One Million Bones Inspires Action; Awareness

This past Thursday (4.25), was the One Million Bones (OMB) installation at Portland State University (PSU).  The event was sponsored by Oregon Coalition for Humanity (OCH), Atma Foundation & Oregon Holocaust & Resource Center.

 

OMB is a national public arts project whose aim is to raise awareness of genocides and atrocities going on around the world, this very day in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, South Sudan, Burma and Somalia.  Our April 25th installation focused upon raising awareness about the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo where nearly 6 million people have died over the past decade due to conflict over control of minerals which wind up in our electronic devices.

 

Bones installed at PSU on 4.25.13.
Photo taken by Denise Wetherell

 

Over the past 6 months students and concerned citizens in Oregon have been gathering to make bones in honor of those whose lives have been lost to these genocides.  These bones, totalling approximately 8,500, were installed on the PSU campus April 25th.  These same bones will also be installed in our National Mall as a part of the national installation this coming June, where an advocacy day is planned for June 10, 2013.

 



PSU students support CFCI!

The OMB installation was coupled with OCH's Conflict Free City Initiative, which is an initiative whose aim is to combine awareness and action as to where the minerals which go into our electronics come from, namely the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  OCH is working to present CFCI to both the cities of Portland and Beaverton. (Click here to learn how you can support CFCI.)

 

Ann Shannon talks to the brownie troop about OMB

April 25th was an inspiring day.  An estimated 500-600 people walked through our installation.  We all had many engaging conversations. Awareness was raised, and we were able to interact with people of all ages, including a Brownie troop who walked by & then came back to help make some more bones out of clay.



We made some good connections with folks in the community, and our panel discussion was informative, and stirred up some good discussion with regard to genocide & human mass atrocity, the policy response, and what we as concerned citizens can do.  In fact, OCH hopes to institute a series of "Activism 101" panel discussions.

 

Our Panel

Top Row (L-R): Amanda Ulrich (OCH, Run for Congo Women); Francesca (From Dungu Congo) & Alysha Atma (OCH, Atma Foundation).

Bottom Row (L-R): Retired Portland State University Professor Greg Goekjian; Anna Canning from Portland's Equal Exchange Co-Op; Professor Clint B.T. Baldwin of George Fox University & Brian Plinski of Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici's Office.

 

What resonated with me the most, however, was a conversation I had with a PSU student who is a veteran of our most recent war with Iraq who is taking his experiences in war to try & leave a positive impact upon the world.  Although it was difficult for him, he shared a very personal story of the first human mass grave he witnessed when initially deployed to Iraq.  Our installation triggered this memory for him, and although he could have simply walked through our installation, he instead decided not to engage, but to also share a very personal, and horrific, memory. It was a moment which hit a deep cord both within himself and me, and is one that will stay with me for quite some time. 

 

The main take away from the day was that remarkably the worst actions of humanity also shine a light on the best parts of humanity. There are always people working for the good of all, and that we must be careful not to succumb to a more cynical and jaded view of the world.   It’s a tough battle, but must be fought.

 

Source: http://www.onemillionbones.org/

Thank you to the Portland State University Alumni Association for covering our event and publishing an alumni profile.

 

Final Stats: Team Congo PDX's Group 10K & 5K Walk/Run - 3.9.13

The final stats are now in for my 2nd Annual Team Congo PDX's Group 10K/5K Walk Run, which was held on Saturday, March 9, 2013 to coincide with International Women's Day.


Participants running (sisters Ann & Carrie)
Photo taken by Alexa Brandt of Fatman Productions: http://fatmanproductions.com/

Participants: 148 (10K:66 / 5K:82)

5Kers starting their route
Photo taken by Alexa Brandt of Fatman Productions: http://fatmanproductions.com/

Funds Raised: $4,806

(Team Congo PDX Page, Rock Creek Multi-Cultural Center & Brenna Kutch)

100% of each participant's registration fee was a donation to Women for Women International's DR Congo program, and the amount above is comprised not only of the registration fees collected, but also of the funds collected the day of the event for the purchase of raffle tickets, as well as donations collected in the months and weeks leading up to the event.

The funds raised are enough sponsor 12 women for one year via Women for Women International's DR Congo Program.  These women will be enrolled in a year-long training program which will give them the skills needed to support themselves and their families.  They will also receive trauma counseling, and at the end of the program will be given a micro loan so that they can begin to support themselves using their newly learned skills.

