Comments on: Ugandan "Night Commuters" and the 2005 Gulu Walk

Ugandan "Night Commuters" and the 2005 Gulu Walk

Marquis — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 07:19:11 -0800

Gulu Walk. Every night, up to 40,000 Ugandan children "commute" by foot into city-centres so that they may sleep on the street, or in hospitals, churches and aid centres. They are sent by their parents in an attempt to escape the Lord's Resistance Army, the armed militia in a civil war that has for years been stealing kids from their homes, turning them into soldiers, servants and sex-slaves. On October 22nd, raise awareness by marching in a Gulu Walk, in 41 cities from Halifax to San Diego to Serbia to Gulu itself. Learn more via photo essays [BBC/LA Times/indie], a radio documentary, and vid eos. [previously on MeFi] Please spread the word.

By: By The Grace of God

By The Grace of God — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 07:36:25 -0800

A wonderful movement and a great post. It's interesting that this is scheduled for Stop Police Brutality Day, certainly the issues are connected at least morally..

By: Alison

Alison — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 07:47:46 -0800

Wow, amazing links...I had no idea.

By: Escribitionist

Escribitionist — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 09:07:28 -0800

I just read an article regarding the Gulu Walk in the Toronto Star this weekend. It broke my heart into a million pieces..thanks for posting this.

By: Smedleyman

Smedleyman — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 10:11:02 -0800

This would get my vote for intervention.

By: livii

livii — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 10:24:55 -0800

I hadn't heard about the walks taking place here, thanks for the heads-up. Will have to try to participate or donate.

By: Marquis

Marquis — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 10:44:32 -0800

I'm glad I could bring this to peoples' attention. If you're in a city with an organised walk, please, seriously, just go. One of the things I like about the event on the 22nd is that they realise it's not (yet) a very high-profile cause and so the point is to raise the profile. They're not trying to collect a bit of money (although donations are welcome): they're trying to get people out on their feet, - rich and poor, - showing by their numbers the significance of the issue, and hopefully raising awareness so that it will ultimately be possible to solve and not just alleviate the problem. In short - please, if this resonates with you, just spend a couple hours this weekend and go!

By: amberglow

amberglow — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 10:47:46 -0800

I'm up for the NY walk, if anyone wants to join me. email me and we'll coordinate.

By: nlindstrom

nlindstrom — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 10:49:37 -0800

So does Uganda have oil? If so, I say we liberate them at once and bring them the sweet deliverance of democracy! Won't someone think of the children?

By: peacay

peacay — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 10:52:49 -0800

A worthy post. Thank you.

By: fluffycreature

fluffycreature — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 11:31:02 -0800

Thanks for the this, am glad to know. Marching in a Gula walk

By: Smedleyman

Smedleyman — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 16:33:01 -0800

Thanks *clears calender for October 22, 2005*

By: anthill

anthill — Sat, 22 Oct 2005 17:08:20 -0800

Just got in from the Toronto walk. 2 hours in rain not much above freezing. Somewhat appropriate to the cause... doing that twice a day every day as a 10 year old would pretty much mess up any chance of having a reasonable life. Lots of people asking 'what's going on?', lots of camerapeople. BBC World news interviewed the organizer. I think it's raising the profile.

By: ugpulse

ugpulse — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 19:11:24 -0800

Thank you all for supporting the people of Northern Uganda. At http://www.ugpulse.com we are gathering photographs of the walks from around the world that a lot of people are sending in. Please do not forget us. from a Gulu Walk participant in Washington, DC