Congo Action Now
November 28, 2010 Meeting Notes
Present: Samba Halkose, Kelley Ready, Antonieta Gimena, Suzanne Bas Davis, David Amis, Pat Aron
Samba hosted this month’s meeting at the Manchester Multicultural Center. We started with a wonderful soup provided by Samba and finished off with some tasty desserts that I, Kelley, brought.
November 28, 2010 Meeting Notes
Present: Samba Halkose, Kelley Ready, Antonieta Gimena, Suzanne Bas Davis, David Amis, Pat Aron
Samba hosted this month’s meeting at the Manchester Multicultural Center. We started with a wonderful soup provided by Samba and finished off with some tasty desserts that I, Kelley, brought.
- Pat reviewed the handout on “Actions to Take” for distribution at Ruined
- Antonieta will look for a website with info on the general background and the sexual violence
- We will suggest that people go to Enough website and sign the pledge concerning conflict minerals and cellphones
- That they go to our site for
- Letter on IVAW
- Letter on Public Law 109-456?
- We should all review the law and decide if this is what we want to endorse – send comments around by Monday, 12/6.
- If we agree it is, Kelley and Antonieta will compose a letter to be put on the website by Suzanne
- Suzanne will set up a Ruined section on our website
- If Huntington will provide information on other groups involved in discussions, Kelley will arrange meeting
- Policy
- Kelley suggested that there are two approaches to what is happening in the Congo
- The conflict minerals approach of Enough
- While the legislation on conflict minerals was attached to the financial reform bill which was approved, there is still the need to ensure it is getting implemented and that the electronic companies are forced to comply with it.
- Regional conflict perspective of Friends of the Congo and Dear Hillary Campaign.
- Would this be exemplified by the DRC Relief, Security and Democracy Promotion Act {Public Law 109-456)?
- Sees conflict as regional i.e. it is not just about the Congo but must also address the intrusions of neighboring counties, Burundi, Angola, and, especially Rwanda.
- Get the foreign armies out and strengthen the capacity of Rwandan police and army
- Also see “Peace Strategy for the DRC” handout
- Updates
- Status of Dear Hillary Campaign
- Successful in that they have obtained a meeting with representative of Secretary of State Clinton
- Kelley and Antonieta are considering going and will get in touch with the women at the campaign – will emphasize need for other counties to stop supporting warring groups
- Conflict Minerals Bill
- Tacked onto the financial reform bill which passed
- IVAW Act will need to be reintroduced in the new session
- UN Women
- Includes some women from DRC
- Website training
- Susanne and Pat were trained by Coleen (who moved today) :
- Final decision on t-shirts
- Will get enough black ones from VistaPrint for Ruined- Pat will get final price and let people know
- AG will work on design, see about getting picture from Laurie of the Dear Hillary Campaign
- Next meetings
- Jan 7 attend the play at 8
- Jan 8 1-3 at Pat’s to discuss Ruined
- Feb. 5 1-3 at Kelley’s for potluck (if Peggy and Antonieta are still doing a discussion on this date, let’s change meeting date)