Sudan advocacy

TAKE ACTION Now is the Time - Rescue Peace in Sudan

Lutheran World Relief encourages you to stand in solidarity with the people of Sudan by taking part in the Interfaith Sudan Weekend of Prayer. Your support and prayers are an important part in making peace in Sudan possible!

	ONE-PAGE SUMMARY This resource provides a short summary of the weekend of prayer and ideas for your congregation to get involved. Post it on your church bulletin board or hand it out during the service.
	PRAYER RESOURCES This resource provides prayers, bible verses, hymns and litanies of peace and justice that relate to the conflicts in Sudan.
	SUDAN BACKGROUND Unfamiliar with the challenges in Sudan? Or are members of your congregation unfamiliar with them? Read this description to learn about the conflicts in Sudan.
	BULLETIN INSERT This resource provides prayers for Sudan to be inserted into your church's bulletin.

DVD/VHS:
The following documentaries are excellent educational and advocacy tools. They provide compelling and sometimes graphic visual footage of the war in Sudan and feature interviews and stories of those who the conflict has impacted directly. These are great resources for use in adult forums or for initiating discussions in the home. If you have difficulty finding any resource, contact Mary Duvall. Note: These films contain material about the violent situation in Sudan and may not be appropriate for certain audiences. Please review any film before showing it.

Darfur Diaries: Message From Home
Directed by Aisha Bain, Jen Marlowe and Adam Shapiro
(Cinema Libre, 2006)

Format: DVD
Suitable for: Young Adult/Adult
Running time: 55 minutes
Excerpt Recommendation for Adult Forums: Chapter 7

In October 2004 a team of independent filmmakers and activists snuck into Sudan and captured some of the first images of the atrocities occurring in Darfur. Hear the people of Darfur speak of their own experiences, hopes and fears. Meet some of Sudan’s most marginalized people, those who made invisible in the mainstream media. This DVD can be purchased by visiting www.darfurdiaries.org

Sand and Sorrow
Directed by Paul Freeman (HBO Home Video, 2008)

Format: DVD
Suitable for: Young Adult/Adult
Running time: 93 minutes
Excerpt Recommendation for Adult Forums: Chapter 2

Produced and narrated by American actor George Clooney, this sobering documentary combines interviews with activists on the ground with an exploration of the international community’s failure to respond. The film includes some graphic photos of victims of violence and shocking footage of villages burned to the ground. This DVD can be purchased by visiting www.sandandsorrow.org 

The Devil Came on Horseback
Directed by Ricki Stern and Anne Sundberg
(International Film Circuit / Break Thru Films, 2008).

Format: DVD
Suitable for: Young Adult/Adult
Running time: 85 minutes
Excerpt Recommendation for Adult Forums: Chapter 2

This documentary tells of the events witnessed by Brian Steidle, a former U.S. Marine Captain whose position as an unarmed observe with the African Union in 2004 provided him a first-hand view of the genocide in Darfur. The tragedies that Steidle witnessed spurred him to return to the States and advocate for an end to the violence and conflict. This DVD can be purchased by visiting www.thedevilcameonhorseback.com

POV: The Lost Boys of Sudan
Directed by Jon Shenk and Megan Mylan (New Video Group, 2004)

Format: DVD
Suitable for: All ages
Running time: 87 minutes
Excerpt Recommendation for Adult Forums: Chapter 1

The Lost Boys, a group of thousands of youth displaced by the war in Sudan, survived the violence in their home country and escaped through the desert to refugee camps. This film documents the stories of two of these young men as they relocate to America. It captures their struggles to make a life for themselves as they strive to earn a living and gain an education, all while trying to support friends and family back home. The DVD can be purchased by visiting http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2004/lostboysofsudan/ .  There you’ll also find background information and presentation ideas. 

God Grew Tired of Us
Directed by Christopher Quinn (New Market Films/Silver Nitrate, 2006)

Format: DVD
Suitable for: Young Adult/Adult
Running time: 90 minutes
Excerpt Recommendation for Adult Forums:
Chapters 2 and 3

Another Narrated by Nicole Kidman, this documentary follows three “Lost Boys” from Sudan who, after crossing the Sudanese wilderness to escape civil war, reach the Kakuma refugee camp and then travel to America. As they build lives for themselves, these young men struggle to keep their culture, support friends and family back home and advocate for their country. This DVD can be purchased by visiting www.godgrewtiredofus.com.

Darfur: A Call to Action - Lessons from Faith Leaders
(Save Darfur Coalition, 2007)

Format: DVD
Suitable for: Young Adult/Adult
Running time: 20 minutes
Excerpt Recommendation for Adult Forums: entire DVD

“Darfur: A Call to Action – Lessons from Faith Leaders” is a 20 minute documentary film produced by the Save Darfur Coalition. The documentary provides helpful information on the violence in the region and explores what people of faith can do to help Darfuris in need. This is an excellent DVD to show your church youth group or at your next adult forum. You can purchase this DVD by following the link below.

http://yhst-88482264721289.stores.yahoo.net/dacatoac.html

 

 

WHO IS LWR? Lutheran World Relief, an international nonprofit organization, works to end poverty and injustice by empowering some of the world's most impoverished communities to help themselves. With partners in 35 countries, LWR seeks to promote sustainable development with justice and dignity by helping communities bring about change for healthy, safe and secure lives; engage in Fair Trade; promote peace and reconciliation; and respond to emergencies. LWR is headquartered in Baltimore, Md. and has worked in international development and relief since 1945.

Lutheran World Relief is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), individuals and parish groups in international relief, development, advocacy and social responsibility.

YOU CAN HELP

Ask Others to Advocate with LWR - Sign-Up Sheet
Initiate your advocacy efforts is in your home community. Ask your congregation, neighbors, family and friends to join with you in working for peace, justice and dignity for our brothers and sisters around the world by signing up to receive occasional LWR advocacy updates. Copy this resource and send filled in copies to LWR.

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For more information, please contact advocacy@lwr.org.