Author Archive

What’s next for Sudan?

January 16, 2011

Voting wound up Saturday afternoon in Southern Sudan’s referendum on self-determination. A local singer in Juba referred to this entire process as simply “doing the paper work” of secession. It’s true, the result may be foregone. But now that voting…

Post filed in: Africa

An inspiring story from Sudan

January 14, 2011

I read the article below in the Juba Post this morning. It’s one story of many, but it’s similar to what we witnessed at a couple of polling centres over the last week and I think it’s worth excerpting here:…

Post filed in: Africa

Inside an observation mission

January 13, 2011

There are only 2 days of voting left (assuming that the Referendum Commission doesn’t extend voting). Several observation teams are discussing preliminary statements, including the Carter Center and the EU. We are, as well. What to put in a statement…

Post filed in: Africa

Images from the Referendum in Southern Sudan

January 12, 2011

Posted are some images from the referendum on self-determination in Southern Sudan taking place January 9-15, 2011. Day One Yei Day Two Congo Road Day Three Maridi Road Day Four Juba Road ——————————————- John Lewis, KAIROS International Human Rights Coordinator,…

Post filed in: Africa

Self-determination: some questions remain

January 8, 2011

It’s hard not to get caught up in the enthusiasm the people of Juba feel for the coming days. Tomorrow, Jubans and their neighbours throughout Southern Sudan begin voting in a referendum on splitting up Sudan. In a few months,…

Post filed in: Africa

The virtue of patience: freedom and lost luggage

January 7, 2011

Good people have many virtues, including patience. By that account, the people of Southern Sudan must be good people. They have exercised remarkable patience over the last few decades, waging a struggle for independence which included 20 years of war…

Post filed in: Africa

SpOILer?

January 6, 2011

There is a lot of talk of oil in Juba. The referendum on splitting up the country which begins on Sunday will begin to clarify positions on who benefits from the considerable oil revenues of Sudan. It won’t be the…

Post filed in: Africa, Ecological Justice

Will there be blood?

January 5, 2011

It’s the question on everyone’s mind: will war break out after the referendum? The short answer is: I don’t know. And it’s possible, nobody does. The president of Sudan, Omar Al Bashir, was in town on Tuesday saying all the…

Post filed in: Africa

Juba, finally

January 5, 2011

After a journey that lasted too long (sailing up the Nile would have been quicker) I am in Juba, Southern Sudan. What is immediately apparent is that, if this town is going to become a new national capital (and it…

Post filed in: Africa

Sudan, Canada, and the struggle for self-determination

December 16, 2010

“Respect the outcome of the referendum, embrace peace and resist any call to return to war.” Women’s groups of Sudan, Khartoum, December 2010. 6 years is a long time to wait. But after six years of interim peace, the people…

Post filed in: Africa, Gender Justice/Women of Courage

Letter from Theresa

August 23, 2010

By Theresa Halkett We the Indigenous peoples that are representing Canada on this tour are very thankful to be here. It has been very moving over the past three days; it hurts us so much to see what the Colombian…

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Latin America

Les communautés afro-colombiennes : entre résistance et déplacement

August 23, 2010

Par Marie-Dominik Langlois L’ouverture de la délégation a débuté à Bogota, le 16 août, avec la rencontre pré-mission des observatrices et observateurs internationaux. Près d’une centaine de femmes étaient réunies, provenant de différents pays (Espagne, Pérou, Brésil, Honduras, Canada, Québec,…

Post filed in: En français

The adventure begins for some, ends for others, and awaits 2 more

August 16, 2010

Six of us arrived safely in Bogotá, last night. Jill, Marie-Do, Rachel and I flew through Mexico on bankruptcy-protected airline Mexicana. We didn’t know that the airline would be in trouble when we booked the tickets. The only supplies they…

Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Latin America