I know this is a busy place but every time I put a Darfur Diary together I hope beyond hope that it’ll generate some interest in the slow motion / Rwanda-style genocide that’s taking place right now in Sudan. According to a report released in Jan. 2006, half a million innocent people have been killed in this genocide, and millions more have been driven from their homes and rely on aid organizations for their very survival.
Yet one in 100 of the diaries generate any interest around here and each time I post one it breaks my heart a little more for the 15 or so comments people leave. Because I KNOW this community of progressive ACTIVISTS is better than that. But I’m at a loss as to how to get you folks to step up to the plate and do something – ANYthing to help end this slaughter of innocents.
We’re nearing the end of the week marking the Global Days for Darfur, and with 400+ events scheduled worldwide, there’s still a chance for you to do something to help people who won’t survive unless you step up to the plate and be counted among those who say
ENOUGH! STOP THIS SLAUGHTER OF INNOCENTS!
Make no mistake about it – this genocide is as much about oil as the one in Iraq. Sudan has oil and the Chinese want it. And because China’s becoming such a power in the world no one is willing to stand up to them as they do business with Khartoum, thereby propping up this murderous regime.
The Sudanese government in Khartoum has agreed to and wriggled out of one ceasefire or agreement after another in the last four years. Only as recently as January when Bill Richardson went in and got the parties to agree to a ceasefire. Ten days later al-Bashir bombed a village and since that time, 100,000 people have fled their homes and more than a few African Union troops have been targeted and killed. The militias (backed by the government) have even gone after aid providers at the refugee and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Darfur and Chad.
The time for agreements is over – it’s time for UN Peacekeepers and world involvement. Divestiture of companies doing business with Sudan, economic sanctions, a no-fly zone (enforced by the French who’ve already said they’d do it) and an end to this slaughter of innocents.
THAT’s what the thousands of people taking part in this week’s Global Days for Darfur actions are calling for.
THAT’s the call I’m urging you to take up in your community this weekend.
Go to SaveDarfur.com and find an event in your area.
If there’s nothing scheduled then ORGANIZE ONE dammit!
Got a busy corner in your town – show up with a couple friends and some signs and tell your neighbors about this genocide.
You’ve got a town hall near you – right? That’s another good place for visibility.
What about your local tv station? Show up and ask them to cover this issue more.
Same goes for your local newspaper.
Maybe your local CongressCritter has a district office near you – there’s another good location for an action / event. Ask them to represent you – their constituents by taking up this cause.
Dammit the local mall or fast food place would do – just show up!
Plan event – get the word out to your family, friends, neighbors and local news outlets.
Our grandparents said "never again" when they learned of the Holocaust over 60 years ago.
Since that time we’ve repeated those empty words so many times we’ve lost count.
The time for excuses is past people. The people of Darfur have waited for over 4 years for us to stand up for them and say ENOUGH!
UPDATE
For those of you in DC, Maryland or Virginia, please come to Lafayette Park on the north side of the White House at 2pm this Sunday...
Rally at The White House- Global Days for Darfur (Global Days for Darfur)
Save Darfur Coalition
Amnesty International
American Jewish Committee
Darfur Interfaith Network
and others will be hosting a rally in Lafayette Park on Sunday the 29th to call for international peacekeepers and an end to the genocide in Darfur.
Speakers include (in alphabetical order):
Sam Bell (Genocide Intervention Network)
John Bradshaw (Physicians for Human Rights)
Rev. Richard Cizik (National Association of Evangelicals)
Larry Cox (Amnesty International)
Mia Farrow (UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador)
Rev. Walter Fauntroy (New Bethel Baptist Church)
Crispian Kirk (NAACP)
Adrienne Fricke (Harvard Law School Human Rights Program)
Rabbi Steve Gutow (Jewish Council for Public Affairs)
Erin Mazursky (STAND)
David Rubenstein (Save Darfur Coalition)
Carla Koppell (Initiative for Inclusive Security)
Mohamed Yahya (Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy)
2pm Rally, ending at 3:30pm. Hope to see you there!
Time: Sunday, April 29 at 2:00 PM
Duration: 90 minutes
Host: Coby Rudolph
Location: The White House/Lafayette Park (Washington, DC)
1600 H Street St NW
The White House/Lafayette Park
Washington, DC 20037
UPDATE #2
It's been a while since I posted the following resources list. Someone asked what they could do beyond this week's events and here it is. Get informed. Contact the White House and your CongressCritters, write LTE's. This should get you started...
