discussed ways of distributing postcards before Oct. 26 (especially at the Congo Week events) so they can be mailed on 10/27. CAN will request 200 postcards and the Harvard Congo Initiative will request 800.
The group discussed the next step in the Congo conflict minerals legislative effort. The conflict minerals language in the Financial Services bill requires electronics companies to identify conflict minerals from the DRC that are used in their products. It is still unclear if the House and Senate bills will proceed. The Enough Project is urging people to contact the 21 largest electronics companies and to commit to buying conflict-free products. The Enough website provides a message with a link to all 21 companies.
CAN is continuing to send letters urging senators and representatives to co-sponsor the International Violence Against Women Act. We are also collecting signatures on a petition addressed to Sen. Brown. Coleen will email the petition to Antonieta so she can send it to groups she’s involved with (including the Women of Color Network). Pat had information that Jane Doe has had contact with Sen. Brown about the I-VAWA. Antonieta will contact Jane Doe to ask about their efforts. The question was raised of whether the act’s mandates will be funded - Moni and Antonieta will look into funding.
Antonieta suggested that the Congressional Black Caucus might take the lead in focusing U. S. attention on the DRC - she’ll look into its work on Africa. Moni provided information on other government contacts – Rep. Donald Payne of N.J. (chair of Africa and Global Hunger subcommittee of House Foreign Affairs Committee) and Assistant Secretary of State Johnny Carson (head of Africa division).
Pat and Coleen reported on CAN’s participation in the Boston African Festival on July 17. Many people came by our booth. Coleen had brought lots of materials about the DRC that were distributed, and we collected the names of around twenty people who wanted more information. Pat has emailed everyone who signed up and will invite them to our next meeting. We also collected signatures on our I-VAW petition to Sen. Brown. Thanks to Coleen, Marie, Suzanne, Samba, and Pat for providing coverage.
We then began a discussion of several outreach and educational efforts that were suggested by Antonieta. Possible additions to our website were discussed (such as an Activities section with a Legislative sub-section that includes current and archived letters). We also began to consider developing a PowerPoint on the situation in the DRC that includes a positive cultural/artistic framework. We have usually focused only on the horrors of the country’s war and sexual violence.
Pat let us know that Linde Rachel from Ensemble pour les femmes will be in the U. S. and will join us for our September meeting. She has asked if there will be events during the period of Sept. 12 – 30 where she might sell Ensemble items – people will let Pat know if they hear of events.
The next meeting of Congo Action Now will be on Sunday, September 26, 2010, at 3:00 at Pat’s house in Jamaica Plain.
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
Democratic Republic of Congo Committee
August 15, 2010
Present: Coleen Houlihan, Antonieta Gimeno, Peggy Barrett, Marie-Ange Bunga, Moni Haji Mkanga, Pat Aron
Congo Action Now held an enthusiastic meeting on August 15, 2010. The meeting began with check-ins. A number of CAN members were absent because of work, school, or family demands. Coleen recommended the HBO film “Sometime In April” that was set during the Rwandan genocide.
The group first reviewed our list of suggested 2010 activities. The possible vigil sites we have identified are Quincy, Somerville, and Jamaica Plain. We may decide to have our next house party in October (as part of the Dear Hillary Campaign). CAN continues to actively support legislation. We have not yet gotten information on whether the Boston City Council might consider passing a resolution on the war and sexual violence in the DRC. Moni will contact Councillor Pressley to discuss this possibility. Antonieta suggested that Councillor Arroyo would also be a good person to contact. Peggy will look into the role of the aldermen in Somerville and whether they might consider a resolution.
We were happy to welcome Marie-Ange and Moni from the Harvard Congo Initiative. This group was organized at the Kennedy School of Government last year - it has been very active and has sponsored numerous events including a forum that attracted a large number of students and others. The group is planning a series of events for Congo Week III in October, possibly a movie and panel. Coleen suggested that the initiative look into a presentation of Ruined. The group is also considering planning a demonstration (possibly at City Hall Plaza) and it is working to identify people in the media who might be interested in covering the events. Moni suggested the Haley House as a possible location for events – it supports progressive causes. Congo Action Now signed on as a co-sponsor of the Congo Week activities. The initiative will let us know as planning proceeds.
Pat provided information on the Dear Hillary for the Congo Campaign. She spoke with the organizer who is hoping that people in every state will hold an event on October 26 (Secretary Clinton’s birthday). The goal is to generate 10,000 postcards and 10,000 electronic messages to urge Secretary Clinton to try to make a diplomatic solution to the crisis in the DRC a priority of U.S. foreign policy. Congo Action Now will register as a participant. We discussed ways of distributing postcards before Oct. 26 (especially at the Congo Week events) so they can be mailed on 10/27. CAN will request 200 postcards and the Harvard Congo Initiative will request 800.
The group discussed the next step in the Congo conflict minerals legislative effort. The conflict minerals language in the Financial Services bill requires electronics companies to identify conflict minerals from the DRC that are used in their products. It is still unclear if the House and Senate bills will proceed. The Enough Project is urging people to contact the 21 largest electronics companies and to commit to buying conflict-free products. The Enough website provides a message with a link to all 21 companies.
CAN is continuing to send letters urging senators and representatives to co-sponsor the International Violence Against Women Act. We are also collecting signatures on a petition addressed to Sen. Brown. Coleen will email the petition to Antonieta so she can send it to groups she’s involved with (including the Women of Color Network). Pat had information that Jane Doe has had contact with Sen. Brown about the I-VAWA. Antonieta will contact Jane Doe to ask about their efforts. The question was raised of whether the act’s mandates will be funded - Moni and Antonieta will look into funding.
Antonieta suggested that the Congressional Black Caucus might take the lead in focusing U. S. attention on the DRC - she’ll look into its work on Africa. Moni provided information on other government contacts – Rep. Donald Payne of N.J. (chair of Africa and Global Hunger subcommittee of House Foreign Affairs Committee) and Assistant Secretary of State Johnny Carson (head of Africa division).
Pat and Coleen reported on CAN’s participation in the Boston African Festival on July 17. Many people came by our booth. Coleen had brought lots of materials about the DRC that were distributed, and we collected the names of around twenty people who wanted more information. Pat has emailed everyone who signed up and will invite them to our next meeting. We also collected signatures on our I-VAW petition to Sen. Brown. Thanks to Coleen, Marie, Suzanne, Samba, and Pat for providing coverage.
We then began a discussion of several outreach and educational efforts that were suggested by Antonieta. Possible additions to our website were discussed (such as an Activities section with a Legislative sub-section that includes current and archived letters). We also began to consider developing a PowerPoint on the situation in the DRC that includes a positive cultural/artistic framework. We have usually focused only on the horrors of the country’s war and sexual violence.
Pat let us know that Linde Rachel from Ensemble pour les femmes will be in the U. S. and will join us for our September meeting. She has asked if there will be events during the period of Sept. 12 – 30 where she might sell Ensemble items – people will let Pat know if they hear of events.
The next meeting of Congo Action Now will be on Sunday, September 26, 2010, at 3:00 at Pat’s house in Jamaica Plain.
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom