NaturalRadical ✌🏻(1) A very close friend who is a #gardener extraordinaire, #vermiculturist , super #composter & the organizer of many school gardens in #Okanogan county, has sent out an appeal for his friend, a #sustainable #food advocate in #Congo, who has had to flee his community under threat to his life. He has taken refuge in the UN HQ in Kinshasa. His story reminds me of the dangers progressives face around the world. We are helping him come to the US and hope to learn from him. See comments for story!
(2) from my friend: This is Adrien Ruzomb from Kinsangani in Congo. He is the cousin of my friend Victor Yemba. Both these men have been working to help people learn to grow food #sustainably. They do this in a war zone. They have been supported by Slow Food International. Over the past 8 years they have started over 50 community and school gardens in the region around Kinsangani. This has helped bring a measure of food security to a region wracked by decades of violent conflict. (Continued)
(3) the local people trust and admire Adrien and Victor. Because they have the trust of the people, corrupt political groups attempt to bribe them to sway people to vote for their party in the coming elections.
Four years ago Victor was forced to flee due to death threats because of his refusal to take bribes.
Recently Adrien was offered $10,000 but refused. Because he refused, & denounced the corrupt political group on the radio, he has recieved death threats. (Continued)
Four years ago Victor was forced to flee due to death threats because of his refusal to take bribes.
Recently Adrien was offered $10,000 but refused. Because he refused, & denounced the corrupt political group on the radio, he has recieved death threats. (Continued)
(4) Luckily Adrien was able to find protection in the UN headquarters in Kinshasa. He has recieved a US visa and will recieve an airline ticket. A UN member will accompany him to Seattle. There he will reunite with my friend Victor, who is his cousin. The money will help him with food, rent, clothing, and transportation until he can find work and support himself. Any small donation will help. (We have a go fund me, but it would also be a help to share this story) continued…
(5) With help from his friends in the slow food organization Victor was able to recieve political asylum & escape to the US 4 years ago. Their stories are almost identical. Many of their coworkers have been killed doing this work.
Last fall Victor visited me for a week. During that time we visited five school gardens in the #Okanogan. He told his story to over 550 students during that week. Their story is one of hope and resilency in the face of corruption, brutality and violence. (Continued)
Last fall Victor visited me for a week. During that time we visited five school gardens in the #Okanogan. He told his story to over 550 students during that week. Their story is one of hope and resilency in the face of corruption, brutality and violence. (Continued)
(6) These men are not simply economic refugees. They are warriors for #peace who use shovels instead of guns and distribute knowledge, seeds and tools instead of death.
I admire these men. They do not want to leave their people. They will continue to work from from our country to encourage peace and health in their own. Their hope is to return as soon as possible.
(Continued)
I admire these men. They do not want to leave their people. They will continue to work from from our country to encourage peace and health in their own. Their hope is to return as soon as possible.
(Continued)
(7) (my friend) started a gofundme to help Adrien get started in Seattle. Victor works happily for minimum wage in Seattle. He tries to send $200 a month to keep the school garden he started in Kinsangani going. Please share this story. It is breaking #garden news. I am looking forward to meeting Adrien & helping my friend do a presentation about his work.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-bring-a-good-man-to-safety?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-bring-a-good-man-to-safety?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet