ISSUE 1 2012 VOLUME 1

Activism After years of working under

exploitative factory conditions in the Free Trade

Zone in Villa Alta Gracia in the Dominican Republic, workers organized to create Alta Gracia,

a living-wage union-made model apparel factory

where they receive more than three and a

half times the local minimum wage and are able to adequately support their families with healthy

food, shelter, health care and education. Most

importantly, workers voices are valued through an

independent union and they are treated with dignity and respect in their workplace.

In the year and a half since Alta Gracia

opened its doors, it has made an incalculable

difference in the lives of the women and men who make the clothing, their families and their entire

community. Unlike other clothing brands

producing university apparel where workplace

standards do not comply with national and international labor laws, overtime is required,

severance pay is not granted, harassment and

sexual discrimination is a daily occurrence,

women are forced to take pregnancy tests and collective bargaining rights are denied, Alta Gracia

demonstrates that living-wages and unions are not

only possible in a thriving business – they are

profitable. In the past year, a large and growing coalition of

student groups at George Washington University

have united around their desire to see Alta Gracia

apparel sold in the GW bookstore. Although the bookstore currently sources minimal quantities of

Alta Gracia apparel, it is the only brand that

adequately implements all of the labor right

standards outlined in George Washington University’s mission statement.

As students, we want to see more Alta

Gracia in the George Washington University

bookstore. To date, Duke university has successfully sold more than $500,000 of Alta

Gracia, and other universities such as UCLA,

NYU, and the University of Washington are

seeing great success selling $300,000 worth of Alta Gracia.

(Continued on page 4)

The Persisting Problems of Sudan by Lindsay Woods Sudan is a country that has been wracked

by the effects of colonialism, civil war, and

genocide. Decades of civil war devastated the

country and ended with the Comprehensive Peace

Agreement of 2005, which promised a

referendum in which the southern portion of the

nation could vote to secede. The government

based in Khartoum has marginalized certain regions of the country, culminating in the well-

known genocide in Darfur beginning in 2003. At

the time, the killings in the Darfur region of

Sudan received international attention, spurring

an activist movement at the hands of students and

concerned individuals. It is our hope that this

newsletter focused on activism and social justice

will help galvanize thoughts and passionate responses to issues beyond the GW campus,

The momentum and extent of the

movement is admirable. Most people know that

there was a conflict in Darfur, and Colin Powell

even went as far as to label the conflict genocide.

However, though there may have been an

improvement in the situation, the crisis still goes

on, and people still continue to be displaced. The lack of political will of the international

community to take decisive action in Darfur does

not reflect the extent of rhetoric that surrounded

the movement. Doha Document for Peace in

Darfur, July 2011 was meant to bring peace to

Darfur, but the government of Sudan has largely

ignored its implementation and many armed groups were not parties to this agreement.

GW STAND, in conjunction with the

International Affairs society, held a panel

discussion on the current state of affairs in Sudan,

called “Sudan: Where Are We Now?” The

panelists included Jennifer Christian, Policy

Analyst at the Enough Project focusing on Sudan;

Hashim Mekki Hassan, a New York Life Scholar at the Colin Powell Center for Policy Studies

from 2008-2010 where he focused on numerous

policy issues; and Jimmy Mulla, founder and

President of Voices For Sudan.

Though the Darfur genocide received

international recognition, little has been said

about the current crisis facing the Nuba Mountain,

or South Kordofan, and Blue Nile regions, where bombings of civilians, food shortages, and a

prohibition of international aid organiations are

currently ravaging the population. The

government of Khartoum is continuing its age old

Stand Up For ForFor

Alta Gracia……………………………………….p1, 4

The Persisting Problems of Sudan……………p1, 4

The Banaa Scholarship Fund………………….p2, 3

Kony 2012: A Call Beyond Your Computer…..p2, 3

Peace for Congo Rally………………………….p5

prohibition of international aid organiations are

currently ravaging the population. The

government of Khartoum is continuing its age old

tactics of using starvation as a weapon and

attacking civilian populations. As stated by

Jennifer Christian, “… It’s difficult to get precise numbers… but the numbers that the UN is

reporting is approximately 400,000 civilians in

South Kordofan and Blue Nile who have been

internally displaced and/or severely affected by

the fighting. This is in addition to the tens of

thousands of civilians who have fled to the

neighboring states of South Sudan and Ethiopia,

and untold numbers who have died.” (Continued on page 4)

Alta Gracia by Tiffany Finck-haynes

PROMOTING INCREASED CONSCIOUSNESS OF GLOBAL ISSUES AND

STUDENT-LED ACTIVISM.

