Today’s Update

My first thought this morning was, “I hope someone returned my e-mails.” I did make an excellent contact in Devious Diva, a blogger here in Athens. She courageously stepped up to help me spread the word through Athens, and I am extremely grateful — little does she know that I can get pretty intense when I’m organizing.

Today, I contacted World Vision, Africa Action, as well as Gulu Walk and Resolve Uganda (organizations that I have worked with several times in the past) — I’m hoping to hear back with some contacts here in Greece. I also contacted someone I know from World Wide Fund – Greece, hoping that she has contacts in the non-profit world who may be interested in participating.

It has been encouraging to see how many people care about this issue — there are so many bloggers out there talking about the The Rescue and the children in Northern Uganda. I hope that I can find those passionate and active individuals here in Athens. Greeks know how to get out on the streets and demonstrate better than anyone in the world, I just need to find the ones who care about these kids as much as I do.

For now, I need to try to return to normalcy and do homework – It is always a shocking contrast for me between doing something that may have a global impact, and everyday business like cooking dinner or reading a Greek history textbook. I suppose, in the end, it all contributes to the greater good. For now, thank you for your support and I hope to see you on April 25th!

18 Days,

In Peace,

Amber

Organizing In Athens : The Journey Begins

Back in the U.S. I spent the last 2.5 years actively involved in raising awareness about the current war in Northern Uganda — the longest running war in Africa, displacing over 1.4 million Ugandans into camps. Having spent the last few months abroad in Athens, I have felt somewhat out of touch with the issues which I care about most, including the use of child soldiers in Uganda. Upon visiting the website of Invisible Children, an NGO dealing with this conflict, I discovered the announcement of an International event to impact global policy addressing the issue.

Two days ago I decided to organize a demonstration in the Main Square of Athens in solidarity with Invisible Children’s global demonstration “The Rescue” (therescue.invisiblechildren.com). This blog will be a documentation of that process, and a hope that others out there in the city of Athens will find it, and be moved by the cause.

Today, I contacted Amnesty International’s office in Greece, as well as the Hellenic Human Rights League, hoping to get support from larger organizations in Greece with greater resources. I also contacted Invisible Children, to let them know we would be participating in the event. Tonight, my task is to create fliers and translate them into Greek, which I will produce and hand out throughout Athens in coming weeks.

I will also search the blogger community in Athens, trying to find support from other activists in the city. Please contact me if you are one of those bloggers!

About the event:

Mission: Put together a PEACEFUL gathering of people in Syntagma Square on Saturday, April 25 from 3pm – Midnight, that will draw Greek attention to the use of Child Soldiers by the Lord’s Resistance army in Northern Uganda.

Goals of the event:

1. Gather people — the higher the number, the more attention

2. Establish a PEACEFUL demonstration in solidarity with child soldiers and the Invisible Children community

3. Bring awareness about the use of child soldiers in Northern Uganda to Athens 4. Gain supporters for Invisible Children through presence in the square

Details: When: April 25, 2009 – 3 PM – Midnight

Where: Syntagma Square, Athens, Greece

Why: To raise awareness about the use of child soldiers by the Lords Resistance Army in Northern Uganda.

http://therescue.invisiblechildren.com

19 Days Left.