Blog
Submitted by Martha on May 13, 2008 - 7:18pm.
Team Darfur cyclist Jimena Florit's piece on the importance of speaking out about Darfur was published this week in online magazine www.VoicesOfTomorrow.org. We want to thank Jimena for writing this thoughtful piece, and encourage everyone to follow www.VoicesOfTomorrow.org as more articles by Team Darfur athletes will be published there in the coming weeks and months. Coming from Argentina, I have a pretty good understanding of what it is like to live in fear. Our history is full of long periods of military dictatorships during which acts of terrorism against perceived opponents of the government caused tens of thousands of people to become political prisoners, many thousands to be executed and over 20,000 to just disappear - never to be heard from again. Even today, many people seeking closure are fighting for justice. Time has not healed their pain. Random violence, lack of freedom, and physical and mental abuse has been carved into our cultural soul - families have been broken, dreams of a bright future have been dashed and too many lives have been ruined.
Submitted by Lindsey on May 13, 2008 - 7:11pm.
 Team Darfur athlete Cheri Blauwet is the Winner of the 2003 and 2004 New York City Marathon as well as the 2004 and 2005 Boston Marathon. She also won the Los Angeles Marathon in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2008 Los Angeles Marathon. Additionally Cheri won a Gold Medal at the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games in the 800 meters, and a Bronze in both the 5000 meters and the Marathon. We asked Cheri why she joined Team Darfur and this is what she had to say: It is up to each of us to use the voice we are given as athletes to support the development and human rights of our peers who, because of conflict, may be denied the opportunity to say: I can lead a healthy life, I can make it what I want it to be, I can be an athlete. For we as Paralympic athletes, this becomes increasingly important as issues of disability rights and the basic denial of opportunities for health and physical fitness for our peers remain tantamount. We must act in solidarity to remind the world that regardless of age, gender, creed, or physical ability/disability, we all have the right to self determination.
Submitted by Martha on May 6, 2008 - 3:58pm.
 Reuters is reporting:
Sudanese government bombs have hit a primary school and a busy market place in Darfur, killing at least 13 people, including seven children, two aid organisations said on Monday. A government Antonov plane bombed the village of Shegeg Karo in North Darfur on Sunday. If confirmed, it would be the deadliest bombing raid in Darfur in years.
"According to information gathered by the villagers of Shegeg Karo, the Antonov hovered for a long time and then bombed repeatedly," a joint statement from Darfur Diaries and the Darfur Peace and Development Organisation said. "The Shegeg Karo school was hit and one classroom was destroyed. It was in session," it added. The youngest child to die was 5-year-old Yusuf Adam Hamid. It said two other children were seriously wounded and 30 more lightly wounded. Read more about children just like the ones killed at Shegeg Karo school here.
Submitted by Lindsey on May 5, 2008 - 4:32pm.
 Please join Team Darfur athletes in calling on world leaders to continue relief to Darfur by signing a postcard with the message below. Mansur loves to draw, play soccer, and hopes to become a doctor when he grows up. His family fled Darfur and now lives in a refugee camp in Eastern Chad. Please help ensure that Mansur and his friends can grow up to become doctors, lawyers, teachers, and farmers by funding relief and ensuring protection for Darfur, Sudan. United States residents please send a postcard to President George Bush. Send a postcard to President Bush European Union residents please send a postcard to EU President José Manuel Barroso. Send a postcard to the President of the EU African Union residents please send a postcard to AU Chairman Jakaya Kikwete. Send a postcard to the Chairman of the AU. Canadian residents please send a postcard to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Send a postcard to the Canadian PM.
Submitted by Martha on May 1, 2008 - 4:38pm.
 Que votre pays peut-il faire pour Darfour ?
Che cosa può il vostro paese fare per Darfur? Team Darfur has compiled a resource for our athletes and fans on what various countries can do for Darfur. We've started with Australia, Canada, Italy, UK, and USA. We're actively soliciting recommendations from our partners to include more countries, so keep watching this page! For more information: www.teamdarfur.org/countries For background on Darfur in Italian: www.teamdarfur.org/darfur/italian For background on Darfur in French: www.teamdarfur.org/darfur/french
Submitted by Lindsey on April 29, 2008 - 6:57pm.
