Tuesday, June 13, 2006"None but ourselves can free our minds." Bob MarleyAs I mentioned last week in the newsletter, a UN team is still attempting to gain permission and support from the Sudanese Officials to allow UN Peace Keeping Troops in to the Darfur region. Like many, I am flustered and annoyed that the process takes such a long time, while the genocide continues. Please pray for all involved. As this point, I am still receiving e-mails from various organizations to send letters and petitions to our government about this matter. However, right now, the Sudanese officials are the ones holding up the peacekeeping efforts.
This past weekend was amazing. Although I was not able to attend all of the events, I attended several, meeting new people as well as connecting with familiar faces.
Photo credit: Bonnie N. DavisThe New England United Methodist Conference offered a FREE concert last Friday of the African University Choir! Several of us car-pooled to Gordon College so we could experience the group. The choir has over 100 members, and although only a dozen of the choir sang, their energy and talent amazed us. They performed songs from many parts of Africa as well as a traditional Spiritual. I was able to speak with one woman, Febby, and exchange e-mail addresses. I told her about the Millennium Campaign and NEIDEEP – I could see she was pleased that Americans are working to bring awareness of the conditions in Africa to others. She was also happy to see me wearing a white wristband – and I promised to send some to the choir! I learned that the UMC funded the Africa University in 1988 and their doors opened a few years later. Currently, about 1,300 students attend AU. They will be the future ministers, teachers and leaders in Africa. They give me such hope for the future of Africa. Education is key to making permanent changes and truly eradicating Extreme Poverty.
Photo credits: Bonnie N. DavisWhile enjoying the concert, I was able to spend a few moments with Pete Weaver, Bishop of the New England Conference (pictured above). Like me, he was wearing his white wristband. He has now passed over the gavel – and “gravel” – of the President of the United Methodist Council of Bishops to another, instead of wearing two hats as he did the past two years. We discussed NEIDEEP’s plans for a fall conference and the importance of educating more youth about Extreme Poverty.
…and then on Saturday, I attended the second day of the 3-day program at Green Acre Baha’i School in Eliot, Maine on Race Unity. I was one of several members of the Seacoast NAACP and enjoyed the opportunity to connect with familiar faces outside of our monthly meetings. I also met several teenagers who were dynamic, funny and talented. Once again, my heart was filled with hope for the future. I enjoyed the conference in this beautiful, tranquil setting, and made several new connections with people who share my concern for global Extreme Poverty. I was delighted to see that Tod Ewing, one of the facilitators, came to the event wearing his white wristband!
That evening, there was a special Juneteenth celebration with a presentation by local students – a few of which attended the conference! They re-enacted events leading up to the Emancipation Proclamation and ended with a rap! As usual, the kids always touch my heart and I had tears in my eyes…
Sunday evening, I attended NH State Senator Martha Fuller Clark’s event at the Portsmouth Music Hall for the viewing of
Street Fight - this is a racially thought provoking movie about the 2002 run for mayor in Newark, NJ. Shortly after the movie started, I realized I had seen clips on TV about the movie and had forgotten the title… I found myself experiencing many intense emotions during the film. I had to keep reminding myself that this was a documentary and not fiction. I found it hard to believe that the events took place four years ago and not 40… I was stunned by the corruption of one candidate and how he slammed his opponent for being a well-educated, articulate man of color. Several times, I had to pull myself back from the edge of my seat as I wondered if an assassination would take place. I strongly suggest that you see this film!!!
You may wonder why I feel that these concerts, race conferences and events are important to eradicating Extreme Poverty… Perhaps you think I am getting off track. I assure you that is not the case. Once I learned about the conditions of Extreme Poverty in the developing nations and the MDG, I knew that working on this is what I am here to do – I cannot turn away knowing what I know. It is my passion, my purpose and my life. I strongly believe, as do many others in this fight, that racial injustice is a major factor in Extreme Poverty. Bono has said that we would not allow what is happening in Africa to occur in the UK or the US. One out of ten Africans with HIV/AIDS has access to antiretroviral drugs. One out of seven Asians has the same access. These drugs cost so little and there is no excuse for this injustice other than our inability to see everyone as our brothers and sisters. Millions of children are dying every year. Every year over 500,000 women die in childbirth. Over 400,000 have been slaughtered in Darfur. Until we allow ourselves, our friends, family and co-workers to truly see that we are ONE people, these conditions will continue. It is not a matter of “us” and “them” – it is a matter of all of the children of the earth as ONE – helping each other… It is a matter of our own humanity.
I ask you to wear your white wristband as a symbol to all that you stand up and speak for those whose voices are not heard in the global fight to end poverty.
Bonnie
|
NEIDEEP at 6:05 AM