In the United States, 2008 is an election year. For the international refugee community, 2008 is the year of Protection. In one week, on June 20th, we celebrate World Refugee Day, and kick-off a year focused on the theme of protection: \prə-ˈtekt\ to cover or shield from exposure, injury, damage, or destruction. We, as Global Citizens, need to remind our leaders of our Responsibility to Protect. Remind President Bush of his responsibility to ensure full deployment of a full UNAMID force or call 1-800 GENOCIDE. Join STAND’s Presidential Legacy Campaign.

Plan to take Action on June 20th, World Refugee Day:

• Host an i-ACTivist Viewing Party: Use this Guide (word, pdf)
• Participate in demonstrations to headquarters and retail outlets of the 2008 Olympic Sponsor
• Part of Tents of Hope? Participate in Tents of Hope World Refugee Day Actions!

Today is a hard day for me. We spent most of the day in the lobby of Le Meridien; waiting for our fixer, waiting for permits, waiting for the video to upload, lots of waiting. As a result, my jet lag has h it me harder than I have ever felt before. Usually there is the excitement of travel, and the reuniting with old friends and meeting new that keeps jet lag afar. The many obstacles we faced today continue to take a toll on my mind and body, and both are tired.

We didn’t get our permits on time, and therefore missed our flight — we might not be able to leave sooner than Thursday or Friday. Be flexible. Relax. None of it is in my hands. Phrases I repeat to myself like a meditative mantra. I don’t have control over leaving N’Djamena sooner. But regardless, by staying, I feel like I am letting down a community.

All those who are living in the camps, while rain fills their tents, and food becomes more scarce. All those who rushed to get pictures laminated and dvds cut for us to share with their families. Fatne, Abakar, Fatna, Aljafis, Guisma, Leila, Darsalam, Saleh, Aziza, Mohamed, and the others in camps to the North of Abeche that we might not be able to see. All of us who need to hear the stories, see the faces, and touch the hands of our friends.

For our whole community, I wish I had filmed the sun setting on Eastern Chad rather than on the river Chari over Cameroon. But soon, I know, we will get to hold the hands of Adef, Achta, Oumar, Selma, Hissein and Hassan, the two twin brothers whose laugh is contagious, and their sisters Guisma and Marymouda. These are the faces and the hands that we will reach on this journey. For them I will pull myself up and remain chanting a meditative mantra. I will look forward to interviews with International NGO staff here in the capital. And I will rest, so that my hug is strong and the hope I bring from all of you shines through.

Although today might be difficult, it is nothing compared to what our friends experience: the idle waiting of five years for peace and protection in Darfur in a camp as far away from other human connection as possible. And this is a situation that is not out of our hands. Please join me in acting for Darfur, tell our US Representative to the UN that he needs to protect our brothers and sisters in the camps, as he would protect his family.

Paz, ktj

We hoped to be able to leave on a UNHCR plane today to get out to Abeche and the camps, but a series of delays and obstacles has prevented us from doing that. We’ll be in the capital until at least Thursday, and Friday at the very latest. It’s very frustrating to know that we’re losing valuable time, but this is simply out of our control so it’s not even work thinking about very much. We’re just going to have to double our efforts and put in a few more hours when we’re out there in order to get the most out of it.

So we’re back at the Red Dragon hotel tonight, right next the Le Meredien. It’s not quite as nice as Le Meredien, but we have AC and a TV so we can’t complain. At least we’re catching up on sleep and our reading, and Scott and I may even stay up to watch the Celtics game tonight (which Boston will undoubtedly win). Although we would much rather be out there talking to refugees, it’s at least a lot more calm here then when Gabriel and KTJ were last here.

We’ll be searching for a good story to provide you all with tomorrow. Please keep checking the site, the good stuff is still to come. Peace from Chad.

Colin

So today was frustrating, to say the least. We obviously would like to get out to the camps and actually interact with and hear the stories of the refugees. But it looks like we’re going to be in the capital for at least another day. On the plus side, Colin and I got a new hotel room that has two beds, so it’ll be nice to have that tonight.

While the day was frustrating, it is important to put it in perspective. As my mom told me in response to a venting e-mail, “Remember, you’re in Africa.” Life moves at a vastly different speed here to the fast-paced East Coast. I’m used to going from dawn until the wee hours of the morning, constantly on my phone or e-mail, and needing everything to be on time. It’s not necessarily a good trait, but it’s largely who I’ve become as I live on the East Coast. So, it takes some getting used to when I get to Africa. Things here move on Africa-time, and not our time. When I was in Tanzania over winter break, we routinely would get our lunches five hours late, and our dinners even later. But, one thing I have learned is that eventually, things get done. Just not necessarily when you’d like them to happen.

So we’ll be out to the camps soon enough, and that will make all the waiting worth it. We knew we had to be prepared for the unexpected, but I guess I just didn’t expect this. I’m still really excited to get out to the camps, and hopefully that will happen soon. In the mean time, I’ll have to learn how to be patient, which is not a bad thing!

Scott

Your messages of love and activism that we share with refugees often bring tears and smiles to the faces of our friends who have suffered for five years. It is your words and images that provide them with the essential human connection that gets lost in the isolated desert. Without your messages, they would lose hope all together.Please leave a comment below for our friends in the camps, and we will pass them on each day. Our field team will check back daily for message to share with the refugees they meet.