2008 Woodie Awards
Honors student's project raises awareness for Darfur genocides, issues
Lindsay Lorenz
Issue date: 11/30/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
11/30/07 - University of Rhode Island nursing and biology major Bethany Larkin is responsible for a recent effort to bring awareness to the genocides in Darfur.
Darfur's civil conflicts have wrought violence, disease and genocide on the western region of Sudan, killing and displacing millions.
"Historically, [the genocides] have been happening for decades, centuries even," Larkin said. "Maybe through awareness we can start to take a definitive step for this cause."
A member of the Honors Program, Larkin brought a project that other schools and communities are taking part in across the country. Build Banners for Darfur is a project created by Africa Action, a group that spreads awareness and promotes activism.
Using red paint, volunteers make handprints on large banners and sign their names. Some organizations include messages to President Bush.
Larkin set her banner up in the Honors Program Commons Room in Roger Williams Hall.
Once the banner is filled up, Larkin will send it to Washington D.C. where, according to Africa Action's Web site, the banners will be given to Andrew Natsios, Bush's Special Envoy to Sudan.
Larkin said her inspiration to bring the project to URI was spurred on by the 2006 Honors Colloquium, "The Global Challenge of Emerging Infectious Disease in Developing Nations."
"It really opened my eyes," Larkin said. "It's a very urgent issue, because human rights are paramount," she said.
Larkin's display also features photographs, books, pamphlets and artwork that detail the situation in Darfur, including personal accounts and actions one can take to help.
Assisting with the artwork was Larkin's friend and roommate Anthony Simmons, an economics and history major. "He's very artistically inclined, so I got him on board," Larkin said.
One of Simmons' paintings is a white tree with a green background, the logo of the Save Darfur coalition, and another was of the Genocide Intervention Network's trademark handprint.
"It's a good idea to have here," Larkin said.
Larkin, who said that there has been no shortage of handprints and signatures, added a twist to the banner. Instead of using paint for the handprints, signers can simply trace their name with a red marker. This way, students who are on-the-go don't have to get messy before rushing off to class.
Larkin said the display was set up at the beginning of the month and will remain until the end of the semester.
She said she encourages all students to stop by and leave their marks. Larkin is currently trying to have the banner placed in Hope Commons so more students can sign.
"I'm just doing my part," she said.
Darfur's civil conflicts have wrought violence, disease and genocide on the western region of Sudan, killing and displacing millions.
"Historically, [the genocides] have been happening for decades, centuries even," Larkin said. "Maybe through awareness we can start to take a definitive step for this cause."
A member of the Honors Program, Larkin brought a project that other schools and communities are taking part in across the country. Build Banners for Darfur is a project created by Africa Action, a group that spreads awareness and promotes activism.
Using red paint, volunteers make handprints on large banners and sign their names. Some organizations include messages to President Bush.
Larkin set her banner up in the Honors Program Commons Room in Roger Williams Hall.
Once the banner is filled up, Larkin will send it to Washington D.C. where, according to Africa Action's Web site, the banners will be given to Andrew Natsios, Bush's Special Envoy to Sudan.
Larkin said her inspiration to bring the project to URI was spurred on by the 2006 Honors Colloquium, "The Global Challenge of Emerging Infectious Disease in Developing Nations."
"It really opened my eyes," Larkin said. "It's a very urgent issue, because human rights are paramount," she said.
Larkin's display also features photographs, books, pamphlets and artwork that detail the situation in Darfur, including personal accounts and actions one can take to help.
Assisting with the artwork was Larkin's friend and roommate Anthony Simmons, an economics and history major. "He's very artistically inclined, so I got him on board," Larkin said.
One of Simmons' paintings is a white tree with a green background, the logo of the Save Darfur coalition, and another was of the Genocide Intervention Network's trademark handprint.
"It's a good idea to have here," Larkin said.
Larkin, who said that there has been no shortage of handprints and signatures, added a twist to the banner. Instead of using paint for the handprints, signers can simply trace their name with a red marker. This way, students who are on-the-go don't have to get messy before rushing off to class.
Larkin said the display was set up at the beginning of the month and will remain until the end of the semester.
She said she encourages all students to stop by and leave their marks. Larkin is currently trying to have the banner placed in Hope Commons so more students can sign.
"I'm just doing my part," she said.