Congo Action Now
Democratic Republic of Congo Committee
June 26, 2011
Present: Samba Halkose, Kelley Ready, Jackie Fletcher, Pat Aron
Congo Action Now met on June 26, 2011 at Samba’s house in Manchester, New Hampshire. Thanks to Samba for welcoming us to her home. We enjoyed a delicious potluck lunch, then we began the meeting with check-ins.
We discussed the house party possibilities from the Ruined and following presentations. When Pat sent a welcoming email to those who signed up at the NASW presentation, she included the house party guidelines. No one has responded, so we decided to contact those who had expressed interest in hosting a house party. Pat will send out contact information – each of us at the meeting today will contact two people. Pat will send the guidelines to Jackie and Samba.
Kelley met with Meg Campbell of the Codman Academy to discuss their desire for Congo Action Now to work with students and involve them in social justice issues. There are three forms this work might take: a social justice club that would meet for half an hour weekly, a Saturday activity, or an activity during school vacation. Kelley is talking with Brandeis and Dorchester People for Peace about the possibility of them collaborating with CAN to work with the Academy.
We are continuing to try to locate activist groups in the Atlanta area that are working on the DRC to coordinate with the Horizon Theatre’s production of the play Ruined. Pat found that there is no WILPF branch in Atlanta but she did identify contacts for Code Pink and WAND. Peggy located other contacts including Charis, the feminist bookstore in Atlanta. Suzanne will contact these groups and will send them our “Five Things You Can Do” flyer. Kelley will contact a theatre in Philadelphia that will be producing Ruined.
Kelley and Pat reported on their May 24 presentation to the National Association of Social Workers’ Global Issues Group. Approximately fifteen people attended and there was a lot of discussion with many questions.
The group presented a check to Samba for the U.S.-Congolese for Unity, Peace and Development to send to VICO. These funds were collected from donations at house parties and presentations. U.S.-Congolese will be meeting on July 10. Samba will contact VICO to ask if the organization would like proposal-writing assistance from Sonia (our new volunteer).
Coleen has identified an excellent video in the Women on the Front Line series that focuses on the war and sexual violence in the DRC. The 22-minute video is less shocking than the film we have been showing at house parties and presentations (The Greatest Silence). It covers the same information and the length would work well. We were happy to see that VICO Director Wilhelmine Ntakebuka is in the video. The group decided to start using this film if Coleen is able to locate it on DVD.
Samba discussed the current situation in the eastern DRC with the elections approaching. The Congolese government has asked that the UN peacekeeping force be withdrawn. The fighting and sexual violence are still out of control. There was just a report of 100 women having been raped in a village in South Kivu. This request may be related to President Kabila’s desire for continued chaos in the country so that he can control the elections.
Kelley reported on proposed state Congo conflict minerals legislation. The bill would prohibit the state from contracting with companies that don’t comply with federal Congo conflict minerals regulations. She has been in touch with Rep. Marty Walsh’s office and has sent him materials on the bill that is being considered in California. He is interested in sponsoring a bill – great news. Kelley will call his office to schedule a meeting to discuss the situation in the DRC and the proposed bill.
Kelley called Sen. Kerry’s office to ask about the current status of the International Violence Against Women Act. She received a call from the Counsel to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The bill will not be re-introduced this year. It is thought that the bill could not pass the House Republican majority. Also, a number of anti-choice groups are opposing the bill and would insist on anti-choice amendments. The Counsel said that USAID now has a very good gender advisor (Carla Capella) and that the agency is now implementing the provisions of the IVAWA. We discussed scheduling a meeting with Sen. Brown, presenting our IVAWA petition to him, and asking what he will do to end violence against women. Kelley will contact the Anti-Violence Against Women Coalition to ask for their suggestions for the meeting.
Pat brought up the possibility of organizing a technology working group. The group would first address the CAN website, Facebook, email lists, and photos, then look at broader communication and outreach needs. Coleen, Kate, and Sonia are interested in working on the group. The response to setting up the group was positive - Pat will call Coleen to ask if she will chair it.
Pat provided information on six people who have recently contacted Congo Action Now to express interest in joining, volunteering, or maintaining contact. She has been emailing and talking with people as well as inviting them to meetings. We decided to adopt a “buddy system” to incorporate new people into our on-going work. Pat will meet with Sonia (interest in organizational development, proposal writing, etc.) and Cathy. Kelley will call Casey (interest in conflict minerals, etc.) and involve her in working on the state conflict minerals bill. Pat has been in touch with Emmanuel at Boston College; Kelley would like to read the journal of the BC Congo group – Pat will send the link to her.
CAN’s goals for this year have been evolving as we continue to respond to events (Ruined and state legislation possibilities). In July, we will review the proposed 2011 Plan. Suzanne will then add the plan to our website.
Pat announced that Anne Serafin will be offering a class on her anthology “African Women Writing Resistance” in Newton in October. Anne will send us additional information.
The next meeting of Congo Action Now will be at 3:00 on Sunday, July 24, at Pat’s house in Jamaica Plain.