The toll free number for the White House Comments Line is 1-800-671-7887. Write that number down and use it every chance you get. The Capitol Switchboard is 1-800-828-0498.
Then, if you have a minute please use the DNC tool below to write a letter to the editor (LTE) of your local newspapers. The more noise we make about this genocide, the more likely it is that the powers that be will take action to stop it.
Take Action
Global Days for Darfur This week of rallies, marches and vigils will run from April 23rd to April 30th
Sudan Divestment Task Force From the Genocide Intervention Network – Divest personal investments or push for local or statewide divestment. Check your own funds with their Screening tool
Reports
UN Human Rights Council Report March, 2007
Getting the UN In To Darfur International Crisis Group, Oct. 2006
2006 US Department of State’s Report on the Human Rights Abuses in the Sudan. If you read nothing else - read this.
Physicians for Human Rights Report January 2006
Sudan – A Future Without War OCHA IRIN - UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs – May 10, 2004
Groups
Save Darfur Coalition
ENOUGH Project The project to abolish genocide – A joint initiative of the Center for American Progress and the International Crisis Group
Human Rights Watch
International Crisis Group Up to date information on the genocide in Darfur
Sudan Watch Timeline & other info
Genocide Intervention Network
Amnesty International
Students Taking Action Now - Darfur STAND - Divestment Campaign
Africa Action
Organizations Providing Aid In Darfur
UN World Food Program
UNICEF - Canada
OXFAM International
Medicins Sans Frontieres - Doctors Without Borders
Genocide Intervention Network
Partners In Health
UNHCR UN High Commission for Refugees.
Videos -
Darfur Diaries
Sudan - The Quick & The Terrible PBS Frontline
Peace Under Fire - the UN
Video Testimonials - Amnesty International
Photos
Darfur Eyewitness
Pysicians for Human Rights Photos
A Promise Unkept - NYT Photos
Darfur - A Challenge for Us All(Center for American Progress
Other Info
Who’s Who in This Crisis From the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Chronology from 1954 to 2004 From the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Africa Action Talking Points
Sudan By the Numbers Center for American Progress - Feb 2005
Darfur Scores find out how your CongressCritters are doing
Campaign to Send in UN Peacekeepers Darfur Scores effort
Info with Google Images of Darfur burned out countryside & all
Bill Frist’s diary re his recent trip to Sudan On SaveDarfur.org’s site.
Get the Latest News
IRIN Humanitarian News & Analysis UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Save Darfur Coalition Newsroom
International Crisis Group A great conflict analysis group that has put out many conflict reports - 30-50 pages each - on the war in Darfur, as well as many policy recommendations.
Online African Newspaper Sources from around the continent, in English and French
Strategic Analysis some of their Darfur stuff is decent
Reuters’ News Network for Humanitarian Orgs
United Nations Integrated Regional Information Networks
Relief Web looks like an amazing site
CBC News In Depth - Crisis Zone, Darfur Sudan
BBC News Timeline
BBC News in Depth - Sudan, A Nation Divided
Contacts
Andrew Natsios - Special Envoy to Sudan -
Try Undersecretary for Political Affairs, Nicholas Burns 202-647-2471 or the Special Assistant for African Affairs, Economic Affairs, Environment and Science Affairs, Democracy and Human Rights, Counterterrorism Affairs -- Kara McDonald 202-647-4315. Either one will put you through to Natsios's office.
White House Comments Line - 202-456-1111 or toll-free at 1-800-671-7887
Capitol Switchboard - they’ll connect you to your CongressCritters - 202-224-3121 or 1-800-0498
Sudanese Embassy in DC -
<http://www.sudanembassy.org>
2210 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20008
Tel: (202) 338-8565
Fax: (202) 667-2406
info@sudanembassy.org <mailto:info@sudanembassy.org>.
Chinese Embassy in DC -
2201 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Suite 110,
Washington D.C. 20007
Tel : (202) 338-6688
Fax: (202) 588-9760
Email: 2008@beijing-olympic.org.cn
(Believe it or not - they’re playing a part in preventing action to stop this genocide)
send a letter to the editor of your local paper(s). A DNC site that brings up local newspapers, TV & Radio stations in your area when you plug in your zip code.