California Wildfires

Last week we packed over 20 computers and monitors into the backseats of our cars. We emptied our safe, grabbed the accounting books, took down the pictures, salvaged the letters, emptied the files, and drove away.

The Spring Valley area, where we have our main offices, was evacuated due to the fires. From our parking lot, you could see the smoke fringing the hills. The chances of it reaching our offices seemed unlikely, but fires aren’t one of those things where you take chances. You leave when someone tells you to leave.

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Mentors: Restoring Hope in Northern Uganda

Patricia is stubborn, but in Acholiland, this is almost always a compliment. Her friends, coworkers, and family call her this term of endearment. In a male dominated society, to rise to become a counselor, schoolteacher, local radio DJ, and successful professional, we can understand how a little stubbornness has been beneficial to her.

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Ugandan Creations that Have Made an Impact

The Monitor has been electing individuals and organizations for having left a mark on Uganda and the world.

Read the article here.

Possible Breakthrough on Malaria Treatment

Recent discoveries have shown that people with type O blood are naturally protected from malaria’s most severe forms.

Scientists at Edinburgh University and researchers in the US, Mali and Kenya studied African children and found that those with blood type O were two-thirds less likely to experience unrousable coma or life-threatening anaemia.

Dr. Alex Rowe, of Edinburgh University’s School of Biological Sciences, said: “This discovery explains why some people are less likely to suffer from life-threatening malaria than others, and tells us that if we can develop a drug or a vaccine to reduce rosetting and mimic the effect of being blood group O, we may be able to reduce the number of children dying from severe malaria in sub-Saharan Africa.”

Read the full article on BBC News.

LRA to Meet Museveni on Thursday

After the President’s return from the United States and meeting with Pres. Bush, the LRA leadership will meet to discuss the future of the peace talks.

The LRA team will be led by chief negotiator Martin Ojul and will cement the achievements that have been made in Juba.

The LRA has once again dismissed reports of fighting between Mr Kony and his deputy, leading to mass desertions: “There is superb and warm relationship between General Joseph Kony and Lt Gen Vincent Otti.”

Read the full article at BBC News.

Fall Out Boy’s “Invisible World” on FUSE TV

Tonight at 7:30 marks the premiere of the behind the scenes documentary from Invisible Children and Fall Out Boy’s music video, “Me & You,” titled “Invisible World.” It’s being aired exclusively on FUSE TV and offers a detailed look into the making of this daring new video. If you want a glimpse at how things went down in Uganda this summer, don’t miss it.

It’ll be re-airing throughout the week. Check out fuse.tv for details.

After you’re done, please vote for “Me & You” on MTV’s TRL.

Displace Mason Raises Awareness

Students at George Mason University held their own Displace Me to both raise awareness and money for Sir Samuel Baker Secondary School.

“People are so tired of bake sales and normal fundraising,” said lead organizer Maryam Sodeifi. “I want them to be able to know about the problem that’s going on and that they can help.”

To read the article, go to Broadside Online.

Pres. Bush & Museveni…Here’s Where You Come In

For the first time, Pres. Bush will be meeting with Pres. Museveni to discuss the situation in northern Uganda and how to achieve lasting peace.

Pres. Museveni will have the opportunity to convey how the United States can support the ongoing negotiations. But this meeting could easily be a chance where the two presidents consider joint military operations against the rebel forces, a development that would provoke a resumption of violence and undermine the progress made by the negotiations.

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$7.7 Million for LRA and Peace Talks

The budget for the peace talks as proposed to donors in July has been fully funded, including $800,000 for the LRA.

The funds from Denmark, the Netherlands, Ireland, Sweden, Canada and the European Union’s Humanitarian Aid Office will be channeled through the UN Office of the Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs.

But last week, the ICC prosecutor was concerned that funds and food aid, supplied to the LRA, was being diverted and used to re-arm.

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18,000 Congolese Flee to Uganda

Following the fighting in North Kivu between government forces and troops loyal to renegade Gen. Laurent Nkunda, thousands are displaced to Uganda.

About 5,000 children have been separated from their parents as they fled.

To read the full article, go to the New Vision.