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May 2008
From the Band
Dispatchers,
Summer is here and we’ve got some exciting news to get your seaon off to a great start!
First up, DISPATCH has launched a new series of lyric-inspired t-shirts! The first three (created especially for The General, Prince of Spades and Two Coins) are available now at the Official Dispatch Store.
We’ve also taken all three immensely popular DISPATCH: ZIMBABWE commemorative posters and combined them into one large Special Edition Re-Issue! These posters sold out immediately at Madison Square Garden, so grab your one-piece limited edition re-issue poster before it’s too late!
And finally, we are very pleased to unveil the new and fully loaded MySpace. Take a peak today!
Happy May,
**TEAM DISPATCH**
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From The Dispatch Foundation
ZIMBABWE ELECTION UPDATE
Parliamentary and Presidential elections were held in Zimbabwe on March 29th. There were two main parties running, the MDC and the current party in power, the Zanu PF. Parliamentary elections were released, recounted and released again; and the MDC has won a slim majority. Last Friday, after a 5 week delay, the Presidential election results were released and the MDC won a majority of the votes. However, the party was short of the numbers necessary to prevent a run off. A run off is now required to occur within three weeks. Throughout the delay, there have been widespread reports of violence against MDC supporters. According to one report, a loaf of bread cost 7 million Zimbabwe dollars at election time; last week a loaf of bread cost 40 million, and this week bread is impossible to find. Also this week, teachers are threatening to strike unless violence ceases.
Read news updates...
MANUEL UPDATE
Manuel shouldn't be alive. He shouldn't be writing his name or trying to communicate. He shouldn't be feeding himself or walking. And he certainly shouldn't be smiling. The Dispatch Foundation and The Elias Fund were with Manuel and Elias in Zimbabwe for several days in February and brought greetings and love from the States. The support from from his family and from his family of friends has given Manuel incredible strength. And now, Manuel is home with his family and is walking! He continues to struggle with his speech and his right arm is paralyzed. But, he is smiling nonetheless.
Read the entire Ndkasimba Trust update...
REEBOK 4 REAL
For the last year, Reebok has been working with 6 Boston area high schools on a Humanitarian Education program called Reebok 4 Real. As part of this program, each of the schools chose an activist, created awareness for that activists' platforms, and raised funds to support their efforts. The Boston Community Leadership Academy chose a Zimbabwean Human Rights Lawyer, Otto Saki. Last month, Chad and State Radio were part of a concert fundraiser and silent auction at the school.
Check out their work here...
MILLENNIUM CAMPUS CONFERENCE
Also, the Millennium Development Conference at MIT was a terrific success. The MIT Global Poverty Initiative and the Millennium Campus Network hosted 1,700 students for 3 days in Cambridge, MA. Keynote speakers included Senator John Edwards, Paul Farmer, John Wood and Jeff Sachs. Topics ranged from health to economics to public policy. The weekend focused on alleviating poverty. For instance, Room To Read builds a new library every 6 hours somewhere in the world! Braddigan was in Boston for the weekend, spent time at sessions, and his band played a show to raise funds for Grassroots Soccer.
Check out more on Grassroots Soccer here...
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