Genocide: Past, Present, and Future

May 1, 2008

AIS leaders joined a remembrance panel at the Lowell center to discuss similarities and differences between past and present genocides as well as to discuss the outlook on the future of genocide in the 21st century. Representatives were present to discuss Holocaust, the Cambodian genocide, and the Armenian genocide to inform and discuss the conflicts with students and community members. The event was organized by the Hillel.

God Grew Tired of Us - All Campus Party & AIESEC

April 25, 2008

During the week of the all campus party, AIS screened the documentary God Grew Tired of Us on campus with the help of AIESEC’s Africa group. We hosted a discussion afterward and Augustino Ting Mayai talked about his experiences as a Lost Boy of Sudan and the Machara Miracle Network.

Jam against Genocide - benefit concert

April 24, 2008

AIS hosted three local bands-This Bright Apocalypse, Dan Andreas Fault, and Motorboat-at the Orpheum Theater to raise funds for the Machara Miracle Network. Augustino Ting Mayai gave a short talk about his experiences as a refugee from Sudan and an overview of the organization the concert was benefiting, and AIS leaders gave a brief talk about the Sudanese genocide and their organization’s work.

Human Rights Torch Relay

April 19, 2008

As part of an international movement, Madison hosted the Human Rights Torch Relay. Numerous other community and university organizations, including AIS, gathered at the capitol to voice their outrage at China's human rights violations. Olympian Casey FitzRandolph and numerous state officials made statements against the Chinese government, not its civilians. AIS Co-chair Rebecca Gilsdorf, was also given a chance to speak. http://youtube.com/watch?v=kvaerCVd20YCheck out the video on YouTube.

The Devil Came on Horseback - Movie Screening

April 16, 2008

Action in Sudan hosted a movie screening at Chadbourne Residential College, a residential learning community on the UW-Madison campus. The documentary, entitled "The Devil Came on Horseback," was created in 2007. In this documentary, former U.S. Marine Captain Brian Steidle exposes the tragedy taking place in Darfur, Sudan, through his exclusive photographs and firsthand testimony. Horrified by what he saw, Steidle has since returned to the US to take action to stop the atrocities. Residents and community members alike participated in a lively discussion following the movie, which was facilitated by student leaders within Action in Sudan. The group also heard from Victoria Smith, one of the filmmakers of this incredible documentary, about her travels and current efforts to fight unjust violence across the globe.

Sometimes in April - Movie Screening

April 7, 2008

AIS showed the film Sometimes in April, a documentary about the Rwandan genocide, on the anniversary of the beginning of the Rwandan genocide, April 7th. Afterward, we held a Q&A session and discussion with Branton Kunz, a UW graduate who had been actively involved in AIS’s divestment campaign and spent last summer in Rwanda.

Kicksville - Benefit concert

March 27, 2008

Kicksville, a punk rock band, played with two other local bands at the Majestic Theater in downtown Madison to raise funds for Augustino Ting Mayai’s NGO, the Refugee Health Awareness Week

March 4, 2008

Action in Sudan Co-Chair Rebecca Gilsdorf spoke at the UW Medical School as part of Refugee Health Awareness Week. Her talk focused on the history of the situation in Darfur and Southern Sudan as well as current health concerns in both regions. The talk was recorded and can be viewed online. Click here.

DarfurFast

December 5, 2007

As part of DarfurFast initiative students in Action in Sudan spent the afternoon handing out flyers and information about the current situation in Darfur and encouraging fellow students to contact their State Congressmen in support of our divestment bill. AIS also put up a display on Bascom Hill that included 100 green flags; each flag stood for 4,000 people dead in Darfur. This display was noticed by the Daily Cardinal which ran an article about AIS the next day.

AIS Speaking Event - Chadbourne Residential College

October 17, 2007

Leaders from Action in Sudan presented an educational program to the residents of Chadbourne Residential College. In their strong tradition of raising awareness about the tragedy in Darfur, members of Action in Sudan facilitated a question-and-answer session for those in attendance. From current divestment efforts to the uneasy situation in China, students were shocked to learn the details behind the heartache in Sudan. Many of the students in attendance received materials on how to contact their state representatives and were inspired to have their voices be heard on this critical issue.

Mark Hanis Speeks at UW

Fall 2006

Mark Hanis, Executive Directorand Co-founder of the Genocide Intervention Network came to speak at UW during the Fall of 2006.