HHS STAND Members Testify on Beacon Hill

Harwich High School STAND members - Kelly Murphy, Amanda De Oliveira, Elizabeth Ray, and Hannah Baker - testified today before the Massachusetts Legislature Joint Committee on Education in favor of House Bill 1064, An Act Concerning Genocide Education - the Teach Against Genocide Bill. We were joined by HHS STAND alum, and current STAND Northeast Outreach Coordinator at Smith College, MacKenzie Hamilton. The text and video of our testimony is below as is the video of MacKenzie's and some more photos. After the hearing, we were treated to lunch and a discussion of the bill with Rep. Peake, as well as a visit to the well of the House of Representatives, and later we met up with Sen. Wolf as well. Thank you to both of our legislators for their support of this bill and for taking the time to meet with us today.

Text and history of the bill can be found here.

Our testimony:


Testimony of Harwich STAND to the Joint Committee On Education, June 14, 2011, re:H1064

Introduction – KELLY MURPHY

Good morning. We as representatives of Harwich High School STAND (Stand Taking Action Now: Darfur) are here to testify in favor of House bill 1064, An Act Concerning Genocide Education.

STAND is a worldwide network of students that is attempting to end genocide. We involve ourselves with many anti-genocide projects. One of these has been to advocate for House Bill 1064. We believe that education about genocide will end ignorance of the problem and spark activism to hasten the day it will not happen again. This Act is an important step in broadening our students’ education and moving toward the elimination of this crime.

The Genocide Problem – AMANDA DE OLIVIERA

According to the United Nations Convention on the Preventions and Punishment of the crime of Genocide, adopted on December 9, 1948, Genocide is defined as the attempt to destroy in whole or in part a national ethnical, racial or religious group.” Genocide entails mass murder of innocent people, and as such is the most heinous crime known in history.

However, genocide is not history.

Genocides still occur in our modern world. Cambodia, Iraq, Rwanda, Bosnia, Southern Sudan, Burma, and Darfur are some examples. By some estimates, more people have been killed by genocide than have died in war in the last century. In Darfur alone, out of a population of 6 million, approximately 400,000 have been killed and 3 million displaced.

Therefore, learning about the Holocaust, while necessary and critical, is not enough.

The Need for Awareness – LIZZIE RAY

Genocide occurs because some dictators think that eliminating a group will consolidate their power, and because they think they can get away with it.

Therefore, only international diplomacy and intervention can stop or prevent it.

The need for awareness by citizens all over the world is great, because leaders will only take steps against genocide if their constituents demand action.

This can only happen if citizens have the educational background to understand the issue. As the STAND movement shows, when people understand and are aware of genocide, they insist that their governments do what they can to save lives.

The Importance of H 1064 – HANNAH BAKER

The Massachusetts Frameworks shape what our students are taught in their history classes. Currently, the frameworks include the Holocaust. Few schools go beyond this. Students are often left with the mistaken impression that genocide is a historical tragedy not a modern one.

By requiring education about multiple genocides, House Bill 1064 pushes educators to make the connection between the past and the present. This will lead students toward greater understanding of the issue, motivate them to follow global human rights issues, and lead them to become engaged and active constituents.

Conclusion – KELLY MURPHY

The ultimate goal of genocide education is the end of genocide.

When people are engaged on the issue, they can make a difference. In Southern Sudan, the January referendum on independence was widely expected to reignite the civil war that had previously claimed 2 million lives. However, international attention to the issue, initiated by the activism of STAND and other groups, changed Bashir’s calculation. Violence has since increased but hopefully renewed engagement can ensure a peaceful transition to Southern Sudan Independence.

Once, similar groups organized against the scourge of slavery. They organized toward an uncertain day when state-sanctioned slavery would be a phenomenon of the past. Today, the efforts to end genocide face a similar uncertainty. However, with initiatives such as House Bill 1064, we can progress to that day, hopefully in our lifetime, when genocide will also be history.

We ask today for your active support of this important bill.


MacKenzie's Testimony:


Mac:


In the Well of the House of Representatives:


With Rep. Peake and Sen. Wolf:


In front of the State House:

HHS STAND Talent Show 2011

Tonight Harwich High School STAND hosted our Third Annual HHS Talent Show. We had nine acts entered - the videos are below. The winning act was "Teachers of Harwich Jeopardy"

STAND wants to thank our judges - Ms. Rose, Mr. Breski, and Ms. Levangie, our sound man, Seth Andreasson, our lighting director, Meghan Van Hoose, and our hosts, Mary Benedetto and Garret Ameida. Thank you also to the large crowd who joined us and helped us raise $600 to help our sister school for Darfuris at the Goz Amer Refugee Camp in Chad. The videos:

Rachel Trieble, Don Sanzo, and Kirby Smith perform "New York State of Mind":


Hannah Baker performs "Moondance":


The Dueling Drummers:


Don Sanzo, Mike Malone, Rachel Treible, and Camille Dings perform the skit "Teachers of Harwich Jeopardy":


Garrett Almeida, assisted by Mike Malone and Ryan Toleno:


Ryan Toleno and Friends:


Fred Fredburger Part 1:


Fred Fredburger Part 2:


Sabrina Mowatt and Shantol Grant dance to "Move Your Body":

STANDFast Day Four!

Yesterday's Trivia Answer: The actor who visited Southern Sudan in October is George Clooney

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3 – STANDFAST DAY 4

Thank you to everyone for supporting our STANDFast this week. Today, we want to focus on what YOU can do to support the cause of peace in Sudan. Four things:

1. Visit the STAND website – standnow.org and participate in the 12 days of STAND campaign.

2. Visit sudanactionnow.org and sign the online petition to the White House.

3. Find more information at the websites for the Enough Project and the Genocide Intervention Network, and look for videos with George Clooney and John Prendergast talking about Sudan.

4. Come to the next STAND meeting! Stay informed and stay involved!

Today’s beard contest – mustache! Today’s trivia question: What HHS alum is a member of STAND’s National Leadership Team?

The Contestants:

Anthony:


Jimmy:


Mike:


Mr. D:

STANDFast Day Three!

Yesterday's Trivia Answer: approximately 3800 of the Lost Boys came to the United States.

THURSDAY DECEMBER 2 – STANDFAST DAY 3

A.M. ANNOUNCMENT

Thank you to everyone who came to the screening of Rebuilding Hope last night, and a special thank you to Gabriel Bol Deng for taking the time to visit Harwich High School yesterday. Last night, we raised $600 to support Hope for Ariang and primary education in Southern Sudan.

We are focused this week on supporting the people of Southern Sudan as they vote for Independence on January 9. Sudan is also the country whose western region is Darfur. The dictator who controls the Sudan government in Khartoum, Omar al-Bashir, has conducted a campaign of genocide against the people of Darfur since 2003. Approximately 400,000 Darfuris have been killed and millions displaced. International attention and pressure has reduced though not totally eliminated the violence in Darfur. We hope that similar attention and pressure will convince Bashir not to react to the vote for Southern Sudan independence with repression and genocide.

Today’s beard contest – goatee. Today’s trivia question – what actor visited Southern Sudan in October to bring attention to the situation there?

Beard of the Day Contestants:

Anthony:


Ben:


Mike:


Shawn:


Spencer:


Tyler:


Mr. D:

Gabriel Bol Deng Visits Harwich High School

Harwich High School today enjoyed a visit by Gabriel Bol Deng, founder of Hope for Ariang, and one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. Gabriel started the day by being featured on WCAI's show, The Point with Mindy Todd, discussing his experiences in Sudan, coming to the United States, his efforts to build a school in his home village of Ariang, and the upcoming referendum on independence in Southern Sudan. Following the show, he came to visit the school. After having lunch in the school cafeteria, he visited a government class, discussing the history and politics of Sudan. Then last period, he talked to a school-wide assembly about how to "Move a Mountain" - his motivational presentation based on his experiences as a refugee from the War in Southern Sudan (see below). Finally, in the evening, we hosted a screening and discussion of the award-winning documentary, Rebuilding Hope, which follows Gabriel and two other Lost Boys as they return to Sudan to look for their families and to begin to do humanitarian work in their home villages. HHS STAND would like to thank Gabriel for coming to Harwich High School and to Hope for Ariang Board Member Cynthia Davis for bringing him to the Cape. All of the proceeds of all of our STANDFast events this week will go to benefit Hope for Ariang to support education in Southern Sudan.

His presentation at the school assembly:

Part One:


Part Two:


Part Three: (Video about Ariang School)


Part Four:

STANDFast Day Two!

Yesterday's Trivia Answer: the Capital of Southern Sudan is Juba.

Beard of the Day winner was Tyler.

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 1 – STANDFAST DAY 2

MORNING ANNOUNCEMENT

As a large conglomeration of tribes created by the British Empire, Sudan has been at war with itself almost constantly since it gained independence in 1956. The first war between Northern and Southern Sudan lasted from 1956 to 1972 and is estimated to have killed 500,000 people. The war began again in 1983, and was intensified in the 1990’s under the dictatorship of Omar al-Bashir. This second war featured genocidal tactics where villages were attacked and all residents who didn’t escape were slaughtered. The Lost Boys of Sudan were boys who banded together in the wilderness after their villages were annihilated and who walked hundreds of miles to Ethiopia and Kenya, many of their friends dying along the way. Many of the Lost Boys emigrated as refugees to the United States and other nations. Eventually, a Comprehensive Peace Agreement ended the second war in 2005, leading to the referendum on independence on January 9.

Today, one of the Lost Boys, Gabriel Bol Deng, is visiting our school. He will be in some classes after lunch, and last period, we will have a partial screening of his film, Rebuilding Hope, and a discussion with him in the auditorium. Tonight at 7, we will host a full screening and discussion of the film.

Today’s beard contest – freestyle. Today’s Trivia Question – how many of the Lost Boys came to the United States?

Beard Contest of the Day - Freestyle - The Contestants:

Tom:


Sam:


Joel:


Zach:


Mr. D:

STANDFast Day One!

TUESDAY 11/30 – STANDFAST DAY ONE

AM ANNOUNCEMENT

Welcome to STANDFast. This week we will be focusing on the situation in Southern Sudan. On January 9, 2011, there will be a referendum on Southern Sudan independence. If the election is free and fair, then it is widely expected that the vote will be yes for independence. But Sudan is run by the same dictator, Omar al-Bashir, who killed 400,000 people in Darfur, and 2 million in Southern Sudan. So without international attention and pressure, there is concern that the vote will be rigged or suppressed, and that more war and genocide may result from this.

We are raising money this week for school children in Southern Sudan. Please give something up and donate money at lunch to help the cause, and please sign the poster in the building 3 hallway.

Also, you will be able vote at lunch for the best full beard. Donate money in the bin for the beard you think is the best - the bin with the most money wins.

We will also have a trivia question each day – to enter, fill out a slip in the main office with your answer before last period – today’s question: What is the capital of Southern Sudan?


Beard Contest of the Day: Full Beards. The Contestants:

Anthony:


Michael:


Spencer:


Tyler: