Tents of Hope--San Antonio

Tents of Hope is a one-year campaign in which people respond as communities to the crisis in Darfur, Sudan by creating tents that are both unique works of art and focal points for learning about, assisting and establishing relationships with the people of Sudan. Congregations, schools, and civic groups are painting tents to create awareness about Darfur and to raise funds for humanitarian relief. The project will cumulate in October 2008 with the “Gathering of the Tents” in Washington D.C. www.tentsofhope.org

Tents of Hope—San Antonio

Our goal in San Antonio is to have schools, organizations, businesses, families, and groups decorate refugee tents with images of hope, loss, freedom, and humanity. Once completed, these tents will be used as fundraising points and places of education. Before the “San Antonio” tents go to Washington, D.C., we hope to have local exhibits featuring them.

How can you help? Tents of Hope has been offered an amazing deal: an 8 x 10 tent normally costs $800 to $900, but the manufacturer is selling them to project participants for $500, with a percentage of sales going back to the project.

Help Tents of Hope—San Antonio become one of the participating communities by sending $5, $10, $18, $100, $1,000 etc. This money will fund the purchase of tents, painting supplies, and educational materials, as well as paying the cost of sending the tents and a few community members to attend the final event in Washington, DC in October, 2008.

Make out your tax-deductible donations to: University Presbyterian Church-SAIDC. On the memo line, please write Tents of Hope. (Mail to UPC, 300 Bushnell, San Antonio, TX 78212.)

Please contact me if you are a member of an organization that would like to participate in Tents of Hope.

Sincerely,
Susan Smylie
Tents of Hope—San Antonio, Coordinator
saidc@earthlink.net

Ask the Candidates

Presidential Candidate Barack Obama will hold a rally in San Antonio
tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb 19. This is a chance to bring attention to
Darfur and to find out more about what Obama will do to help end the
genocide. Go to www.askthecandidates.org for more information on how
campaign stops are being used to help bring attention to the genocide
You will find sample questions you can use to Ask the Candidate.

Here is info on the Obama rally, along with a website to sign-up to
attend.

Stand for Change Town Hall with Barack Obama

La Plaza De Guadalupe
1327 Guadalupe Street
San Antonio, TX 78207

Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Doors Open: 12:00 p.m.

http://texas.barackobama.com/page/s/sanantonio

Dream for Darfur Torch Relay

The San Antonio Dream for Darfur Torch Relay, held Monday, Dec 3, sent a strong message to China that they need to hold up their promise of using the Olympics to help strengthen human rights. China needs to use its influence to help end the genocide in Darfur. See below for pictures from the event.

Dream for Darfur

China holds unrivaled influence with the genocidal regime in Sudan. As Beijing prepares to host the 2008 Olympics, join us in urging China to use its leverage to persuade the Sudanese government to allow a civilian protection force into Darfur.

Join us for the San Antonio Dream for Darfur Torch Run, part of the International Dream for Darfur program. The event will be held Monday, December 3rd, beginning at 11:45 AM with a torch lighting at the entrance to Hemisfair Park on Alamo Street. There will be a short torch relay through Hemisfair Park, ending at the UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures (ITC). Join us at noon under the flags in front of the ITC where we will hear from a number of survivors of genocide and Olympian Liza Hunter-Galvan, along with Express-News columnist Cary Clack.

Email SAIDC@earthlink.net for more info or to volunteer. Not a boycott!

TAKE ACTION!

1. Join a group working to stop genocide.
The San Antonio Interfaith Darfur Coalition (SAIDC) holds regular meetings and events to raise awareness and action to end the genocide. Join our email list from this page. Visit www.savedarfur.org for information about the national Save Darfur movement.

2. Contact your elected representatives.
Call 1-800 GENOCIDE to get legislative action alerts and contact your congress people to express your support for Darfur-related legislation. Go to www.genocideintervention.net or www.enoughproject.org for fact sheets and reports that help you understand the legislative issues.

3. Donate to humanitarian agencies operating in Darfur and Chad camps.
Please visit the International Medical Corps www.imcworldwide.org to learn more about their humanitarian work in Darfur and Chad.

4. Pressure China to end the violence in Darfur.
Dream for Darfur is organizing an Olympic Torch Relay from Darfur to Beijing and across the United States to galvanize public support around the world to exert pressure on China to stop the genocide in Darfur. Visit www.dreamfordarfur.org for more information. San Antonio event: December 3, 2007

5. Support the Sudan Divestment Movement.
Sudan relies heavily on foreign investment to fund its genocidal activity. Join the international movement to put economic pressure on the Sudanese government by divesting from companies that fund the Sudanese government’s military activities. Visit www.sudandivestment.org for more information.

6. Raise Awareness.
Small actions can make a big difference. Talk to people about what is happening in Darfur, have a dinner for Darfur (ask for donations for humanitarian aid), show the movie Hotel Rwanda, download resources from the internet and hand them out. Read the book Not on Our Watch by Don Cheadle and John Prendergast for more ideas. Be a voice for the people of Darfur.

San Antonio Darfur Events

There are numerous Darfur related events coming up in the next two weeks in San Antonio. Please be sure to attend some to learn more about what is happening and what you can do. Most events will provide an opportunity for you to take action. Look in the Upcoming Events section of this page to see details. Don't be a bystander to genocide. Let the people of Darfur know they are remembered.

Pillow Talk

I am not one of the two million who have died, and neither are you.

I have witnessed so many deaths, but I am here to look you in the eye.

What do you see? What do I see?

My eyes are for seeing, I cannot turn away.

I look onto a world overflowing misery and pain, but I will not blink.

My view is timeless, I am here in the past, in the present, forever.

I look out as the winds of change bring new conquerors.

Always tracking in blood and destruction.

Who will witness when I am gone? Where is my legacy?

Tell the world to see us, to be with us for one hour.

Peek out behind half-closed lids, take in what you can and leave the rest.

I will stare truth in the eye for you, so that you may sleep for me.

Rosalyn Falcon Collier
August 4, 2007
Reflection on Darfur Photo Exhibit:
Looking Genocide in the Eye
at Viva! Art Gallery