The LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act was unanimously passed through the Senate this afternoon!

This is what we have been working so hard for. This is proof that the 262 hours of holding out was worth it. Thank you to everyone who lobbied your senators this past year. Thank you to everyone who held out.

But it’s not over. We still have to get it through the House of Representatives and through the White House. Let’s celebrate this victory and get geared up for the next hurdles

Here is Resolve Uganda’s list of what needs to happen next:
The Vote: In the House, once the bill has passed through the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and acquired more cosponsors, it will be ready for a vote in the full House of Representatives. US Congress is currently in a period of intense legislative activity, but the bill is could pass in the next few months.

The Signature: If the final bill passes Congress, it will then be sent to President Obama for a final signature. Once the President inks his name to the bill, it becomes law. That’s when his administration gets down to business developing the strategy to stop Kony, protect people from LRA attacks and help put northern Uganda on the path to permanent peace.

The Follow-up: President Obama’s signature on the legislation mandates that President Obama devise a plan within 180 days to help stop LRA violence and also take steps to assist communities in northern Uganda. But there is no guarantee that these plans will be adequate or effective. That’s why it remains critical that Americans of all stripes call for President Obama to take ending this crisis seriously, and for our government to take the steps that can actually help bring peace.

We reached the first round of fundraising for the IC/Blogotheque collaboration to take Yeasayer and the Polyphonic Spree to Uganda! You have 4 hours left if you still want in.

This is what we’re dealing with in the world. These people are real. Though this one is not.

“…Northern California tricked us into falling in love with all this beauty: almond farms, orange groves, rolling hills and a cow named Red.”

The town in Inuvik, Canada goes for weeks without sunlight every winter. Tropicana felt like they deserved a sunrise.

“…governments must ‘regard the internet as basic infrastructure – just like roads, waste and water.’”

Alice saved almost $400 US making bracelets for us. With her savings, she paid for the construction of a new home for her and her husband. With hundreds of beneficiaries like Alice in our Economic Development Initiatives (EDI), stories like this are commonplace, but inspiring nonetheless!!

Jeff Sachs, economist and development guru, has an 80-village project changing the way we think about African development. The look-at-all-factors approach that Sachs is using is highlighted in this article about Sauri, a Millennium Village in Kenya. Check it out.

After our 262 hours of sleeping in front of his office, Senator Coburn released his hold on the bill! Current mood: Euphoric.

One journalist. 10 days living with Al Qaeda. On a mission to sabotage the US.

Invisible Children is taking THE POLYPHONIC SPREE and YEASAYER to Uganda to film a Take Away Show style documentary. Learn how you can play a part.

“I’ve heard we were going to be well fed in this part of our great land, and they were not kidding.”

Eleven years after the UN’s largest peacekeeping mission began, Peacekeepers will begin pulling out of the DR Congo.

In an exciting reversal of roles, GOOD blogged about us and our project with La Blogotheque.

a phone conversation with Senator Coburn scheduled for Tuesday, expected thunderstorms, and stories of kindness from strangers.

Jon M. Chu’s dance crew, The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers, performed at the Oscars. Their tshirts are supporting IC!

Here is an interactive map showing the growth of the internet between 1998 and 2008.

Here is a news piece done on the hold out, as well as a letter from Resolve:Uganda’s Lisa Dougan (she used to be ours, and when she speaks, you best listen)

Relevant asks Jason questions about all sorts of things. Well, mostly about IC.

An artist re-imagines illustrations for five of the Oscar Best Picture nominees.