Volunteer Hours: 

88.5 hours / 21 Volunteers

Volunteers Patrick & Scott check-in participants at Foot Traffic
Photo taken by Alexa Brandt of Fatman Productions: http://fatmanproductions.com/

Volunteer hours were donated in order to ensure that the event went as smoothly as possible, and for that I thank all volunteers!  Volunteers set-up the after-event reception areas, set-up the registration area, ran-registration, directed participants out on the route and helped to clean-up afterwards. 

A special thank you to Patrick Whalen, Starbucks Manager extraordinaire, who worked hard to recruit route volunteers via the Starbucks Community Service Site.

A local massage therapist from Raven Healing Therapies donated her services by offering a 15 minute massage for the participants free-of-charge.  Photographer Alexa Brandt of Fatman Productions donated her services by capturing the day in photos.  I thank them both for the generous donation of their talents.

I also thank the following volunteers: Kayla Smith (event co-coordinator), Kevin Putnam (sponsor), Craig Moore, Ann Shannon, Richa Sehgal, Alysha Atma, Allison (Foot Traffic), Dan, Anna & Hannah and Starbucks volunteers: Scott, Monica, Ramona, Susan, Anna, Sharon & Joseph.

SPONSORS: 5

($3,000 value)

I owe a BIG thank you to all of the event sponsors for without their support, my event would not have been the success it was: Swanson, Thomas, Coon & Newton, Foot Traffic, Diversitech, Starbucks & Great Harvest Bakery. 

My sponsors made it possible to advertise the event, print promotional materials, manage off-line registrations, provide the before and after event gathering spaces, and of course yummy treats to enjoy at the after-event reception. 

Most importantly, however, their sponsorship conveys their commitment to the cause, and for that I am grateful.  

RAFFLE PRIZES: 30+

($500 value)

Over 30 raffle prizes were donated to the event by the following supporters:

Thank you!

Community Support: 8 Groups

At the event were the following community groups: Oregon Coalition for Humanity, Portland's Equal Exchange Co-op, Never Again Coalition, Atma Foundation, Arise for Congo, The Embrace Necklace, & One Million Bones, all of whom sent representatives to table at the event in order to share with participants information about their work related to issues in DR Congo, and to provide information about other ways to become involved in the cause.

Also present in order to lend her support was Sarah Adkins from the Oregon Student Nurses' Association.



Participants making bones for One Million Bones
Photo taken by Alexa Brandt of Fatman Productions: http://fatmanproductions.com/

MORE THANK YOUS

Thank you to all of the participants who came out in support of Run for Congo Women. It was an amazing day, which would not have been possible without your support!  I hope to see you all next year (Save the date: 3.8.14).

I would also like to thank Bonnie Wilson from Run Oregon for taking time out of her busy schedule to participate in the event, and then write an event recap for the Run Oregon blog. Thank you Bonnie!

Bonnie Wilson finishing up the 10K
Photo taken by Alexa Brandt of Fatman Productions: http://fatmanproductions.com/

Thank you to Kayla Smith for helping me with the event--you are an amazing friend and co-event organizer!  Thank you to Kevin Putnam for running the show at the after-event reception, and for your continued support of Run for Congo Women.  Thank you also to Laura Thomas, Downtown manager of Foot Traffic, for your guidance and support. Thank you Jeanne Kraje for your support and reassurance.  And last, but far from least, thank you to my family and coworkers who patiently put up with my over-the-top stress level in the weeks and days leading up to the event.  I will not ever forget your reassuring words and support!

Happy 5K finisher
Photo taken by Alexa Brandt of Fatman Productions: http://fatmanproductions.com

The Day I Received a Hug at Oregon's DEQ

It's been quite some time since I've felt compelled to sit down and pound out a blog post, however recently I've been inspired to write about the day I received a hug at the Clackamas, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

Source of Photo: http://claysautoservice.com/deq-emission-testing/oregon-deq-hillsboro/

As some of you are aware, earlier this month I planned a charity event for Run for Congo Women (Team Congo PDX's Group 10K & 5K Walk/Run), and about a week before my event it was time to take my car to the DEQ for an inspection & to renew my registration (in Oregon you can do both at DEQ).

Let's step back a moment.  A week before my event I was a tad stressed.  Actually, that's an understatement. I was SUPER stressed, which was most notably manifested through my inability to handle any of life's derailments.  I did not have the capacity to let anything roll off of my back (my poor family and friends!).  I had been working on the event since September 2012, and the two months before the event were intense.  Every spare moment was filled with event planning details: before work, during breaks, after work and late into the evening. 

