<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10pt"><DIV>Hi again everyone:</DIV>
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<DIV>I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of interest in response to the idea of creating a solidarity campaign to support our friends and family in Guinea. This has already made a world of difference to people with whom I was talking today in Conakry.</DIV>
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<DIV>So, we've created a group now called "Guinea Solidarité," with a Facebook page here: <A href="http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=24844&post=161936&uid=166627000126#/group.php?gid=166627000126&ref=mf">http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=24844&post=161936&uid=166627000126#/group.php?gid=166627000126&ref=mf</A> The purpose of the group is to be an alliance of "friends of Guinea and of peace and democracy in general, in support of the Guinean people and of an end to military rule and dictatorship and a beginning of freedom and prosperity." Please join us, and tell all of your friends and family to join us. I've also posted there links to many of the news stories on the events, as well as photos and a video from the march in NY on Monday.</DIV>
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<DIV>For people not on FB, below our first posting on "what we can do." Let's continue to share ideas, contacts, and accounts of actions taken.</DIV>
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<DIV>With thanks and hope,</DIV>
<DIV>Jen</DIV>
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<DIV>**********************</DIV>
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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>It is hard to know what is going to happen next in Guinea, and hard to come up with recommendations for international policy and action that we would all agree on at this time – so it may be best that we focus on awareness-raising and positive pressure-putting for now.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Others may have other connections they can start using or different ideas about what should be done; please discuss if so. </FONT></P>
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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>But for now and per discussions with people today, seems there are a couple of things that we can all do immediately:</FONT></P>
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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri>1. WRITE TO YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER</FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>Writing to small town or city newspapers can be one of the best ways to get the word out - even in this day & age of FB, etc. (People still very much read those papers, especially those who are not going to hear about it on FB.)</FONT></P>
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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>Recommended things to include in a letter (doesn’t have to be long): </FONT></P>
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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1" class=MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore"><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>a.</FONT><SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>A personal connection to Guinea, to democracy: if you are an RPCV, talk about your village, your family, what Guinea means to you, etc. If you are another kind of friend of Guinea and democracy, talk about why what happened caught your attention, what it means to you to live in a place where one is free, what it meant to participate in the democracy of the 2008 elections and the Obama campaign, etc.</FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto" class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle><o:p><FONT size=3 face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1" class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore"><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>b.</FONT><SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>Some basic background into the situation, e.g.: 51 years since independence, and in that time only two presidents, both dictators; previous protests in 2006 and 2007 also ended in bloodshed; bloodless coup in December led to initial hope that this military group might be able to help Guineans transition to democratic government; betrayal of these promises as Dadis has suggested that he himself will be a candidate; utter brutality against unarmed population protesting on Monday – at least 160 confirmed deaths but many more suspected,
brutal rapes, pillaging and firing of rifles continues in the capital.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Guineans have had enough.</FONT></P>
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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1" class=MsoListParagraphCxSpLast><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore"><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>c.</FONT><SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>A call for the international community to not let the junta get away with the crimes they have committed or delay elections any further.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You can say that you a heartened by the statements already made by the UN Security Council; African Union; European Union; the governments of the US, France, Canada; and the <SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">Economic Community Of West African States</SPAN> (ECOWAS) among others strongly condemning the action and in some cases calling for immediate
international investigation into the events. Can say that you expect that these statements will be followed up by real action with regard to the investigation into crimes against humanity, with real pressure on the junta and with assistance in finding a path towards democratic elections. </FONT></P>
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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>Tomorrow I will post a sample letter that my husband Brian has already written to his hometown paper in Connecticut. If you do write a letter (and I hope everyone will!!), please let us all know and post it here.</FONT></P>
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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri>2. EMAIL CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS & ANY JOURNALIST YOU KNOW </FONT></FONT></B></P>
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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>Tell them what happened and that they should be covering this story. CNN, for instance, has an “exchange” page for feedback on coverage, etc.: </FONT><A href="http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form.sound.off.html"><FONT color=#800080 size=3 face=Calibri>http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form.sound.off.html</FONT></A><FONT size=3 face=Calibri> <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(Thanks to my mom for that tip – and for already writing to them!) I know we’re competing for airtime and inches with the latest tsunami and earthquake, etc. – but if CNN can find space for their current homepage story on the sex lives of university students, they can make space for the life-and-death struggle for democracy in Guinea.</FONT></P>