The Banaa Scholarship Fund

By Haley Aubuchon and Brian Browne

Progressive student groups

are almost always at the forefront

of social and political movements.

It’s great to see such passion and

energy from our fellow peers at

GW who are leading these efforts

and coming together to work

towards their goals. This

newsletter and others like it are a

great testament to students who

work tirelessly to achieve real

change and show those who doubt

us just how dedicated and

proactive we students can be.

Banaa itself is an example of how

taking action on our campus can

create unexpected opportunities

for extraordinary change.

In 2006, members of GW

STAND rallied for divestment

from GW’s economic

entanglements with perpetrators of

genocide in Sudan. They did not

achieve this goal, but their strong

efforts earned them a unique

opportunity: to set up a scholarship

at GW for a Sudanese student.

This is not at all what they were

hoping for, but the students

saw the scholarship as an

innovative way to bring peace to

Sudan. They founded the Banaa

program with the goal of educating

students from the most

marginalized regions of Sudan,

bringing scholars together to learn

leadership and peacebuilding skills

that they could then take home.

In Banaa’s first year we

received over 170 applications for

admission to

GW. Of all the applicants, a

young refugee named Makwei

stood out, becoming the first

Banaa scholar in 2008. Makwei

has accomplished so much in the

past four years. He has published

two books, interned at the US

Holocaust Memorial Museum

and the World Bank, and will

graduate this spring with a

double major in philosophy and

economics. We are so thrilled

about his success as a student,

knowing that he will take his

valuable insights home for the

betterment of his home nation.

Above all, we are happy to have

Makwei as a great friend, whose

experiences bring us a unique

glimpse into a culture and a

society that we otherwise never

would have been exposed to.

Following the program’s

initial success with Makwei,

Banaa remains committed to

making our scholarship program

sustainable for many years to

come. Since its founding, Banaa

has added and trained a number

of new student leaders to run the

organization, and has expanded

to the University of Rochester,

where two Banaa scholars are

currently studying. Mo, a Darfuri

student, and Sameer, from the

Nuba Mountains region of

Sudan, are both enriching our

program with their studies and

(Continued in page 3)

It can be strange to think

the present will become the past,

put into textbooks, studied,

remembered. The KONY 2012

video and campaign will likely be

a minor point, yet is a perfect focal

point for tension and emotion of

its time.

Both Joseph Kony and

Invisible Children were around

before this video took the internet

by storm. But KONY 2012, the

video produced by Invisible

Children, did not happen in a

vacuum. Far from it. These past

couple years have been turbulent,

and less than halfway through

2012, it’s looking to be no less rife

with conflict, tension, and

disappointment.

In 2008, the US financial

system collapsed and brought the

world’s down with it. By the time

President Obama stepped in with a

bailout, it was too late - the

damage had been done under

George W. Bush, when the bailout

was needed most but didn’t

happen. The economy in

shambles, the 2010 US

Congressional elections brought in

a new wave of ultra conservatives.

But low and behold, they didn’t

magically fix the economy

overnight either. 2011 saw protest

and revolution in the Middle East,

from Tunisia to Egypt to Libya. It

looked hopeful - everyone loves a

success story, and the world

needed one. But dictators cracked

down and despite the momentum,

the “Arab Spring” came to a halt.

Which brings us now, to

2012. Despite significant gains,

the economy is still suffering.

People who want to work can’t

find jobs with the 8%

unemployment rate. College

students, facing crushing debt, will

likely be underemployed, if

employed at all. Congress is

tearing itself apart. Elections

loom in November, and it’s

shaping to be an ugly fight.

And it’s not always easy to

find a beacon of hope outside

US borders. The Euro almost

collapsed (and still could), the

murder rate in Mexico

increase almost daily, and the

Congo has become the

deadliest conflict since WWII.

Needless to say, frustration is

mounting. Countries are

having a hard time keeping

themselves together, let alone

others. But people are not

oblivious to the suffering of

the rest of the world. Not only

can we not find jobs while

politicians debate the merits of

birth control, we read about

Assad massacring his own

people daily.

We have reached a

boiling point. We want to do

something, but no one has all

the answers to the ever

growing mountain of global

problems. So we sit, in class

and at work, horrified, at a

loss for solutions.

Then comes KONY

2012. A 30 minute video on

Joseph Kony, the LRA, and

child soldiers. But the video

doesn’t just describe the

situation - it offers action.

Action anyone can take. And

yes, the video advocates a

military intervention to

capture Kony - and I’m not

coming down on one side or

the other here - but it’s

something to do. A clear cut

answer.

And so the video

exploded. Garnering over 100

million views by the end of

March (the same month it was

uploaded), it sparked the

powder keg of frustration

mounting for several years.

People came down for or

against it.

(Continued on page 3)

KONY 2012: A CALL FROM BEYOND YOUR COMPUTER

By Liz Cox

ABOVE: The kids who run Banaa at the Clinton Global Initiative

active involvement in student orgs on their campus and the diaspora movements

of their people.

Banaa is also expanding these efforts starting with two exciting

developments this year: the addition of a new scholar at both GW and Rochester

this fall, and a summer summit for all of the current scholars. We are eagerly

waiting to find out who the next scholars will be, among them we expect to

welcome the first female Banaa scholar. We look forward to meeting the two

newest scholars at our summer summit.

The summer summit is a realization of one of Banaa’s original objectives of

bringing scholars from diverse regions and ethnic groups within the two Sudans

together. By gathering the scholars in DC for two weeks, they will be able to meet

with NGO leaders, learn about life in the USA, and hone their storytelling and

professional skills. It is our hope that they will come away with meaningful

experiences from the workshops and events, and build valuable connections with

each other, Banaa student leaders, and professionals in DC.

There are dozens of progressive orgs on campus doing amazing things, but

what makes Banaa special and unique is the ability to have a direct and tangible

impact on the lives of real people who we would otherwise never get to meet. If

you are interested in

supporting our efforts to aid Sudan through education we urge you to get

involved. Tell a friend at another university about the program and see if they are

interested in bringing

a Sudanese scholar to their campus. Email us or visit us at www.banaa.org.

-Haley Aubuchon is currently a sophomore majoring in history and

communication in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences. Brian Browne is

currently a sophomore majoring in philosophy.

Fierce debates abounded over Facebook. It didn’t take

long before major news networks were showing it.

Everyone had an opinion - not always substantive, but

they took a stance and stood by it.

There are many points for and against this

video. But this isn’t about the actual video - it’s about

what the video represents, and how we, as a new

generation, respond to what we believe to be gross

injustices. One of the big critiques of the 30 minute

video is that it oversimplified the situation. And yes,

the half an hour youtube video undoubtedly

oversimplified the decades long conflict arising from

hundreds of years of history. Because you can’t get

100 million people to watch a two hour documentary

on the conflicts in Africa. It’s even impressive that

many people watched a 30 minute video aimed at

high school students, since most people seem to have

trouble making through a music video.

Invisible Children had to strike the balance

between keeping people interested and imparting

crucial information. And they are clearly good at the

essence of what they do - marketing. It is because we

won’t pay attention to more, read article longer than

half a page, and think 140 characters is the maximum

character limit for all thoughts, that we are unaware

and undereducated about conflicts like Kony.

Everyone agrees Joseph Kony is the most

despicable of human beings. There is no excuse or

“explanation” in existence for what he is doing. I

want him to be caught and brought to trial at the ICC.

Not only would it bring him out of power, but it

would also be a huge victory for the international

court system. But I do not believe this, or other major action on

issues you feel passionately about, will happen by clicking

“share,” “like,” or “retweet.” Social media has enabled

great strides in communication and information sharing, no

doubt, but it cannot be our main form of activism; not our only form of activism. Where we once took to the streets,

we now take to Facebook. Conflicts are not ended via

youtube, and this is no exception. So stop your internet rant,

step away from your computer, and join the history books.

-Liz Cox is a junior majoring in Economics

The Banaa Scholarship Fund (Continued from page 2)

Kony 2012: A Call From Beyond Your Computer (Continued from

page 2)

PICTURE ABOVE: Makwei, the first banaa scholar at GW

We call on George Washington University to match the proven success of our peer institutions by bringing $300,000 of Alta Gracia to the bookstore.

Despite meetings with the bookstore manager and staff where workers from Alta Gracia were present, Follett’s (the company that owns the George Washington University bookstore) has failed to increase orders of Alta Gracia. It is unacceptable to the student body to spend our university budget on less

socially responsible brands.