My day job is also often intense (I'm a litigation paralegal), and in addition to the regular-course stresses of the job, our office had undergone some transitions in personnel, and so work was a little more intense and stressful than usual.

Now, back to the day I went to the DEQ.  It was a peaceful Saturday morning, and I quite enjoyed the drive to the DEQ.  My mind was awhirl the entire drive with event todos for later in the day.  I pulled into the DEQ, pulled into Lane 5, and was relieved to see that the wait would not be long.  Soon it would be my turn...

The DEQ check started out well until the DEQ employee took a look at my paperwork. The DEQ employee looked at my car, and then back at the paperwork, quizzically.  A moment later it came to light that I had brought the incorrect paperwork.  Two cars in our household were due for DEQ/registration renewals, and I had neglected to make sure I had the correct paperwork! 

Gah!

I began to feel as though I was going to lose it, but composed myself when I realized that the DEQ inspection could go forward, I'd just have to send-in my registration renewal paperwork via mail.

No problem.  Just breathe, and remain calm. 

 

The DEQ employee announced that my car passed, and that I could now pay for the inspection.  There. Was. Just. One. Problem. I brought a check, but the DEQ (unlike the DMV), does not take checks, they only take cash or debit (the DMV, ironically, does not accept debit).

Are you kidding me? 

 

 Naturally, I did not bring my debit card (and at this point did not realize I actually had enough cash on me).  The DEQ employee nicely acknowledged that the "no check" policy was both confusing and inconvenient, but that the paperwork did state no checks.

Obviously I did not read it closely.

Meanwhile, my eyes were tearing up and I was in the midst of a full-on stress meltdown. I could only feel that this was not going as smoothly as planned, and could not see my way to a workaround (hence the pre-event SUPER stressed mindset).  I quietly, while holding back my tears, got into my car so that I could compose myself to figure out what to do.  "Drive safe..., "  is what I heard the DEQ employee say as I closed my car door.

Thankfully, there was a bank down the street & so I went in to get some cash.  The teller who waited on me had experienced the same annoyance the last time she went to DEQ (I have a feeling this bank sees a lot of DEQ-frustrated people).  I left with cash in hand to drive back down the road to the DEQ.

See, everything will be okay after all!

 

As I pulled into the DEQ (again), the gentleman at the gate paused a minute when I rolled down my window (he had just waived me through about 15 minutes prior...).  I told him I was back for round two & he sent me to Lane 2 where the wait, thankfully, was not long.

 

I got out and explained to the female DEQ employee that I had just been through, and no the paperwork was not correct, however, I'd like to pay for the inspection. 

 

And in that moment I lost it.  I just started to cry...
 

The DEQ employee came around out from her station, opened her arms & gave me a big hug, and told me everything would be alright.

And of course it was--I mean it wasn't like I wouldn't be able to renew my registration, and for goodness sakes my car passed!
 

I was too wrapped up in my stress meltdown to feel embarrassed or self conscious.  I simply felt relieved to be done with the DEQ trip, and heart warmed that this employee, who works with the public in a setting that brings out the worst in many of us, would take the time to comfort me.

I made the trek back to DEQ this weekend for car #2, and I find it no coincidence that I was waived to the lane of the same female DEQ employee who gave me a hug on that fateful day. Not surprisingly, she remembered me, and I was able to thank her for her kindness shown in a moment when I needed it most. 

Poop Happens...Even in Uninhabited Homes...

     Since I have yet to delve into my silly side with my blog, I think I'll do so now.  And what better way to demonstrate my silly side than to write about poop? 

     I've been riding the bus for over 10 years now, and in that time I've gotten to know several of my fellow riders very well, and when there is a certain mix of us on the same bus, friendly smart aleck banter spars back and forth, and usually before we know it we are entertaining (or annoying, I'm not really certain) the entire bus with our ridiculousness.

     Well this past Friday was such a bus ride.  My bus buddies and I got to talking about funny poop stories. You know, stepping in dog pooh, tracking it everywhere and getting it stuck in the tread of your shoe, and other such stories.  So, I decided to chime in with my poop story, because well, to tell you the truth I still can't believe it even happened.

