On the official website for the Olympic Games we find the following statement:

"The Games have always brought people together in peace to respect universal moral principles. The upcoming Games will feature athletes from all over the world and help promote the Olympic spirit."

"To bring people together in peace." What an awesome and great responsibility. As a community who supports world peace and fights for social justice we focus our attention on the fact that China, the next Olympics host is not doing its part in representing the Olympic values stated above. You might be wondering how?

We turn our focus to Darfur, a topic we have previously discussed, where thousands keep dying and millions keep being displaced from their homes due to violence brought on by government sponsored militia called the Janjaweed. The main source of income for the Janjaweed comes from exporting crude oil, and China is one of Sudan's largest customers.

China is Sudan's largest trading partner and therefore has refused to take a stand against the atrocities that are happening even as you read this.

So this month we are focusing on signing a petition that asks China's President to take a stand against the genocide and to use its political and economic influence to pressure Sudan's government to put an end to the violence.

To sign the petition click the following link:

http://www.savedarfur.org/page/content/china/

For more information check the following websites and read some of the news reports on the current situation:

http://www.dreamfordarfur.org/
www.savedarfur.org

On Saturday, April 8, 2008 STOP-IT, the Salvation Army's human trafficking program for Chicago, will be having community meeting in order to educate people about human trafficking as well as tell people how to fight it here in Chicago.

Along with the STOP-IT team, special guest Dr. Michael Smith will be presenting as well. He is the author the The Salvation Army’s National Anti-Trafficking Training Program Manual. He's been fighting human trafficking in the States and internationally.

The training is open to anyone and everyone - college, high school, retirement home, whatever. Just make sure that you R.S.V.P. by April 3rd. This is crucial because they WILL NOT let anyone in at the door. You can R.S.V.P. by emailing Erin_Knowles@usc.salvationarmy.org or calling for Erin Knowles at 773.275.6233 ext.329.

The event will be hosted at the Midway Corps (5036-52 W. 47th St, Chicago, IL 60638-2000). It will go from 6pm-8:30pm, and a light supper will be provided.

Resource:
Salvation Army's STOP-IT Website

I've heard it said that William Booth talked about the idea that it is difficult to preach the Gospel to someone with an empty stomach. This sentiment was mirrored in the words of Arne Duncan (the current Chicago Public School President) in an interview this week which I made the title of this post. This week, the news has been showcasing the Chicago Public School system's tentative plan to open boarding schools for at risk and homeless kids. The following article, from the Chicago Tribune/Associated Press, outlines the idea well:


Boarding schools proposed for Chicago Public Schools
Associated Press
12:42 PM CDT, March 14, 2008


CHICAGO - Chicago Public Schools officials are eyeing an ambitious plan to create public boarding schools they hope will help homeless children and those from troubled homes.

Under the still-tentative plan, the first pilot residential program could open for 15 to 20 students as early as September 2009. District officials hope to launch as many as six boarding schools during a several-year period.

Chicago Public Schools chief Arne Duncan said such schools are increasingly important as neighborhoods become unsafe for students.

"Some children should not go home at night; some of them we need 24-7," he said. "We want to serve children who are really not getting enough structure at home. There's a certain point where dad is in jail or has disappeared and mom is on crack ... where there isn't a stable grandmother, that child is being raised by the streets."

Children would attend the school only after their parents or guardian choose the option. And schools would then work with parents to ensure that the students' academic and social needs are being met.

"This is not about doing something to parents because parents are bad," said Josh Edelman, a CPS official who spent four years as principal of The SEED School, the nation's oldest urban boarding school in Washington, D.C. "This is about doing something in conjunction with parents and the community."

CPS officials plan to begin soliciting proposals for the project next month, but it's still not clear how the schools would be funded, who would shoulder the liability for caring for students or whether the schools would be run by the district or an outside agency.

The plan is the third time CPS has considered public boarding schools since the mid-1990s. But each time, the effort failed to get off the ground.

Illinois already has one public boarding school -- the Illinois Math and Science Academy in Aurora, which teaches gifted 10th- through 12th-graders.

- What do you think? Do you think this system would enable parents to continue living destructive lives?

- Do you think this type of classroom environment could provide a sort of family for these kids?

Resource (you MUST see this movie):