Singer Jimmy Demers is receiving a lot of buzz about his upcoming Concord Records CD release. However, Demers is also known in the Darfur Activist community for being the first person to wear a Team Darfur sweatband in China. Demers wore the sweatband with pride as he sang at the closing ceremonies of the 2007 Special Olympics in Shanghai, China. Here is part of what Jimmy had to say about his experience: "As a singer, I have come to accept my role on stage as a temporary opportunity to make a lasting impression. It's sometimes challenging when you are in another country and singing in a language many might not know. However, the langauge of our heart is a universal one, and it was with my heart I wore a Team Darfur sweatband when I performed at the closing ceremonies at the Special Olympics in Shanghai, China ... I wore the Team Darfur sweatband that beautiful evening in Shanghai in the hopes that somehow, somewhere, it might awaken within someone, someday, to an innervoice that reminds us all of a greater and more powerful purpose."
Submitted by Lindsey on April 16, 2008 - 2:51pm.
 Lea was the 2002 Olympic silver medalist in the first Olympic competition held in the women's skeleton event. She was also a coach for the US Skeleton team at the 2006 Olympic Games. In addition to being an athlete Lea is a firefighter and registered nurse with a doctoral degree in community health nursing. This is what she said when asked why she joined Team Darfur: I don't think that someone has to be an expert in political science or understand all of the causes behind this terrible crisis in order to join Team Darfur and make a difference. As human beings all we should have to do is see the extent of the suffering and devastation which should move us to be a voice for those to weak to cry out for themselves. As athletes we can join together to create one strong voice for those unable to be heard.
Submitted by Lindsey on April 16, 2008 - 2:19pm.
 Marayke is a Paralympic, medal-winning swimmer who has represented Australia at two Paralympic Games and has been selected to be on the Australian team for the Beijing Paralympic Games. She became a paraplegic in a car accident at 8 months of age but was determined to pursue her sporting dreams. When doctors told her mother Marayke would never walk again, she taught her daughter to swim instead. During her 14-year swimming career Marayke has broken 70 Australian records, and is a former world record holder in the 100m butterfly for her s5 classification. Marayke has two university degrees in Communications (journalism) and social science. She works as a motivational speaker and freelance writer. In 2008 she founded 'Sporting Dreams' a charitable fund assisting athletes with disabilities to become involved in sport and develop into elite athletes.
When asked why she joined Team Darfur, Marayke had this to say:
I joined team Darfur because I believe the Olympics and Paralympics are about more than sport, they are a celebration of humanity and the strength of the human spirit.
Submitted by Martha on April 15, 2008 - 3:32am.
TEAM DARFUR ASKS IOC TO CLARIFY RIGHT TO FREE EXPRESSION AT OLYMPICS:
International coalition of athletes asks International Olympic Committee President to clarify boundaries of athletes' freedom of speech and expression at Beijing Olympics.
Lawyers representing Team Darfur, have today written to the President of the IOC, Jacques Rogge, on behalf of their client, seeking confirmation that the IOC will ensure that athletes at the 2008 Olympics will have the right to express their concerns about grave human rights abuses in line with the fundamental principles of the Olympic Charter and the international right to Freedom of Expression. Read the letter to the International Olympic Committee.
Submitted by Martha on April 14, 2008 - 4:05pm.
 Watch the powerful documentary The Devil Came on Horseback this Friday evening on the National Geographic Channel.
On April 18, 2008, The Devil Came on Horseback will broadcast on television for the first time in the United States. Invite your friends, family, co-workers, anyone and everyone to learn more about Darfur with a house screening. Don't have the National Geographic Channel? You can still the rent the film on Netflix and watch along with the rest of the country on Friday or plan your own screening time during the week. Details are available at www.thedevilcameonhorseback.com . About the film:
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