     Let's back up about six years.  I had just moved into a newly built neighborhood with my family.  Only about three out of the dozen or so homes on our street were moved into (confession: I have no idea how many homes are on our street).  The others were on the market awaiting their new families.  Houses for sale mean open houses on the weekends.  One Saturday my sister and I decided to go & explore the houses that were up for sale.  You know snoop in our soon-to-be-new-neighbors homes while it was, well not really snooping.  We set out and slowly began to work our way up the street.  We were amusing ourselves poking fun at ugly counter tops and how glad we were that ours was so much better looking.  We envied the house with the nice bookshelves and lovely view of the trees.  It was a quiet afternoon.  Just one real estate agent wandering in and out of homes just like my sister and I were.

     As we were meandering through one of the houses the undeniable feeling of I've got to go, and I've got to go now came.  I realized that although it's only about a 2 min walk, if that, to my house, I cannot make it.  And so I make a decision.  I dart into the downstairs bathroom and take care of my business.

     But, there's a problem.  There. Is. Not. Any. Toilet paper!  So there I am, stuck and bit annoyed at the real estate agent who did not foresee the need for a roll of toilet paper (okay, perhaps that was unreasonable of me, but in the moment I needed someone to blame).  After confirming, "No I cannot just pull my pants back up and go home," it is decided that my sister will go back to the house to fetch some toilet paper. 

     So there I sit for what seems like forever.  I mean seriously what can be taking my sister so darn long to bring me a roll of toilet paper?  Finally, my sister returns.  But the amount of toilet paper is insufficient.  I ask why she just didn't bring a roll, and she explains to do that would be embarrassing (Really?  There's like no one outside), and as to what took so long, well she of course had to take the time to find a bag to put some toilet paper in so as to avoid "embarrassment".  After a minute or two of frownie-faced sister bickering, she leaves to go & bring back an entire roll of toilet paper.

     Then, the dreadful happens.  I hear the back door open, and then close.  Then I hear the ping ping ping of heels.  My heart starts to pound as I realize that the real estate agent I saw up the street has just entered this very house!  Seriously?  My mind races: 

My sister needs to get back here now.  If only the toilet was not so far away from the door, I could just lock the door.  Why did they make such a long galley-like bathroom anyhow?  What am I going to say if she opens the door?

     I hear the real estate agent walk past the bathroom door, and I think I hear her go to the upstairs. Phew, safe for a few minutes, I hope.

     Finally.  My sister returns with a roll. I motion for her to lock the door, finish up, and then we go to the door and listen.  She's still in the house.  We hatch a plan.  On the count of three I'll flush, then my sister will open the door, and we'll dart out the back door, which is thankfully just on the other side of the bathroom door, and then we'll run like hell home. 1...2...3... Flush!

     As you can imagine, the retelling of this story sparked laughter among my bus buddies, and those on the bus listening to our conversation.  In fact, a few had some pretty clever retrospective remarks I could have used if the real estate agent had opened the door: "Just leaving my down deposit!"  Or "Just making an offer!" 

       After I shared this it-really-could-have-been-even more-embarrassing story, others on the bus also shared their own stories, or those of their friends, and we all had a great laugh as the bus carried us each closer to our homes, fully stocked with toilet paper, so that we could begin our respective weekends.

**Photo is of a magnet on the door of K&L Grooming**  

What's the Deal with Conflict Minerals Anyway, and Furthermore Why Should I Care?

     I first learned about Conflict Minerals about 10 months ago when I read The Enough Moment: Fighting to End Africa's Worst Human Rights Crimes by John Prendergast and Don Cheadle (http://www.amazon.com/The-Enough-Moment-Fighting-Africas/dp/0307464822). 

     For me, reading that book was life changing in that the book helped me to realize in a tangible way just how interconnected our lives here in the United States are to those who live in Eastern Congo, and that we (I) do have the power to impact lives half a world away. 

WHAT ARE CONFLICT MINERALS?

     Let's back up a moment from the personal story of my awareness to action, and talk about what exactly Conflict Minerals are. 

     Conflict Minerals wind up in all of our we-love-to-use them electronic devices: cell phones, computers, i-pods/mp3 players, smart phones, digital cameras, video game systems, etc.  The minerals which wind up in these products are: tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold.  Armed groups which reside within Eastern Congo fight to control these mines, leaving innocent civilians in the crossfire, mainly women and children who are all too often the victims of horrific sexual violence.  In fact, Eastern Congo has been deemed one of the worst places on earth to be a woman, or girl.  Here is a short, 4 minute, video created by The Enough Project which will orient you to the basics of what Conflict Minerals are and how you and I are connected to them: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF-sJgcoY20.