In 2010, the our university expressed, “We’re extremely proud to be part of this monumental launch” in an article in the GW Hatchet, which

explained Alta Gracia apparel would be sold in the George Washington University Bookstore. However, Alta Gracia clothing is hard to notice in the

bookstore because most of the clothing is currently out of stock and hidden on displays in the back of the bookstore. However, we call on the bookstore to

increase wholesale orders of Alta Gracia apparel and sell the apparel where its signs are prominent and the racks displaying its t-shirts and hoodies are easily

located to commensurate the brand’s centrality to the university’s values and mission. Its promotion should exceed the space and signage given to other

mainstream brands. With the availability of a product such as Alta Gracia, which is superior to all brands in its embodiment of the university’s values, equal or superior in quality, and competitive in wholesale price, it’s hard to understand why it hasn’t been made more readily accessible to students.

The sustainability and success of this uplifting new business model and the hope for a better future for garment workers around the world

rests in our hands. We as consumers must create a larger demand for Alta Gracia. We know Alta Gracia will sell well at George Washington

University. Not only will it sell well, but also it will show the community how the Colonials are leading the way, locally and globally, with

social responsibility.

More Fair Trade at GW, Alta Gracia Apparel (Continued from page 1)

As students, it is our responsibility to demand

the bookstore stock its shelves with Alta Gracia apparel.

The sooner Alta Gracia is readily accessible at George

Washington University, the faster we’ll prove a just

factory model is not only possible, but successful and the faster we can transform the entire apparel industry to

mirror the standards of Alta Gracia, benefitting workers

and communities in all parts of the world to create a just

global economy. -Tiffany Finck-Haynes is a senior majoring in

International Affairs.

The panel brought out the idea that many different marginalized groups struggle to make a place for themselves in Sudan, as seen in the secession of the South and agitation of groups in Darfur, South Kordofan, Blue Nile, and parts of eastern Sudan. All of these groups have a common enemy in the

government of Khartoum but have been unable to join together to resist their marginalization. As South Sudan struggles to create a strong democracy,

facing oil diversion by the North which claims authority over the Port of Sudan, arms flowing in from the North, and instances of inter-communal violence, the North also faces issues of Khartoum’s continued repression.

The main ideas to consider from the discussion are the enormous challenges facing the fledgling nation of South Sudan, the continuous rhetoric of

the international community versus the reality of impunity, and the fickle nature of attention that conflicts receive. Those of us outraged by the genocide in

Darfur should once again feel angered by the current crisis in the Nuba Mountains; however, aside from recent coverage by Nicholas Kristof and Ann Curry, the suffering and violence appears to be met with silence.

The issues are complex, and the road to solving the problems faced in both Sudan and South Sudan is a long one. But the discussion promoted by the

panel and the media coverage of current, ongoing conflicts is an important one to have. The student movement against the genocide in Darfur must not be

forgotten, and the challenges continuing to face Darfur, South Kordofan, Blue Nile, and the emerging government in South Sudan must not be lightly dismissed. “This is the same old game that Khartoum always plays. It commits genocide against its people again and again and again. And it’s happening

again today, and the international community is largely sitting and watching it happen,” said Jennifer. The energy and outrage that swept the nation upon

the outbreak of violence in Darfur needs to be channeled once again into positive actions to call attention to ongoing crises. Students and youth here and

within Sudan are an important force in the fight to galvanize the necessary political will to address Omar Al Bashir’s continuing decimation of his own population.

-Lindsay Woods is currently a sophomore majoring in International Affairs, with a concentration in Conflict Resolution.

The Persisting Problems of Sudan (Continued from page 1)

ABOVE: The Alta Gracia Team at the Bookstore

“What do we want? Peace. Where do we want

it? Congo. When do we want it? NOW.”

Voices rang out in the streets of Washington

DC as students, activists, and NGOs came

together on November 21 to march in

solidarity with the people of the Democratic

Republic of Congo (DRC). The energy was

palpable, as voices, drum beats, and the sound

of blowing whistles blended together in a

symphony of support for the Congolese

people, only growing louder as the group

stopped in McPherson Square and at the White

House.

