Upcoming Events!

We have a couple of exciting events coming up! (Okay granted, one of them is just about t-shirts, but they are absolutely fantastic t-shirts so they are allowed to be in this post.)

First, the Ski and Bike Relay for Darfur. A brilliant event devised by Jeremy, it is a [LED] torch-passing relay that will run from Whistler Village to Downtown Vancouver, 'with the aim of raising awareness and mobilizing action to stop genocide in Darfur' (quote taken from Jeremy's concept proposal, which is below).

Take a look at the blog for this awesome event:

http://skiandbikefordarfur.blogspot.com/

and if you would like to get involved in any way, email Jeremy at skifordarfur@gmail.com.



Second, the t-shirts! We are ordering 10 of these beauties (2 small, 4 medium, and 4 large):





We are also considering buying t-shirts/totes from a company called 'Deliver Darfur,' a non-profit organization that donates all of its proceeds to the International Rescue Committee (an organization that is currently helping more than 700 000 refugees that have been affected by the conflict in Darfur).

Their products (which have amazing designs) are here:

http://www.deliverdarfur.com/products.html

Please give us your opinions as to whether or not you like the shirts, so that we know how much, if any, to get. :)




<<Ski and Bike Rally for Darfur
Proposal and Concept

The Big Idea: Link a rally-type ski and bike traverse from Whistler Village to Downtown Vancouver with the aim of raising awareness and mobilizing action to stop genocide in Darfur (Sudan).

How the VOC can help prevent genocide in Darfur :
1. Assign an exec to work with Jer to organize the logistics of the ski traverse from Whistler to Cypress Bowl, and to coordinate the actual traverse in terms of identifying “legs” of the rally, coordinating sign-up, etc.
2. Encourage members to sign up for legs of the rally and to come out for the final rally downtown

How does doing a ski traverse help end genocide in Darfur?
 While genocide continues in Darfur, with already 400,000 dead and 2.5 million people displaced, we in Canada are doing almost nothing to end the conflict.

 Canadians are beginning to forget about Darfur, while the crisis continues and the potential for a meaningful intervention is ever present. In fact, the Conservative Party has no policy on Darfur whatsoever. Without pointing any more fingers, the purpose of this project is to instead encourage citizens and politicians from any and all parties to think about, feel hope for, and take action on Darfur. The point of this project is to make Darfur a Canadian issue.

 Why a ski traverse? The idea of a ski and bike rally is intended to capture the flavor of the 2010 Olympics and
to make it local and Canadian.

 What do the Olympics have to do with Darfur? Two things.
(1) While the 2010 Olympics will be in Vancouver, the 2008 Olympics will be this summer in Beijing, China. China turns out to be a major player in Sudan, being the importer of 65% of Sudan’s exports (oil). In other words, China has tremendous pull in Sudan. While China has recognized that the Sudanese government is in gross human rights violations, China has yet to use its clout to urge the government to peace talks and to urge the government to stop using genocide as a tactic. Canada and other western countries have the opportunity to pressure China into urging action from the Sudanese Government. With the Olympics upcoming this summer, China would like to not be shamed for their own poor human rights record. This presents the opportunity for them to look more human rights friendly by lobbying in Sudan.
(2) The 2010 Olympics are important to Canada. A Canadian federal election is upcoming any time in the next 2 years. We can use the hype surrounding our own Olympics to draw a connection to the spirit of international good will and fairness—the principle around which the Olympics were built. Political analysts believe that Canada, as a "middle power”, has huge potential to help end the conflict through diplomacy and tactical aid. While Canada had a task force for Darfur, led by Romeo Dallaire, the current administration decided to end this project.

What’s this whole project about?
Starting in early April, a rally ski and bike traverse will leave Whistler Village, carrying a (LED) torch. There will be several legs, where one group will exit and another group will take over. The VOC and any and all other members of the outdoor community are invited to participate. There will be media sponsors and coverage (even daily articles in the local paper and blogs) and corporate sponsors (MEC? UBC? Olympic Committee?). Jer will oversee the media side of things. The traverse will hug the Sea-to-Sky corridor to make it of particular local relevance. When the traverse finally arrives at Cypress Bowl, a critical mass bike rally will carry the torch the final leg to the Olympic clock downtown for a rally. We will invite local politicians from all parties and others that know about the Darfur conflict to speak and get the media out to get it on the news. Along the way, we’ll also make a film.>>