He is my superhero!!!!

On October 22, 2005, more than 43 cities around the world joined together to walk for the forgotten children of northern Uganda. With voices raised and signs held high, thousands of committed global citizens demanded these children's story be heard and that international attention to end this war be made a priority.

Look below to see how each city, in their own way, broke the silence of more than 40,000 night commuter children. Our hope is that you become inspired to pick up your feet, so they can go home.

Click Here to learn more about night commuters in northern Uganda.

Canada -- Calgary | Edmonton | Halifax | Kitchener | Montreal | North Bay | Ottawa | St. Johns | Thunder Bay | Toronto | Vancouver | Winnipeg

United States -- Austin | Boston | Boulder | Chapel Hill | Charlottesville | Chicago | Dayton |Denver | Grand Rapids | Lawrence | Los Angeles | Minneapolis | New York | Philadelphia | Phoenix | Pittsburgh | San Diego | Seattle | South Bend

World -- Beijing | Coventry | Gulu | Kampala | London | Nairobi | Newry | Perth | Stockholm | Sucre | Uzice




Grand Rapids, Michigan
Text by Nathan J. Bauer



Nathan Bauer, Uganda-CAN's Assistant Director, speaks about the forgotten children of northern Uganda:

For the last two decades, the people of northern Uganda have faced a violent war that has left nearly all families in the region displaced. Children fear abduction every night and make a long commute to night centers where organizations fight tirelessly to keep them safe. Women are continuously raped and abused by both rebel and government soldiers, and the situation has seen very little international attention. Today, though, there is hope that this can all end.

Even though many of you have not seen firsthand the camps, the fields of human waste, the water unfit to even bathe in, the children struggling to breathe through the infestation of flies, you know. You know that our world is interconnected and the struggle of one community is the struggle of all. You know that the sadness we see in the eyes of the children in photographs is real, and that it is unnecessary. Most importantly, you know we can do something about it.

Most important in this struggle is for you to spread the knowledge you will gain from this day. The plight of northern Ugandans has been labeled the most forgotten crisis of our time, and the responsibility of ending that label rests solely on you. Pick up your feet, so they can go home.




Lawrence, Kansas
Text by Rebekah Heacock

52 people from ages 13 to 82 (and one dog) participated in the Lawrence, KS GuluWalk on October 21 and 22. Over 40 people, most of whom had never seen them before, watched Invisible Children and the Act for Stolen Children video with us in South Park; eleven spent the night in the Lawrence Community Building. We walked 8.8 miles and raised close to $2000.

The best thing I heard at our walk: "How can I get involved?"




Los Angeles, California
Text by Libby Collier

The sky was grey as the crowd was gathering. But by 2:00pm the sun was breaking through the clouds as over 100 people gathered in Los Angeles in the heart of the San Fernando Valley to march in solidarity for children who are forgotten and have no voice, at least not one most of the world is listening to.

The event began with a few words before the walk by the Guluwalk organizers and brief prayer by the respected pastor Johnson Okema from Lira, Uganda. After walking 3.2 miles, the walkers arrived at Woodley Park. A platform with various leaders from the local Ugandan community as well as the president of the California Ugandan Community organization were present. The keynote speaker was Marilee Dunker-Pierce, the daughter of World Vision Founder, the late Bob Pierce. After the park venue, the crowd walked back to the Ugandan Community Church and then viewed several audio/visual presentations detailing the conflict. A small group slept on the cold floor of the hall like the night-commuters do every night. Those who attended will not be the same. They now know the real work for lasting peace has only just begun!

Quotes from the Los Angeles Gulu Walk

"These children--they have faces, they have names, and they need our help!"
-Marilee Pierce Dunker (Daughter of World Vision founder, Bob Pierce)

"The LA walk, though small in number, was a big success. The support and concern each walker expressed for the child 'night-commuters' in Northern Uganda was both overwhelming and encouraging. And it doesn't stop here."
-Janea Brown




South Bend, Indiana
Text by Lindsay Hero and Peter Quaranto



Lindsay Hero speaks about northern Uganda's night commuters:

“Every sunset in northern Uganda – a region devastated by two decades of war – up to 40,000 ragged children trudge miles into towns rather than risk sleeping at home and being kidnapped by the notoriously brutal Lord’s Resistance Army rebels. They walk every night to sleep on streets or under verandas, and every morning to return to their families.

And they are the lucky ones. More than 30,000 children as young as six have been abducted by the rebel army, used as child soldiers and sex slaves in a two-decade-old rebellion. Almost every child captured by the LRA is forced to kill or maim using clubs or machetes. Sometimes, they are even forced to kill their own families and burn their own villages.



