DAVID JOHNSON
Conditions in Sudan
By: Rick Handford
  
                        
"Silent Images is a non-profit organization that was founded in May of 2007 by David Johnson." So began Hank Donaghy's introduction of our speaker, a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill and former English teacher and tennis coach at Providence Day School in Charlotte. David has traveled to more than twenty countries worldwide, in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand. He specializes in documentary photography, and his passion is taking his camera around the world to document persecuted and oppressed people and then use his work to raise awareness and money for the indigenous people. All of the profit from his work is donated back to aid those people he has documented.
 
David began by remarking on our singing of God Bless America, and the fact that we are indeed blessed to be living in "the greatest country on this planet". He provided a copy of his first book, 'Voices of Sudan' at each table, and gave us all a gift of his latest book, 'Voice of Beauty' (not yet released), subtitled, "A photographic celebration of African women". He pointed out that his passion is and always has been education. The word 'education' means to draw from within, which he uses to describe the process of applying knowledge to help one determine how to be a force for making a difference in the world through helping others. Knowledge carries with it the responsibility to act upon the knowledge and make an impact on the lives of others.
 
There is a tendency for us to be caught up in the news that is presented to us on a regular basis, leaving us largely ignorant of the events happening in remote parts of the world that do not directly impact our lives. While we know about the pop culture, we are not aware of the human trafficking, genocide, and violence taking place on a daily basis in the Sudan. His goal is to present this news through pictures, and to change the way that we think about these problems by giving us real people with whom we can identify. Knowing the plight of even one real person can provide the motivation for us to take action to help with the problem.
 
Even local events may not come to our attention, as evidenced by a project he is currently working on involving homeless children in Charlotte. He has been teaching photography to homeless children and having them take pictures of the city, showing what Charlotte looks like through their eyes. The children's photographs will be on display at the Levine Museum of the New South from 9/14/09 through 1/4/2010. While he works with local stories, his purpose in this talk is to make us aware of an international story, that being the genocide in the Sudan.
Previous genocides in places such as Rwanda, Burundi and Cambodia were never labeled as such until they were largely over, thus requiring little response. In the Sudan, by contrast, George Bush and Colin Powell declared in 2004 that there was ongoing genocide in Darfur, with the expectation that the world would respond to stop it. Nothing was done, and the genocide continues today. Since 2005, some 500,000 people have been killed and another 2.5 million are refugees. They are being systematically murdered by an extremist government that is killing them because of the color of their skin and their religion.
 
Osama bin Laden lived in Sudan for five years, during which time he started an organization of extremists who sought to make the Sudan a true Arab Islamic state. These are the people now in charge, who are persecuting and driving out of Sudan those that are not Arabs or do not share the Islamic faith. Acting to stop this is important not only for humanitarian reasons, but geopolitical ones as well. Sudan is the largest country in Africa (Darfur alone is the size of France), and if this movement is successful in Sudan it will likely spread through the continent.
 
David went on to discuss the Chinese involvement in Sudan, where China is the largest oil producer and consumer in the country and the number one supplier of arms to the government; and some of the notable actions calling attention to the fact that the Chinese government is taking no action to halt the genocide and is actually working in the other direction. These include Steven Spielberg quitting his job directing the opening of the Chinese Olympics and having a Sudanese carry the American flag in the opening ceremony.
 
After a further discussion of some of the conditions in Darfur and his experiences while photographing the people there, he reminded us that you can't kill hope, something demonstrated in his photographs of people in terrible circumstances. He also made the point that the last stage of genocide is apathy, the only thing allowing it to continue. So get educated and get involved! More information and ways to help can be found at http://www.silentimages.org.
 
   
Head Table: Jessica Dupree, Chuck Lew, Luther Moore, Hank Donaghy, Bryan Adams, Alan Simonini;
Invocation: Carol Jordan;
Visitors & Guests: Gene Bratek; Health & Happiness: Chase Saunders; Song: Alan Barnhardt; Piano: Thomas Moore: Photos: Bert Voswinkel

• School supplies will be collected through the month of August. Items needed: pens, pencils, rulers, markers, colored pencils, erasers, 3 & 5 subject notebooks; glue sticks, pencil boxes and paper. Mark Norman provided an update on the collaborative effort to gather school supplies through WSOC-TV's School Tools, Classroom Central and Communities in Schools.
             
• Thanks to Mark and Terri DeBoo for stepping up as the host family for exchange student Leo; Steve Meckler has done it again…winner of the Charlotte Observer's Viewpoint Editorial Cartoon; Janet Fortner has been elected as Board Chair of The Center for Healthy Living at the Ivey, a new not-for-profit adult day care program for memory care adults; Charlie Greer and Daniel, Ratliff (Debbie Daniel) contributed to an article on emerging growth strategies; Joey Godbold was quoted in an article on available office space; Lynn Wheeler has her own segment on Pete Kaliner's WBT radio talk show, which airs every other Friday at 9 p.m.
   
• Roster update: Lee Tabor, Queens University of Charlotte, 1900 Selwyn Ave Burwell 101A (28274), 704-337-2467, taborl@ueens.edu (Lee is working in the Finance Dept).
   
• Sympathy is extended to Meg McElwain and family. Meg lost her grandmother and great aunt over this past weekend; Former club member, Bob Reid, passed away August 6th. Bob retired from CT Communications and is survived by his wife, Lalla Reid, two sons and several grandchildren/family members. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Union County, 700 West Roosevelt Blvd, Monroe 28110.

Should you question the eligibility of any nominee, contact the Rotary office by 08/17/2009.

Chairman Alan Simonini reminded Rotarians that they are ALL members of the Membership committee. Copies of the application were distributed and you can contact Sandy for the email version. Please note the following policy change: prospective members are entitled to ONE free meal once their application is in-hand. Questions about this change may be directed to Alan or Sandy.

Tom Burgess is a member of the District committee that is coordinating the September 19th Flight of Honor, a program to take WW II Veterans to see their memorial in DC. Charlotte Rotary has provided sponsorship for nine vets and three guardians and Tom invites you to consider a personal donation to this effort. The cost per veteran is $500; guardians are $200. However, any amount is needed and appreciated. Checks are tax deductible and payable to Rotary Flight of Honor and mailed to P. O. Box 495, Gastonia, NC 28053.