Cross posted from Feminist Mormon Housewives, Guest Post by Missy:
Missy takes care of two kids, writes, and is an activist. Utah for Congo is a group that organizes fundraisers and seeks to raise awareness about ongoing conflict and sexual violence in Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Over the past decade, nearly 7 million people have been killed in Democratic Republic of the Congo because of war and conflict. That makes it the most deadly conflict of our generation, the deadliest since World War II. Half of these deaths are children under the age of five.
One of the most horrific elements of the conflict is the habitual use of sexual violence and rape to terrorize people and destroy communities. The sexual violence is characterized by its unspeakable brutality and by the pain and destruction left in its wake. Figures are hard to come by, but a soon-to-be-released study suggests that the number of people raped over the past decade is over 3 million.
What haunts us is the fact that each of us is complicit in the continuation of this conflict. Violent groups are fighting for control of natural resources like gold, tungsten, tin and tantalum: Resources that tech companies use to manufacture the electronics equipment (like computers and cell phones) that Americans use. So every time we use our mobile phones, which are filled with these conflict minerals, we are (if unwittingly) complicit.
This Saturday in Utah we are holding Yoga for Congo Women events to raise awareness of the Congo crisis and raise funds for survivors of the violence. 100% of donations received will go to Women for Women International, an organization that provides women with supportive communities, vocational training, psychosocial support, rights training, and financial support. Yoga for Congo Women will be in Salt Lake in the morning, and in Logan in the evening. We’d love to see some of you there!
In the Barn at Wheeler Farm
6351 South 900 East (Salt Lake)
Registration begins at 9:30 a.m.
Yoga begins at 10:00 a.m.
At the Whitter Community Center
290 North 400 East (Logan)
Registration begins at 6:30 p.m.
Yoga begins at 7:00 p.m.
For more information on this event (and other upcoming events, including our second-annual 5K which will be held on June 11), please visit our blog at utahforcongo.blogspot.com
