June 29th- Hold your breath for Darfur

On June 29th, hold your breath for Darfur.
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HOLD YOUR BREATH FOR DARFUR: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

"When you hold your breath," says the great yoga master BKS Iyengar, " you hold your very soul."

Would you hold your breath in a moment of silence to bring attention to the ongoing genocide in Darfur?

We are a group of concerned citizens who will assemble in front of the federal courthouse at 346 Broadway at twelve Noon on June 29, to bear witness to the slaughter of 400,000 Darfuris in the Sudan. But ours will not be a normal act of remembrance; each individual in our group will be holding his breath.

Our pose will mirror the muted response of the international community to the atrocities in Darfur. In the time that each of us abstains from breathing, more Darfuris will expire from violence in Sudan, and our protest will symbolize their senseless deaths, and in a sense call to attention that we are all responsible.

By holding our breath, with our cells crying out to live, we will be united with those whose breath has been taken from them.

Would you join us by holding your breath in a moment of silence at noon on June 29th?

We would be honored if you would also personally participate in the event, and represent the many communities of faith that have come together in a stance against the violence in Darfur.

We have set aside time before and after the event for religious leaders to speak on Darfur and the importance of breath itself to the assembled crowd.

We are working very hard to focus media attention on this event, and your words may reach a significant audience in the metropolitan area. Furthermore, we have already organized simultaneous events in Brussels, Belgium, and Kigali, Rwanda, and are working with other groups around the US.

If you are interested in attending or speaking at the event, please contact me at info@holdyourbreathfordarfur.com .

Meanwhile, many thanks for taking the time to reflect on our request.

Taylor Krauss
Hold Your Breath For Darfur