GNC Update

I measured the distances tonight and Phil and I were 3.6 miles away from our target goal – the Ledbetter DART Rail station. We would have had an additional 1.5 miles after that to get to the location.
The total distance of our walk would have been 18.3 miles to the train station if we had completed our journey.
I’m still bumbed that we didn’t. But oh well. Here’s the latest from the Invisible Children team…

We dont really know where to startwhat an event.
Each citys attendance exceeded their online sign-ups, and our expectations immeasurably. As our office staff reconvened from all over the U.S. we sat in disbelief at the lack of catastrophes: none injured by street traffic, no missing children, no creepy park dwellers, just peaceful, playful yet contemplative crowds. We feel like proud parents who just got home from the parent-teacher conference with word that OUR kid is the best in the class. Even the cops complimented us- about you. Now we want to compliment you too.
From the group in San Diego whose feet were bleeding from walking 21 miles barefoot to join us, to the 7 girls in Chicago who shaved their heads. From the New Yorkers who could be laying but not sleeping on the sidewalk in a single file line, to the downpour on the Prom dresses in Franklin, Tennessee you were a part of something memorable. Young, old, all races, all religions the states united. If you were with us on this night, you must feel as we do: altered. Puzzle pieces come together to form a big beautiful picture and for one night, more than 70,000 pieces joined the thousands in Northern Uganda, and slept outside.
Did you have a moment to stop? Did you look out through the morning mist, or rain, or snow, and think: there are kids who do this every night? Did you look at the bodies, on the ground and think I cant believe there are this many people who know about the night commuters in Northern Uganda, and this many people who care enough to do something. Continue to learn about this crisis, and stay involved. (Its not too late to ask people to write the President, and your states Senators.)
Many of you may not have known, but Jacob (seen in the film Invisible Children: Rough Cut and now, on Oprah) flew in for the event and was in constant awe. He kept whispering to us, I am so touched. When speaking to the crowd that night he said, I now know that you Americans care about the children of Northern Uganda.
We feel the force of this movement, and the responsibility to continue moving forward.
Trust us, we are moving.
Apoyo matek means beyond thank you in Luo, which is one of the languages spoken in Northern Uganda. Thank you for being a part of something purposeful. Thank you for fighting for justice for people you may never meet, and knowing they deserve what you, and your own children would. Dont for a moment think your being there didnt make a difference. What an enormous victory for the people of Northern Uganda.
Stay tuned. This is only the beginning.

Much Love,
Your Friends at INVISIBLE CHILDREN

P.S.We have loved seeing your pictures and videos posted on Myspace, please burn them on a disk (highest res possible), or make dubs, and send them to our office.
Our address is :1810 Gillespie Way, San Diego, CA, 92020 attn: GNC photos
Also, when we do events like this, we hear stories of the incredible ways in which people have responded after seeing the film. Stories we would have otherwise never heard. WE WANT TO HEAR. From photos of you that your mom snapped mid-bake sale, to newspaper articles you or your friends were in, from school papers to national news, you MUST have copies of what you did for these kids, and we want a copy as well. Tell us all about your event, and send them to: Our address is :1810 Gillespie Way, San Diego, CA, 92020 attn: Danica

Bono at Music Hall


(Photo from DMN pool photographer)
In front of a mixed crowd wearing T-shirts, flip flops and business suits, U2’s lead singer, Bono, captivated a Dallas crowd Friday night at the Music Hall at Fair Park – without the help of his legendary rock band.
The event was a fund raiser for Dallas’ World Affairs Council, with tickets going from $25 to $500.
Bono was introduced by Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and welcomed to the stage with a thunderous standing ovation.
He assured the “loud ones in the crowd” that the rest of his band would not be joining him for the night.
“If you were expecting the band, I don’t even tell them that I do these things,” Bono said as he loosened his canary yellow tie. “I’ve become a student of the Soviet way of speech making and they don’t want to sit through three hours of me talking about Africa.”
Donning a dark grey business suit, his trademark sunglasses and flashing the UT “Hookem,” Bono told the crowd of 4,000 that he wasn’t accustomed to wearing a tie and joked that he didn’t wear ties for politicians — but only for the people of Texas.
Bono recounted his journey to becoming “a rock star with a cause.”
And he encouraged Americans to make friends out of potential enemies in Africa, rather than defend against them later.
“The global war against terror is bound up in the war against poverty. Collin Powell said that. And when an American military man says the American military is not enough, we need to take notice,” he said. “I know you’ve been through a lot with Katrina and Rita and the War in Iraq. But every generation has its defining moral struggle. This is our Omaha Beach. This is our moon shot. Our one true grab at greatness.”

| | Music Hall

Quick update before I eat dinner

In front of a mixed crowd wearing T-shirts, flip flops and business suits, Nobel Peace Prize Nominee and one-third of Time Magazines 2006 Person of the Year and U2’s lead singer, Bono, captivated a Dallas crowd Friday night at the Music Hall at Fair Park.
The event was a fund raiser for Dallas’ World Affairs Council, with tickets going from $25 to $500.
Donning a dark grey business suit, his trademark sunglasses, a canary yellow tie and flashing the UT “Hookem,” Bono told the crowd of 4,000 that he wasn’t accustomed to wearing a tie and joked that he only wore ties for the people of Texas.

Bono was introduced by Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, who said she first met the rock star at the National Prayer Breakfast, held this past February in Washington.
“He gave a spellbinding address,” Hutchison said. “He is an extraordinary man not easily forgotten. For sure he is a great singer, a true rock star and a man with heart and deeds to match his words.”

Other notables in attendance were U.S. Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Karen Hughes and former Dallas Cowboy Daryl Johnston.