Sudan 365: The Time is Now

January 9th is the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between North and South Sudan. Come hear an update, see a video of celebrities and activists drumming for peace, cautioning that there is one year to prevent war again in Sudan. And drum along with others.

One of the speakers is Deng Jongkuch, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan living in San Jose. In 2001, after nearly fourteen years in refugee camps, Deng was selected with 3,800 other boys to come to the United States.

The events around the world have been organised by a coalition of groups including San Francisco Bay Area Darfur Coalition, Amnesty International, Save Darfur, FIDH, Refugees International, Human Rights Watch, International Rescue Committee, Darfur Consortium and Arab Coalition for Darfur to launch sudan365.org (http://www.sudan365.org) a year of campaigning for Sudan.

Sudan365 is being supported by some of the world's most famous drummers - including: Phil Selway, Radiohead; Stewart Copeland, The Police; Nick Mason, Pink Floyd; Jonny Quinn, Snow Patrol; Caroline Corrs; Richard Jupp, Elbow; renowned Egyptian drummer Yehia Khalil; Middle Eastern star Mohammed Mounir and Mustapha Tettey Addy who has been drumming since the 1970s. The celebrity drummers are coming together to create a 'beat for peace' in Sudan video.

Activists are calling on world leaders to dramatically increase their engagement to:
* Provide intensive and coherent diplomatic support to Northern and Southern Sudanese parties on unresolved issues such as wealth sharing, borders and security, and legislation for the referendum; and
* Increase international monitoring and reporting on human rights violations throughout Sudan in the run up to the April elections and referendum, and support measures to protect civilians from potential violence related to these events.