Welcome to the Utah for Congo blog!
Here's why we're mad:
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 recent study suggests that the number of people raped over the past decade is around 2 million.
What haunts us is the fact that in a way, each of us is complicit in the continuation of this conflict. Of course the conflict is complex, deeply rooted in history, and multi-factorial. But it is also a case study for the interconnectedness of the global economy. The raw materials in the goods we use and purchase have to come from somewhere; though we may not be conscious of it, many of the products we buy are actually extracted and manufactured in connection with slavery, extortion, and violent conflict.
In DR Congo, armed groups are fighting in part 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, and every time we choose not to think about our place in global supply chains and the role that multinational corporations play on the stage of the global economy, we are part of the problem.
So let's be part of the solution.
Right here in Utah, we are hosting and planning events to raise awareness about the conflict as well as generating funds to help survivors. We give informational presentations, we organize fundraisers, and we encourage people to flex their activist muscles and practice speaking up.
See the sidebar of the blog for information about our upcoming events, like our 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.
