Excited about Yoga...

These fantastic press releases were designed by Lindsay P.  The blue one contains the information about our Salt Lake Yoga for Congo Women event; the orange one has the information for our Logan event.  Both events will be on Saturday, February 26.  Registration begins at the times noted on the press releases; the classes will begin half an hour later.

We're looking forward to seeing you there!  The yoga classes will be facilitated by Ann Richmond, who organized the Yoga for Congo Women event in Denver last summer, and she has planned a class that will be suitable for beginners and those with more yoga experience.  Don't be intimidated if you've never done yoga before; you will find a warm and supportive environment focused on generating solidarity and compassion.  Don't forget your donation for Women for Women International; we'll be sending all our good vibes out into the universe, but let's send out some practical cash along with them!

Calling all activists!

Welcome to our new Utah for Congo blog!  

Here's why we're mad:

Over the past decade, nearly 7 million people have been killed in Democratic Republic of the Congo because of war and conflict.  That makes it the most deadly conflict of our generation, the deadliest since World War II.  Half of these deaths are children under the age of five.

One of the most horrific elements of the conflict is the habitual use of sexual violence and rape to terrorize women and children and destroy communities.  The sexual violence is characterized by its unspeakable brutality and by the pain and destruction left in its wake.  Figures are hard to come by, but a soon-to-be-released study suggests that the number of people raped over the past decade comes close to 3 million.  

What haunts us is the fact that each of us is complicit in the continuation of this conflict.  Violent groups are fighting for control of natural resources like gold, tungsten, tin and tantalum: Resources that tech companies use to manufacture the electronics equipment (like computers and cell phones) that Americans use.  So every time we use our mobile phones, which are filled with these conflict minerals, we are part of the problem.

So let's be part of the solution.

Right here in Utah, we have several upcoming events to raise awareness about the conflict as well as funds to help survivors.  See the sidebar of the blog for information about our upcoming Yoga for Congo Women events in Salt Lake and Logan, and our second-annual Run for Congo Women 5K Walk/Run in Salt Lake.  The events are open to the public; all we ask is that you bring a donation and participate with us.  If you'd like to assist in planning these events, or if you know a business that would like to help sponsor them, please leave a comment letting us know how we can get in touch with you.

100 percent of event proceeds will go to Women for Women International, an organization that provides psychosocial support, job training, and resources to women who have survived the horrors of rape and war.


Please join us.  Let's create a community of Congo activists in Utah; let's make our voices heard.