Club seeks to increase world awareness through summit

With an emphasis on global warming, genocide and poverty, earth summit will be April 5

By Ray Pitz

The Beaverton Valley Times, Mar 27, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009

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In order to call attention to a myriad of problems facing the world – and hopefully to come up with an action plan to address those issues – Westview High School’s Awareness to Action Club will host it’s Earth in Crisis Summit April 5.

The 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. event will focus on the topics of global warming, human trafficking, genocide, poverty and education, a day-in-the-life of African culture, how to conduct large-scale fund-raising efforts, humanitarian effects of war and Romania’s “lost children.”

“Basically, the summit is an event that brings together social activist clubs in our area,” said Tara Gu, who along with Nancy Johnson, serves as the club’s presidents.

Gu said during Westview’s presentation at the summit, students will tackle the subject of education and literacy in Africa and how a lack of the two are connected to a cycle of poverty.

Anjali Das, another club member, said they will zero in on three African countries: Zimbawee, Kenya and Uganda.

“We’re going to talk about how education is vital,” said Das.

Event speakers will include Thomas Lwebuga, a Nike employee from Uganda who does humanitarian work for Westview High’s sister high school in Uganda, and Claire Cushing, a student at Lewis and Clark College who has been a major fundraiser for Invisible Children, a non-profit group that spreads awareness about child soldiers in Northern Uganda.

Although initially an HIV/AIDS awareness organization, Awareness to Action has expanded the topics the group wants to focus on, say group organizers.

“We support sustainability in third world countries through education and various projects such as the book drives and fund-raising,” said Camille Wu, another club member.

Local high schools expecting to attend the event include Southridge, Beaverton, West Linn, St. Mary’s Academy, Lincoln and Sunset.

Non-governmental agencies who will have booths at the event include Mercy Corps, the World Affairs Council, Jubilee, Cascade AIDS and Medical Teams International. Also, plans are to have a voter registration booth as well.

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