Photos from the Rally

in all, we wrote over 100 hand-written letters to the Prime Minister

Letter writing by the Olympic Clock. High school and university students were the driving force behind this effort. The connection between the Olympics and human rights is readily clear to us. It's time for all Canadians to see the connection.

Ivan Tucakov of Tambura Rasa!

Let us remember that the prime minister is a civil servant. We are his bosses. This is how we ask our employee to do his job appropriately.

Didn't notice the (steady) rain whatsoever! Did it rain? I can't remember now.

Sudanda

petition signing

Joel, fmr president of STAND-UBC

"Mr. Cat Myopia"

the torch concludes its journey from the summit of Whistler Mountain!

Rebeka

Dave

Jeremy and Pat


Senator Mobina Jaffer

Birpaul

Connor Mcguire


Tenzin from Canada Tibet Committee


Connor Mcguire


Pat with Canadian Red Cross

Leg 7 Trip Report

(with several excerpts by Luisa Giles.)

Leg 7 was slated to be a 45-km cross country mountain bike ride from Squamish to the head of Indian Arm. We anticipated crossing through snow for a for just a few of those kilometers... (cue foreshadow music clip).

leaving Squamish, in the shadow of the Chief (leg 6)


and then began the snow at 450m, somewhat lower than expected on the north side of the pass...

and then continued the snow until way lower than expected on the south side of the pass.


riding wasn't on


Luisa's take on this:

We began the very gradual 25km descent to Indian arm, everyone was still full of beans and finding the whole experience a generally joyous one. We passed 500m elevation, then 400m still snow everywhere and all around us. At this point although the group was still extremely positive I could sense the "when the f#&k will this be over?" feeling. I must say it was the most mentally challenging thing i have done in some time. The monotony really got to me.


more from Luisa:
The killer was at 350m (and 18km rd marker; as seen above) when we got to road so removed our snow gear got all excited only to ride around the corner for more snow :(. Luckily the forest service people had conveniently placed km markers at this point so we were able to see exactly how slow we were going.

finally, at 200m above sea level, we reached dry road.

It was tough, it was fun and the group really made it, and lets face it its nothing compared to what people in Darfur are going through.


After 25km of dragging our bikes through the snow, we cycled for 45 minutes to the ocean.


Jason and Melvin, who had cycled the Sea-to-Sky Highway prior to the "snow adventure" then hopped into a canoe and paddled home in the dark---SPOC (Self-Propelled Outdoor Club) style.


Its funny how the type II fun [fun only in retrospect] creeps up on you because by the time we were on the boat and I was looking at the pictures I already had forgotten the mental torture of slushy snow with a bike. Well I am sure by the time the next one comes around I will have all together forgotten any kind of pain or misery and be ready to do it all again.

Relay Approaches Squamish: Legs 2, 3, & 4

After a wrong turn in Whistler, and an extended thrash along an overgrown logging road, five intrepid Leg 2-3-4 participants backcountry skied into the Alpine meadows below the volcanic plug of Black Tusk (seen below).
Despite being in snow, "the heat was hot" (to quote America). Our Team Darfur wristbands assisted us in wiping perspiration from the brow.
Rising above treeline, we entered the Alpine... and approach Helm Glacier.

As the afternoon wore on, we climbed to Gentian Pass, at the head of the Helm Glacier. In all, we gained 5000' of elevation on the first day.

Beyond the pass, finally views of Garibaldi, the Table, and Garibaldi Lake. After a steep and technical ski down through a densely treed slow, we reached Sphinx Hut, where we spent the night.

Katy and Sarah in Sphinx Hut after a 10-hour, 25km day.

By 8am on April 23rd, we had skied across the frozen Garibaldi Lake, and began our ascent of the Garibaldi Neve.

The Garibaldi Neve can be crevassed in places.

The torch reaches the high point of the Garibaldi Neve traverse. From here, it's downhill into Squamish and the ocean. A "sky to sea" journey.

Skiing for 50km in 2 days can make a 30-year-old's foot look like a 90-year-olds!

Next up is the downhill mountain bike ride to the base of the Squamish Chief. The next update will be after Leg 7...

Relay Underway: Leg 1

The Outdoor Adventure Relay kicked off yesterday atop Whistler Mountain, in unseasonably cold (-19C in the morning) temperatures and high winds.

Eleven brave souls on the summit of Whistler, where the relay torch began its long journey to Vancouver.

official starting line
All three varieties of snow slider were represented:
"Two-Planker"
An "Aging Telemarker"
and "Knuckle Draggers"
On this day, we put aside our differences and united under one banner. Our goal is to encourage Canada and China to lead the way, to bring the Olympic dream to Darfur.

Leg 8. Ocean Kayaking

Gearing up in Deep Cove


Indian Arm



Fellow sea-farer!