Today we are walking to tell their story and demand international action to end this war. We are joined this weekend by people in more than 47 cities, ranging from Beijing to Boston, Kampala to San Diego, Australia to Washington D.C. Today, we are part of the largest international mobilization ever for these children and their families. Let us walk with resolve and courage."

Peter Quaranto, Uganda-CAN's Co-Director, speaks about northern Uganda:

“One year ago, United Nations Under-Secretary General of Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland called the situation in northern Uganda “the world’s most neglected humanitarian crisis.” He further called the 19-year-old war “one of the biggest scandals of our generation.” Those two words endure: neglect and scandal.

The tragedy of northern Uganda is scandalous. 90% of the population or 1.6 million people displaced into internally-displaced peoples’ camps, living like animals in the most squalid conditions. When I visited some of the camps, I saw children playing in their own feces. In these camps, HIV/AIDS abounds, hunger is rampant and people lack access to water and sanitation.

More than 30,000 children as young as six abducted, used as cannon fodder and sexual slavery for the Lord’s Resistance Army. These kids, no different than those who study down the street at Perle Elementary or Clay High School, are forced to kill and maim people, even sometimes their own families, in the most brutal fashion.



And the lucky ones – up to 40,000 children as young as two – forced to leave their families and walk miles nightly to sleep on town streets, under verandas or makeshift tents to avoid being kidnapped by the atrocious LRA. I will never forget watching these masses of children, most without shoes and in ragged clothes, walking alone into the town of Gulu as the sun set. It is scandalous.

And girls and women, in particular, are victims to sexual abuse and rape by not only the rebels, but the Ugandan government military, which often preys on the vulnerable of the internally-displaced people’s camps. Girls as young as twelve are forced to sell their body for protection and survival. There is an African proverb: when two elephants clash, it is the grass that suffers.

The Government of Uganda has failed its responsibility to protect its own civilians. And even worse, it has been a perpetrator of violence against its own civilians. When a government cannot or will not protect its own civilians, the countries of the United Nations made a pledge a month ago to take up action to fulfill that responsibility.

Yet, to date, the United Nations has neglected to address the gross assault on human life in northern Uganda. As a matter of fact, when the issue was brought to the United Nations agenda one month ago, the United States asked that it be removed. The United States, along with the UK and others, have sent significant amounts of military and development assistance to Uganda over the last decade, but have failed to address Uganda’s greatest agony: the war on northern Uganda.

Today, we gather here with people from all over the world, from Nairobi to New York, from Winnipeg to Washington D.C. and from Stockholm to South Bend, to demand that the neglect of the international community cease and an active, sustained engagement for a peaceful resolution to this war commence. Through political, financial and logistical assistance, the international community, especially our own government here in the United States, can bolster a peace process led by the prophetic woman Betty Bigombe and help much-needed civilian protection and humanitarian relief.

The time for peace has come. It is deeply moving to see so many of us gathered here today, thousands of miles away, but standing in solidarity and refusing to accept a status quo of neglect and scandal. Today is just the beginning of a much longer walk that we commit ourselves to until the guns of northern Uganda fall silent. Thank you.




Washington, D.C.
Text by Michael Poffenberger

Nearly 300 people walked through the pouring rain in Washington, DC for the Global GuluWalk day. Participants set off from the Ugandan embassy and processed more than four miles to a vigil on the lawn of the White House. They were joined by tens of thousands of other GuluWalkers in more than 40 cities around the world.

As participants streamed into a park for the vigil after the walk, they were greeted by the sound of Uganda's night commuter children singing at a center in Gulu town, recorded by Uganda-CAN team members in June. Though the rain did not make for an enjoyable walk, participants were reminded by speakers at the vigil that the children make such walks every night and every morning, often with little food, no shoes, and propelled by terror and fear.

Speakers at the vigil included Chief Peace Mediator Betty Bigombe, Ambassador Edith Ssempala, and former child soldier Charles Bongomin. On a hopeful note, Bigombe reiterated to the crowd that her efforts to mediate would continue; even though recent indictments for top LRA leaders from the International Criminal Court make negotiations difficult, there remains an urgent need to reach out to mid- and lower-level LRA.

Walk organizers hope that the event will spark an international constituency committed to seeing an end to the unnecessary suffering in northern Uganda.

This Holiday Season, give children in northern Uganda the greatest gift: Peace!

1.) Read the story below about a special Christmas wish.

2.) Write letters (and have your friends and community write too!) through January to the U.S. State Department and U.S. Mission to the United Nations asking officials to address civilian protection in northern Uganda. Or, if you live in the UK, visit OxFam's website.

3.) Call in to targeted members of the U.S. Congress on December 13th, after inviting your friends and family to join you, and tell them that northern Uganda is a forgotten crisis that demands their attention and action.

4.) Show your concern and love for war-affected children by sending a holiday greeting to former child soldiers, who are now living in rehabilitation centers in northern Uganda. Most kids can read basic English, or the staff will share your message. Send the card to us (3035 4th St. NE, Washington, DC 20017) and we'll forward them on to the children.

5.) Make a holiday contribution to peace in northern Uganda by supporting the work of Uganda-CAN as we move into the next year. You can donate online.

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The Story: Four months ago on August 1st, Carolyn Davis, an editorial writer for The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote an open letter to First Lady Laura Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, calling on them to visit northern Uganda witness the torture, kidnapping and rape that are all common in the 19-year-old war.

She wrote, "What in the world does it take to get people of such great influence and position to focus - really focus - on these kids, who for 19 years have been the main targets in a stubbornly stupid war?...As many as 30,000 children have been abducted and forced to become soldiers and sex slaves. Thousands have been killed. More than 80 percent of those living amid the violence - some 1.4 million people - are in camps with inadequate food and hygiene. So, not only do rebels hunt the children, but hunger and disease stalk them as well...Allow me to make this offer. I will go with you to northern Uganda and introduce you to these kids, and to Ugandans working tirelessly for peace."

Concluding, she wrote, "Everyone who has seen this situation firsthand, especially the sight of thousands of children trudging at twilight to sleep in safer surroundings, comes away converted to the cause of helping these kids. You will, too, Madam Secretary and Mrs. Bush. You would, too, President Bush. I even will provide a target date: Most of these children are Christian. Give them the best imaginable Christmas gift: Push to end this war by Dec. 25."

This holiday season, we at Uganda-CAN are taking Miss Davis' call for action seriously. It's time to give the children of northern Uganda the greatest gift possible: return to their families, a chance to go to school and long-awaited peace. Yet, these gifts will only come to reality if our leaders make them a priority.

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The Letters: Write letters to State Department and UN officials, asking that they address civilian protection in northern Uganda. If you wish, use the sample texts below.

To: Jendayi Frazer, Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Department of State, 2201 C St. NW, Room 6234A, Washington DC 20520

Dear Ms. Frazer:

The Lord's Resistance Army crisis in southern Sudan and northern Uganda has persisted for nearly 20 years with few prospects for resolution or relief. Today, it is Africa's longest running war. Child mortality rates are far above emergency levels. More than 300,000 children under the age of five suffer from malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea and preventable diseases. 1,000 people are dying every week because of this war. Over 1.7 million people remain confined to internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and more than 30,000 children in northern Uganda have been abducted by the Lord's Resistance Army.

Neglect of the situation by donor countries and the United Nations has allowed key actors in the conflict to fall short of fulfilling their responsibilities, and thus has prolonged the war. To date, the Government of Uganda has failed its responsibility to protect its own civilians, whether due to neglect or to lack of capacity. Recent expressions of interest in peace by rebel leadership have been met with disregard by Ugandan officials. The U.S. government has taken steps through USAID to address the humanitarian crisis in northern Uganda, but not brought adequate engagement to bolster civilian protection and support a resolution of the war. The people of northern Uganda wait as their children continue to be abducted, homes burned and families killed.

This holiday season, we want to help give the children of northern Uganda the best imaginable Christmas gift: an end to this war by December 25. Through sustained high-level engagement, the U.S. government working with the United Nations can give these children return to their families, a chance to go back to school, and long-awaited peace. However, these gifts can only be actualized if the U.S. State Department takes further steps to make them a priority.

We encourage and ask the U.S. State Department to take the following steps:

• Send a senior envoy of the State Department to work directly to support peaceful resolution of the conflict, acting as a liaison between relevant regional governments and Betty Bigombe. At the same time, provide financial resources to give a more robust framework and secretariat to support Betty Bigombe's efforts.
• In light of an increasing body of evidence that the government of Sudan maintains its support of the LRA, increase pressure on the government of Sudan to cease all such support and join in good faith operations with Ugandan and SPLA forces.
• Provide regular reports to Congress on the humanitarian, security, and human rights situation in northern Uganda.
• Investigate and address the atmosphere of impunity for Ugandan soldiers who profiteer from the war and continue to commit serious human rights violations against the population in northern Uganda.
• Provide more aid money to address the physical and psychological needs of the war-affected population.
• Seek to introduce the issue to the United Nations Security Council.

We thank you for your work thus far to bring peace in northern Uganda, and hope to continue a dialogue on how best to bring peace and security for children and their families there.

Happy Holidays!

(Your name here)


To: Ambassador John Bolton, United States Mission to the United Nations, 799 United Nations Plaza, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10017

Dear Ambassador John Bolton:

The Lord's Resistance Army crisis in southern Sudan and northern Uganda has persisted for nearly 20 years with few prospects for resolution or relief. Today, it is Africa's longest running war. Child mortality rates are far above emergency levels. More than 300,000 children under the age of five suffer from malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea and preventable diseases. 1,000 people are dying every week because of this war. Over 1.7 million people remain confined to internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and more than 30,000 children in northern Uganda have been abducted by the Lord's Resistance Army.

Neglect of the situation by donor countries and the United Nations has allowed key actors in the conflict to fall short of fulfilling their responsibilities, and thus has prolonged the war. To date, the Government of Uganda has failed its responsibility to protect its own civilians, whether due to neglect or to lack of capacity. Recent expressions of interest in peace by rebel leadership have been met with disregard by Ugandan officials. The U.S. government has taken steps through USAID to address the humanitarian crisis in northern Uganda, but not brought adequate engagement to bolster civilian protection and support a resolution of the war. The people of northern Uganda wait as their children continue to be abducted, homes burned and families killed.

This holiday season, we want to help give the children of northern Uganda the best imaginable Christmas gift: an end to this war by December 25. Through sustained high-level engagement, the U.S. government working with the United Nations can give these children return to their families, a chance to go back to school, and long-awaited peace. However, these gifts can only be actualized if the U.S. mission to the United Nations takes further steps to make them a priority.

We encourage and ask the U.S. Mission to the United Nations to take the following steps:

• Introduce and adopt a Security Council resolution dealing with the crisis in northern Uganda.
• Call for tripartite talks between Sudan, Uganda, and DRC to coordinate an effective response to the LRA's presence in the region.
• Expand the mandates of MONUC and UNMIS to cooperate with the ICC in arresting LRA leaders.
• Call on the government of Sudan to end its support for the LRA and to pursue joint military operations with Ugandan and SPLA forces.
• Call on the Ugandan government to hold accountable its armed forces who commit human rights abuses.
• Support the sending of a senior U.N. envoy to contribute to resolution of the conflict and to report regularly to the Security Council on the humanitarian and human rights situation in northern Uganda.

We thank you for your work thus far to bring peace in northern Uganda, and hope to continue a dialogue on how best to bring peace and security for children and their families there.

Happy Holidays!

(Your name here)

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The Calls: On December 13th, organize a call-in center to help us flood the phone lines of key members of Congress with messages that northern Uganda demands action and attention from our governments. Have each person just make one phone call; if you or your peers are from the constituency of one of the members of Congress below, be sure to call them. Otherwise, just pick anyone from this list! Use the contact information and content below for your calls.

SENATE:
Mel Martinez (FL): Chairman, Africa Subcommittee of Foreign Relations Committee, 202-224-3041
Dick Lugar (IN): Chair, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, 202-224-4814
Joseph Biden (DE): Active member of Africa subcommittee, 202-224-5042
Sam Brownback (KS): Active on Uganda, Visited northern Uganda, 202-224-6521

HOUSE of REPRENSENTATIVES:
Chris Smith (NJ): Chair, House Subcommittee on Africa; Chair, Uganda Caucus, 202-225-3765
Frank Wolf (VA): Chair, Human Rights Caucus; Member, Uganda Caucus, 202-225-5136
Donald Payne (NJ): Member, Uganda Caucus, 202-225-3436
Tom Tancredo (CO): Member, Subcommittee on Africa; Member, Uganda Caucus, 202-225-7882

When you call their offices, make sure to make the following points:

1.) Express your concern about the situation in northern Uganda:

• The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) crisis in southern Sudan and northern Uganda has persisted for nearly 20 years, and has received little attention from our government.
• 1,000 people are dying every week because of this war!
• Over 1.7 million people remain confined in internally displaced persons camps and more than 30,000 children in northern Uganda have been abducted by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA).

2.) Thank the congressman for his past active engagement in addressing African crises.

3.) Encourage that only through strong and coordinated action from the international community, led by the U.S., can there be an effective response to improve regional security and help these children and their families.

4.) Ask the member of Congress to make this issue a priority and to require regular reports to Congress on what the U.S. is doing to contribute to peace in northern Uganda.

5.) Ask the member of Congress to ensure that the strong language pressuring the Sudanese government to cut off support for the LRA remains present in the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act.