Here in the United States, we had the right to

exercise free speech and assembly, as the

people of the DRC awaited elections on

November 28 and feared political violence. It

is time for the current administration and all

future administrations to know that there is a

movement and constituency that feels

compassion for those who are dying, being

raped, and being forcefully displaced because

of the conflict in the DRC, which is funded

and fueled by the exploitation of conflict

minerals. We can no longer turn a blind eye to

the fact that our electronics contain minerals

which directly contribute to such suffering,

and in November we made that very clear.

Together with students from schools in the DC

area, along with activists from organizations

such as Raise Hope for Congo of the Enough

Project, Falling Whistles, and Friends of Congo

spoke and joined together in the common goal

of raising awareness and support for the cause.

We heard testimony from a former child soldier,

who has experienced the intense suffering

associated with armed conflict, and who

stressed the fact that although we are seemingly

a world away, we are all the people of the

Congo. We are all one people. We can no

longer allow the blatant exploitation and

degradation of the DRC, which in reality should

be one of the richest nations in the world. The

natural treasures and resources should benefit

the people of the Congo rather than perpetuate

their unending suffering. We heard from Falling

Whistles, who spoke about children too small to

hold a gun sent to the front lines of war armed

with only a whistle, a terrible reminder that has

been appropriated as a symbol of peace and

protest. Falling Whistles announced their Face

Campaign, in which students and activists took

pictures to put a face on the names of those who

support peace in the Congo, and then sent them

directly to the White House. The Enough

Project’s Raise Hope for Congo had us text the

word Congo to 30644 to join their mobile

action network.

Above all, we raised our voices to all who

would listen. Political will does exist to end the

rape and mass atrocities occurring on a daily

basis, and we will not be silenced. The rally was

the culmination of months of planning and

outreach, but it was only the beginning. While it

has been several months since our Peace for

Congo Rally, we are still actively engaged on

the issues. GW STAND along with other

student groups are looking to begin the

organization of our Campus Free Conflict

Initiative in partnership with the Enough

Poject’s Raise Hope For Congo Campaign.

Please email us at gwstand@gmail.com for

more information or to learn how you can

get involved.

Do your part to become a part of the

movement. Make good of the electronics

upon which we are so dependent but which

fuel such violence, research this conflict

and research actions you can take to

become involved. And then use social

media to spread the word to others. There

are many resources available: Raise Hope

for Congo and Falling Whistles have web

sites with a wealth of information and

suggested actions

-Lindsay Woods is currently a sophomore

majoring in International Affairs, with a

concentration in Conflict Resolution.

Conflict Minerals: A Call to Action and a Rally to Remember By Lindsay Woods

Why We Are Writing To You

Greetings,

Everyone knows that students at the George Washington University are politically

active. Even if you aren’t a political science wonk you’ve probably attended one of the big name speaker events hosted by the College Democrats or College Republicans. Or

maybe you’ve been at a frat party when a health care debate breaks out. This newsletter serves as a reminder that political activism comes in all shapes and sizes and shouldn’t be contained in the realm the dorm room or mainstream politics. Debate can only get us so

far, there comes a time when we must begin making moves. There are many student groups at GWU doing amazing advocacy work on

campus and all across the city that GW STAND is proud to be part of. GW STAND was

created as a part of the student movement response to the genocide in Darfur which began in the 2003. Since then, STAND has expanded the conflict regions it addresses by

standing in solidarity with the people of South Sudan, D.R. Congo and Burma. We are always looking for new ways to advocate and to strengthen our efforts. This year GW STAND has connected and worked with many NGOs and activists through the DC area

from Sudanese artists to OccupyDC. Building these personal relationships with other DC students, NGO leaders, and Sudanese and Congolese diaspora members has been the most rewarding experience in building our activist network this year. Face-to-face advocacy is

still considered the most effective and even in the age of politics going “viral” this important aspect cannot be forgotten.

We hope you talk about these issues presented in this newsletter and share it with your friends, spurring a discussion. While I would love for you to come out to our events next year, join GW STAND, and become the next leaders of the student anti-genocide

movement that is not why we are writing to you. We hope you read the following articles and see what a small group of dedicated activists have been able to accomplish in one short year. We hope you take away that making a difference in the cause you believe in

doesn’t have to start after graduation. We urge you to take up a megaphone (hey, you can even borrow ours!) and join the movement which inspires you the most whether it be about stopping the Keystone XL pipeline, immigration reform, freeing political prisoners

in the U.S. or human rights in Burma. Your voice matters. Use it.

IN SOLIDARITY, GW STAND