Leg 9. Critical Mass

This ride will be considered the last leg of Students Taking Action Now: Darfur (STAND) UBC's Outdoor Adventure Relay. From April 19th to the 27th we have dedicated athletes skiing, biking, snowshoeing, climbing, and paddling a torch from Whistler Mountain to the Vancouver Art Gallery. Our goal is to raise awareness about Darfur, and pressure the Canadian government to take a leading diplomatic role in seeking a resolution to the crisis.

The Critical Mass Leg involves cycling on roads in Vancouver for 1 or 3 hours, at a leisurely pace.

There will be no sign up for this leg. Just show up one of the two times & places listed below.

Critical Mass Part I - Deep Cove to Norgate Park (16km)

First Meeting Point
Panorama Park, Deep Cove, North Vancouver (Close to the Kayak Shop)

When: we leave at 11:30am sharp ;) Please start arriving at 10:30am to get a bunch of free stuff we have for you!

Route: Straight! See the map above or follow this link. This route curves and winds, but you pretty much just have follow the same street while it changes into a lot of different names.

From Panorama Park to Gallant Rd. Naturally turns left on to Deep Cove Road, which will turn into Dollarton Hwy, which turns into Main Street, which turns into Cotton (you're through ½ of North Van already!) keeping right to make sure you go along 3rd which leads onto
Marine Drive. Turn left from Marine Drive on to Tatlow. Turn right from Tatlow to Norgate Park (your first right).

The first group of cyclists will meet up with those gathered at the Second Meeting Point, for Park II.

Critical Mass Part II- Norgate Park to Vancouver Art Gallery (7km)

Second Meeting Point
Norgate Park (Going East along Marine Drive you need to right on to Mcguire to get to the Park. Going West along Marine Drive you turn left on to Tatlow.)

When: we leave at 1:45pm (We also have free stuff for people at the Second Meeting Point, so please get there around 12:45pm)

Route: See map above or follow this link. Left on to Marine Drive, and on to Lions Gate bridge. There are clearly marked signs that lead to a bike path, this takes you around the south on-ramp for cars. Remember - safety first! Over Lions Gate bridge, and along the Stanley Park Causeway. Up the causeway along Georgia until Homer, which is the Vancouver Art Gallery.

We are aiming to arrive at 3:00pm to the greeting of a huge rally crowd. What to expect at the Art Gallery.

About the Event

What's the Plan?
A ski, snowshoe, climb, cycle, and paddle relay from Whistler Mountain to the Olympic clock, Downtown Vancouver in April 2008. We will pass a torch from one group to the next along the relay, which will culminate in a rally in downtown Vancouver on April 27. The idea is inspired by "Dream for Darfur" (www.dreamfordarfur.org), which organizes Olympic torch style relay marathons around the world to connect the Olympics and Darfur.

Why do this?
(1) because, whether or not it is our mandates as individuals, organizations, or governments, genocide is all of our business. There is no excuse for indifference;
(2) because it will be fun;
(3) because we feel that freedom from rape and murder in the desert is a natural extension of the "freedom of the hills" that we enjoy in Canada. We feel that genocide is something with which this world could do without;
(4) because there is now a connection between outdoor sports, the Olympics, and genocide. Olympic hosts have a responsibility to be stewards for huam rights. We aim to raise awareness of this and force the agenda back into the public's, media's, and government's attention;
(5) because we feel that Canada can do way more to bring a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Darfur;
(6) because we want to be part of the solution.

What do skiing, cycling, and Darfur have to do with one another?
With the 2010 Winter Olympics here in Vancouver and with the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, the time is right to draw attention to this issue of Darfur. The Olympic vision is one of fairness and unity, reminding us that we, the inhabitants of the globe, are one people and responsible for one another. As Olympic hosts, Canada and China have a responsibility to be leaders of human rights. Canada and China should lead the world community in bringing a peaceful end to the conflict in Darfur. Over 400,000 innocent people have now been massacred. China buys 90% of Sudan's oil and supplies the weapons that are being used to carry out genocide. The Canadian government has become weak on Darfur. A Canadian envoy to Darfur led by Sen. Mobina Jaffer was terminated by the current administration. Taking a leadership role in preventing gross human rights violations in Darfur is a project with which Canadians resonate, across political affiliation. We have concrete recommendations about how the Canadian government can take a leadership role in Darfur.

What are we getting out of this?
The truth is that we are doing this because we feel that it is the right thing to do. We stand to gain nothing financially from this, just the satisfaction that we did not stand idle as genocide took place. We are active members of the outdoor and globally conscious community; we wondered what good adventure has in the bigger picture. This is our way of connecting what we love to do with what we believe is right. We feel a responsibility as global citizens to defend human rights and work for peace.

If you feel the same way, we welcome and encourage your involvement.

Leg 5. Downhill Cycle

Overview: A coordinated but not guided adventure. Non-competitive. Not a race.

Duration: Single-day leg; 2 hours of cycling.

Demands: Steep, challenging downhill mountain bike riding over roots, rocks, and dirt.

Logistics: The route will go from the Diamond Head Parking Lot to the Chief Grand Wall Parking lot.

Requirements: You must register as a group of 2 or more persons. No individuals will be permitted. If a member of your group is unable to continue for any reason, the entire group must remain with and accompany that individual to safety. Groups must be self-sufficient. This leg is only appropriate for groups that are competent and experienced enough to carry out a trip like this on their own.

Itinerary:
Friday, April 25^th, 9:00 am — Meet at Smoke Bluffs Parking Lot, shuffle bikes around
Friday, April 25^th, 9:30am — Arrive at Diamond Head Parking Lot, receive torch
Friday, April 25^th, 10:00am — Leave Diamond Head Parking Lot
Friday, April 25^th, 12:00pm — Arrive at Chief Parking Lot, hand off torch to hikers/climbers
Friday April 25^th, 1:00pm — return to Smoke Bluffs Parking lot, retrieve cars from Diamond Head Parking lot.

Cost: Free

How to Sign Up: Get your group of 2 or more people together, select a group representative, then have each person sign up here. Each participant must sign up online.

Ready? sign up now

Trails
Note that Powerhouse Plunge may be out of commission due to fallen trees. If it remains so, we will use the alternative route marked in red.

#55 The 19th Hole
#53 P-Nut's Wild Ride
#45 One Man's Garbage	#49 Tseudo Tsuga
#42 Another Man's Gold	#39 Ring Creek Falls Tr.
#41 Ring Creek Rip
#40 Powerhouse Plunge
#37 The Barber Chair
#34 5 Point Hill (The Raa)
#24 S&M Connector
#23 Endo
#16 Summer's Eve
#7 Smoke Bluff Trail

Upon arrival at the Smoke Bluffs Parking lot, we will cycle along the road or adjacent trails to the Grand Wall Parking lot to hand off the torch at 12 noon to the hikers/climbers.

About the Crisis in Sudan

Sudan is geographically the largest country in Africa and has a population of 39 million. Located in a drought-prone area of western Sudan, the Darfur region is roughly the size of Texas and had a pre-conflict population of roughly 6 million people. The people of Darfur generally fall into two groups: sedentary farming groups (such as the Fur, Masalit, and Zaghawa) and pastoral nomadic groups (such as the Riziegat, Miseriya, and Beni Halba). Although historically ethnic divisions were very fluid, today pastoral nomadic groups are typically considered "Arab" while farming groups are considered "non-Arab".

Starting in the mid-1980’s increasing land and water scarcity led to tensions between the two socio-economic groups. Those tensions were manipulated by Sudanese, Libyan and Chadian politicians and resulted in the creation of Arab militias that began attacking non-Arab communities. A low intensity conflict in the region in the late 1980s was ostensibly ended in 1990, but the Sudanese government selectively disarmed only the non-Arab forces, leaving the Arab militias intact. With Khartoum's tacit approval and in some cases outright assistance, those militias launched a series of escalating offensives against non-Arab farmers in Darfur throughout the 1990s. Those attacks eventually led to the formation of non-Arab rebel groups called the Sudanese Liberation Army/Movement (SLA/M) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) who accused the Arab dominated regime in Khartoum of discriminating against and marginalizing non-Arabs in Darfur.

The crisis began in 2003 when the SLA/M and the JEM launched a series of attacks on government military installations. This caught the Sudanese Government by surprise. With few troops in the area and still heavily engaged in the civil war in the South, they responded by expanding and further arming the Arab militias commonly known as the Janjaweed and launching a campaign backed by the Sudanese military against non-Arab communities. Both Sudanese military forces and the Janjaweed, sometimes acting independently and sometimes in conjunction, have deliberately targeted non-Arab civilians in clear violation of international law. They are engaged in a campaign to destroy non-Arab communities in Darfur in an effort to undermine the rebel groups.

Four years later, civilians continue to suffer as the Sudanese government and their Janjaweed proxies restrict international humanitarian access, bomb and strafe civilian targets with aircraft, raze villages, abduct children, murder men and boys as potential rebels, and engage in a campaign of mass rape. Since the outbreak of hostilities in 2003, the crisis in Darfur has resulted in well over 200,000 largely civilian deaths, the displacement of more than two million people, and the suffering of millions more. The decision by the Government of Sudan to conduct ethnic cleansing as a counter-insurgency campaign has attracted significant international condemnation but relatively little action to date.

Following the signing of a provisional ceasefire in 2004 between the Government of Sudan and the two rebel groups, the African Union (AU) provided a small force to monitor that agreement. However, the AU force force lacks the needed equipment, numbers and experience and despite its best efforts has been unable to protect civilians and humanitarian aid workers in the face of intensifying violence.