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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri>3. HELP US LINK TO HUMAN RIGHTS ORGS </FONT></FONT></B></P>
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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri>It is clear that it will be crucial to have impartial investigations into the events of Monday and the violence and rights violations that continue, as many sound very much like crimes against humanity.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Many of you are lawyers and others work at human rights NGOs or know people who do; if you work with such groups or have contacts there, please let them know about our group and that we have links to people in Guinea who can serve as witnesses and otherwise assist with the investigations.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>Also, Helki Spidle tells us that if anyone has specific information implicating significant individual human rights violators, please contact the US Dept of Homeland Security's Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Unit at </FONT><A href="mailto:hrvwcu@dhs.gov"><FONT color=#0000ff size=3 face=Calibri>hrvwcu@dhs.gov</FONT></A><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>. (Helki, can you tell us more about how that works?)</FONT></P>
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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri>4. IF NECESSARY, LOBBY OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>Because many of us are not yet sure what specific action the US should be taking regarding Guinea and given that their initial statement was already pretty strong, the well-informed suggestion I received was to hold off on contacting members of Congress, etc. until there is a more strategic moment or when we know better what to recommend. And at that time, we can be a small but very well-informed and powerful voice through a petition or letters, etc., calling for follow-up on the plans for international investigation or sanctions if well formulated, etc.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A card to be holding in our collective pocket. </FONT></P>
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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri>WHAT ELSE? <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>If you do any or all of the above or any other action, please tell us about it.</FONT></P>
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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>Yours in solidarity,</FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>Jen</FONT></P></DIV>
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<B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B> Tom O'Toole <o_tooletom@hotmail.com><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> amascorro@yahoo.com; jbsfela@yahoo.com; guinea-list@klatha.com<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Wednesday, September 30, 2009 2:47:40 PM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> RE: [Guinea-list] September 28 Massacre and Attrocities<BR></FONT><BR>
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Count me in. I am Guinea I from 1963.<BR><BR>**************** Tom O'Toole Minneapolis, Minnesota 55406<BR><BR><BR><BR>
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Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 06:32:58 -0700<BR>From: amascorro@yahoo.com<BR>To: jbsfela@yahoo.com; guinea-list@klatha.com<BR>Subject: Re: [Guinea-list] September 28 Massacre and Attrocities<BR><BR>
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<DIV>Count me in.<BR>I'm in Baltimore and am ready to help in any way I can. <BR>Any word on PC Guinea's response? <BR><BR>Annie<BR></DIV>
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<B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B> Jennifer Swift-Morgan <jbsfela@yahoo.com><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> guinea-list@klatha.com<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Tuesday, September 29, 2009 11:58:56 PM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> Re: [Guinea-list] September 28 Massacre and Attrocities<BR></FONT><BR>
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<DIV>I am thinking of trying to organize a support campaign of some kind, e.g. letters to our local papers, emails/calls to our representatives to raise awareness and call for more and continued public condemnation with a call for elections and any other measures that would be helpful; would people be interested in doing something like this?</DIV>
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<DIV>Guinean friends and family in-country that I'm hearing from are completely out of hope; a good friend's best friend was among the dead yesterday and they have not even found the body yet. The rapes are more than I can deal with. I can't imagine how the current volunteers are feeling...</DIV>
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<DIV>I was at the NY solidarity march yesterday and the ressortissant population here is fully mobilized - and is calling for our help. <BR></DIV>
<DIV>Jen </DIV>
<DIV>Afia/Labe '99-'02</DIV>
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<B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B> "guinea-list-request@klatha.com" <guinea-list-request@klatha.com><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> guinea-list@klatha.com<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Tuesday, September 29, 2009 12:15:13 PM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> Guinea-list Digest, Vol 58, Issue 1<BR></FONT><BR>Send Guinea-list mailing list submissions to<BR> <A rel=nofollow>guinea-list@klatha.com</A><BR><BR>To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit<BR><SPAN> <A rel=nofollow>http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/guinea-list</A></SPAN><BR>or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to<BR> <A rel=nofollow>guinea-list-request@klatha.com</A><BR><BR>You can reach the person managing the list at<BR> <A rel=nofollow>guinea-list-owner@klatha.com</A><BR><BR>When replying,
please edit your Subject line so it is more specific<BR>than "Re: Contents of Guinea-list digest..."<BR><BR><BR>Today's Topics:<BR><BR> 1. Dozens killed at Guinea protest (Urska Manners)<BR><BR><BR>----------------------------------------------------------------------<BR><BR>Message: 1<BR>Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 23:49:07 -0700 (PDT)<BR>From: Urska Manners <<A rel=nofollow>urska_manners@yahoo.com</A>><BR>Subject: [Guinea-list] Dozens killed at Guinea protest<BR>To: <A rel=nofollow>guinea-list@klatha.com</A><BR>Message-ID: <<A rel=nofollow>712849.45268.qm@web81006.mail.mud.yahoo.com</A>><BR>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8<BR><BR>At least 87 people are said to have been killed as forces quell an opposition rally in Guinea's capital, Conakry.<BR><BR><SPAN><A rel=nofollow>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8279103.stm</A></SPAN><BR><BR><BR>Ur?ka<BR><BR><BR>
<BR><BR><BR>------------------------------<BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>Guinea-list mailing list<BR><A rel=nofollow>Guinea-list@klatha.com</A><BR><A rel=nofollow>http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/guinea-list</A><BR><BR><BR>End of Guinea-list Digest, Vol 58, Issue 1<BR>******************************************<BR></DIV></DIV></DIV><BR></DIV></DIV></DIV><BR></DIV></DIV></div><br>
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