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
Democratic Republic of Congo Committee
June 26, 2011
Present: Samba Halkose, Kelley Ready, Jackie Fletcher, Pat Aron
Congo Action Now met on June 26, 2011 at Samba’s house in Manchester, New Hampshire. Thanks to Samba for welcoming us to her home. We enjoyed a delicious potluck lunch, then we began the meeting with check-ins.
We discussed the house party possibilities from the Ruined and following presentations. When Pat sent a welcoming email to those who signed up at the NASW presentation, she included the house party guidelines. No one has responded, so we decided to contact those who had expressed interest in hosting a house party. Pat will send out contact information – each of us at the meeting today will contact two people. Pat will send the guidelines to Jackie and Samba.
Kelley met with Meg Campbell of the Codman Academy to discuss their desire for Congo Action Now to work with students and involve them in social justice issues. There are three forms this work might take: a social justice club that would meet for half an hour weekly, a Saturday activity, or an activity during school vacation. Kelley is talking with Brandeis and Dorchester People for Peace about the possibility of them collaborating with CAN to work with the Academy.
We are continuing to try to locate activist groups in the Atlanta area that are working on the DRC to coordinate with the Horizon Theatre’s production of the play Ruined. Pat found that there is no WILPF branch in Atlanta but she did identify contacts for Code Pink and WAND. Peggy located other contacts including Charis, the feminist bookstore in Atlanta. Suzanne will contact these groups and will send them our “Five Things You Can Do” flyer. Kelley will contact a theatre in Philadelphia that will be producing Ruined.
Kelley and Pat reported on their May 24 presentation to the National Association of Social Workers’ Global Issues Group. Approximately fifteen people attended and there was a lot of discussion with many questions.
The group presented a check to Samba for the U.S.-Congolese for Unity, Peace and Development to send to VICO. These funds were collected from donations at house parties and presentations. U.S.-Congolese will be meeting on July 10. Samba will contact VICO to ask if the organization would like proposal-writing assistance from Sonia (our new volunteer).
Coleen has identified an excellent video in the Women on the Front Line series that focuses on the war and sexual violence in the DRC. The 22-minute video is less shocking than the film we have been showing at house parties and presentations (The Greatest Silence). It covers the same information and the length would work well. We were happy to see that VICO Director Wilhelmine Ntakebuka is in the video. The group decided to start using this film if Coleen is able to locate it on DVD.
Samba discussed the current situation in the eastern DRC with the elections approaching. The Congolese government has asked that the UN peacekeeping force be withdrawn. The fighting and sexual violence are still out of control. There was just a report of 100 women having been raped in a village in South Kivu. This request may be related to President Kabila’s desire for continued chaos in the country so that he can control the elections.
Kelley reported on proposed state Congo conflict minerals legislation. The bill would prohibit the state from contracting with companies that don’t comply with federal Congo conflict minerals regulations. She has been in touch with Rep. Marty Walsh’s office and has sent him materials on the bill that is being considered in California. He is interested in sponsoring a bill – great news. Kelley will call his office to schedule a meeting to discuss the situation in the DRC and the proposed bill.
Kelley called Sen. Kerry’s office to ask about the current status of the International Violence Against Women Act. She received a call from the Counsel to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The bill will not be re-introduced this year. It is thought that the bill could not pass the House Republican majority. Also, a number of anti-choice groups are opposing the bill and would insist on anti-choice amendments. The Counsel said that USAID now has a very good gender advisor (Carla Capella) and that the agency is now implementing the provisions of the IVAWA. We discussed scheduling a meeting with Sen. Brown, presenting our IVAWA petition to him, and asking what he will do to end violence against women. Kelley will contact the Anti-Violence Against Women Coalition to ask for their suggestions for the meeting.
Pat brought up the possibility of organizing a technology working group. The group would first address the CAN website, Facebook, email lists, and photos, then look at broader communication and outreach needs. Coleen, Kate, and Sonia are interested in working on the group. The response to setting up the group was positive - Pat will call Coleen to ask if she will chair it.
Pat provided information on six people who have recently contacted Congo Action Now to express interest in joining, volunteering, or maintaining contact. She has been emailing and talking with people as well as inviting them to meetings. We decided to adopt a “buddy system” to incorporate new people into our on-going work. Pat will meet with Sonia (interest in organizational development, proposal writing, etc.) and Cathy. Kelley will call Casey (interest in conflict minerals, etc.) and involve her in working on the state conflict minerals bill. Pat has been in touch with Emmanuel at Boston College; Kelley would like to read the journal of the BC Congo group – Pat will send the link to her.
CAN’s goals for this year have been evolving as we continue to respond to events (Ruined and state legislation possibilities). In July, we will review the proposed 2011 Plan. Suzanne will then add the plan to our website.
Pat announced that Anne Serafin will be offering a class on her anthology “African Women Writing Resistance” in Newton in October. Anne will send us additional information.
The next meeting of Congo Action Now will be at 3:00 on Sunday, July 24, at Pat’s house in Jamaica Plain.
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom