"Head...Shoulders...Knees and...SOCKS!"

This afternoon I had the opportunity to hear Mark Hanis speak.  If you EVER get the opportunity to do so, you MUST hear him speak and truly listen to what he says. 

In 2004, while a student at Swarthmore, he first learned about the genocide in Darfur.  Mark, who is the grandson of Holocaust survivors, was stunned that the world was standing to the side and watching.  He and some of his fellow students decided that action must be taken.  They formed the Genocide Intervention Network. 

They are working to empower others to speak out and encourage lawmakers to take a stand.  They set up an anti-genocide hot line: 1-800-GENOCIDE that provides Americans and Canadians with talking points and information about what actions their lawmakers can do, and provides the caller with direct access to their elected officials and the White House.  As a result of their work, policies and legislation have been passed and people around the country are voicing their opinion and taking a stand against genocide.

It is extraordinary and inspiring to me that a young man took such action and now is a leading voice in the fight against genocide. 

We've all been hearing about what is going on in Darfur.  It's one thing for us to sit and listen, but to cause action and stop this horrible injustice, you must speak out and be heard.