Source: http://www.enoughproject.org/publications/comprehensive-approach-conflict-minerals-strategy-paper

     Admittedly, the situation in Eastern Congo is layered and complex, however it is undeniable that the power struggle between the various armed groups in Eastern Congo over who controls the mining of the minerals, which are necessary to make our favorite electronic gadgets function, fuels the violence in this region of the world, thereby linking you and I to the women, men and children who live in Eastern Congo in a way that I find profoundly simple to recognize.  

     More importantly, however, the situation in Eastern Congo is not a lost cause, and there are actions we as consumers, our government, and those in industries involved with the purchase and trade of Conflict Minerals can do to positively, peacefully, and powerfully impact the dire situation in Eastern Congo.

     Currently, it is not possible to purchase Conflict Mineral free electronic devises, however that is changing.

SO WHAT DO WE DO NOW?

    There is no denying that we live in a busy world filled with countless causes, both local and global, which are deserving of our attention.  With regard to Conflict Minerals I believe that all of us who utilize electronic devices have the responsibility to at least understand what they are, and how we are connected to them.  By reading this post, you have already fulfilled this responsibility!  

     Now I ask that you read a little further to learn more about what has been done on the legislative and industrial levels to address the mining of Conflict Minerals

What Congress Is Doing About It

     In July of 2010, Congress passed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.  Section 1502 of this Act addresses Conflict Minerals mined from Eastern Congo, and this provision of the law was welcomed both by the Congolese government and human rights advocacy groups alike.  1502 requires companies to audit their supply chains in order to ensure that their products are not supporting violence and atrocities in Eastern Congo.  At this point the delay in implementation of the Conflict Minerals provision lies with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). 

     This past February, Oregon's Senator Ron Wyden signed a joint letter sent by four of his colleagues, and himself, to SEC Chairwoman Mary Schapiro urging the immediate release of the Conflict Minerals regulations as set forth in Section 1502:

Click here to read a larger version of the letter: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0Y-gnkyksE1RDhOcU15WTJuT3c/edit?pli=1

     Senator Wyden, and Senator Merkley, co-signed a similar joint letter which was also sent to SEC Chairwoman Schapiro back in October, 2011: ttp://boxer.senate.gov/en/press/releases/101811.cfm

     This July will mark two years since the passage of Section 1502, which is two years too many for those in Eastern Congo.

What Intel is Doing About It

    In March of this year Intel announced their pledge to offer a conflict free microprocessor (http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/corporate-responsibility/corporate-responsibility-conflict-free-minerals-video.html). While the SEC delays in the implementation of 1502 regulations, Intel recognizes their connection to those suffering in Eastern Congo and is working on the ground there, as well as with those who comprise their supply chains to ensure that Intel's products do not contain Conflict Minerals.   

What You Can Do About It

      The most important thing you can do to help bring an end to the extreme violence in Eastern Congo is to first and foremost be aware (so by all means pass along the link to this blog post too all of your family and friends!).  For you more industrious types, if you check out the links at the bottom of this post you can find simple and easy ways to become more involved.

     Well, I think I've thrown enough information at you for one blog post, but rest assured if you stick with me, I will delve back into the story of my personal journey from awareness to action, and will keep you informed as opportunities present themselves to become involved in the Conflict Mineral Free Movement.

Sources/Action Opportunities: http://www.raisehopeforcongo.org/content/conflict-minerals; http://www.raisehopeforcongo.org/content/take-action; http://www.easterncongo.org/; http://www2.americanprogress.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=202; http://blogs.intel.com/csr/2012/03/a-conflict-free-minerals-goal/

Administrative Professionals Day: Makin' it Look Easy For 60 Years

     Today is Administrative Professionals Day (APD), and it is more than a Hallmark Holiday.  In fact, Hallmark has nothing to do with this day which honors the role of 8.9 million women and men who perform roles within their respective work places, which are best described under the broad umbrella of the "administrative professional".

     APD, formerly known as Professional Secretaries Day--or "Secretaries Day", owes its origin to the need for clerical and secretarial support on the homefront during WWII.  With the men off fighting in the Pacific and European Theaters, women back home kept the fabric of our nation moving forward by working hard in factories, war plants, and of course don't forget the league of their own.  Of course there was also a need for secretarial (administrative) support, and so in 1942 the National Secretaries Association (now known as the International Association of Administrative Professionals, IAAP) was born, and in 1952 the first National Secretaries Week was established (Happy 60th National "Honor-Those-Who-Make-it-Happen-Week"!).

(You can read more about the history of IAAP here: http://iaap-hq.org/connections%20newsletter/images/history_of_iaap.htm)

     Fast forward to April 25, 2012.  So, here we are, it's Administrative Professionals Day, and chances are that most, if not all, of you reading this are an Administrative Professional, and hey today is about YOU! 

     Each year on APD I cannot help but think of the movies 9-5  and (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080319/) Office Space (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0151804/).  I really don't have much of a point to make here, except to say that while most of us are fortunate enough that we don't find it necessary to spend our days imagining ways to off our bosses, and most of us don't one day come into work and decide to cut down our cubicle walls so that we have a better view, we all from time-to-time feel frustrated, annoyed and maybe even taken for granted. 

     While I feel appreciated pretty much every day at work, I am aware that not everyone feels, or even knows, how much they are appreciated, and so that is why I think it is good to set aside one day a year when we collectively honor those who make the impossible possible and the difficult look like a breeze--heck some of us even double as expert printer un-jammers:

     To anyone who may feel underappreciated and unnoticed, know that today is for you and that your peers know just how important and integral to your office you are!

Additionl Information: http://www.iaap-hq.org/events/apw

   

Reasonably Unreasonable

                   As I sit at my computer listening to the Swing Kids soundtrack contemplating what Holocaust Remembrance day means to me, and why it is that I make a point to remember on this day each year, my mind flashes back to a quotation by George Bernard Shaw I came across recently while reading Half the Sky:

“Reasonable people adapt themselves to the world.  Unreasonable people attempt to adapt the world to themselves.  All progress, therefore, depends upon unreasonable people.”

                A powerful quotation packed full of turned-upside-down meaning. Perhaps a bit on the absolute side, but still the quotation has punch.   Who wants to be unreasonable?  Me, that’s who.

                Let’s take a moment to remember two extraordinarily unreasonable individuals:  Oskar Schindler and Paul Rusesabagina.  Oskar Schindler, an ethnic German Catholic and eventual member of the Nazi Party, saved the lives of over 1,000 of his Jewish contemporaries from the Holocaust by employing them in his various factories during the war.  Oskar Schnidler was viewed by many as an opportunist with extravagant tastes, and yet he created a “reasonable” facade which acted as a shield that saved lives.  Paul Rusesabagina, a Hutu and manager of a luxury hotel in Kigali, also saved more than 1,000 lives by bravely sheltering both Hutus and Tutsis alike during the 100 horrific days of the Rwandan Genocide that violently claimed the lives of more than 800,000.  Paul Rusesabagina used the walls of Hotel des Mille Collines as a literal, overt, and “unreasonable” shield to save lives.

                Oskar Schnidler pretended to adapt to the world around him, and therefore appeared “reasonable”, while Paul Rusesbagina refused to adapt to the violence of his fellow Hutus, and took an “unreasonable” stand which could have cost his life, but didn’t.   Despite the two different approaches, at some point both men refused to adapt to the world around them, and in their own heroic ways adapted the world to their view of how things ought to be.

                To me Holocaust Remembrance day is not only a day to remember the Holocaust, but also a day to remember all genocides, and to then identify current genocides (The Nubian Mountains in Sudan for example) and crimes against humanity about which I can speak up and do something.  Maybe this sounds like an unreasonable expectation of myself, and to some perhaps even trite and futile.  

                Acutely aware that some think my passion’s overwhelming and far too big for one person to take on, I will forge ahead with a reasonably unreasonable mindset.  Although my unreasonable outlook does not place my life in danger, it does risk eye rolls, private sighs of here-we-go-again and possibly annoyance.  Nevertheless, I will continue to advocate for the women, men and children of DR Congo who have suffered for far too long, and advocate for the SEC’s immediate release of strong 1502 regulations.  I will gladly fulfill my role as an Ambassador for Women for Women International**, and will also do what I can to support local causes which benefit and advocate for those in my immediate community who need it most.  All of this I unreasonably promise.

**WfWI “works with socially excluded women in eight countries where war and conflict have devastated lives and communities.”  http://www.womenforwomen.org/

Sources: http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005787 http://hrrfoundation.org/ http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5324187 http://www.ushmm.org/remembrance/dor/calendar/