Journalist freed, millions still suffering

In an "about face" for the Sudanese government, the US journalist (and
adult Third Culture Kid) Paul Salopek was released after being accused
of spying in Sudan. This release came after pressure from US
diplomats and Paul's wife. This release is welcome news, especially
as Paul is an innocent man.

What sickens me about this release, however, is the fact that the
Sudanese government claimed it released Paul as a "humanitarian
gesture" according to news reports. This is utterly hypocritical.
For the last three years, Sudan has had the option to extend a
"humanitarian gesture" to the more than 2.5 million citizens that have
been forced to flee. Since 2003, over 400,000 people - my friends -
have been murdered as a result of the Janjaweed's ethnic cleansing
campaign. The Sudanese government is complicit in these crimes no
matter what they say, because either they have control over the
Janjaweed and order them to stop (which they haven't done) or they do
not have control over the Janjaweed but could give permission for UN
peacekeepers to stop the violence (which they haven't done either).

This release of the journalist is a good move because it was the right
move - the other right move is to bring peace back to Darfur, allow
the refugees to return home, and bring the perpetrators of rape and
murder to justice. This is truly the only "humanitarian gesture" that
will matter in the years to come.

10 Days for Darfur begins today...

The international effort to increases awareness about the crisis in
Darfur gets kicked off today with the first of ten "Days for Darfur"
culminating in the huge Rally for Darfur in New York City on Sept. 17.

Although I am still here in Florida, I am doing my best to be a part
of the actions being done on behalf of my friends. I encourage
everyone to take advantage of this mass mobilization. Jump on the
bandwagon - and help bring much-needed attention to the genocide.
Check out the Save Darfur Coalition for tons of ideas on how to give a
voice to the voiceless.

Welcome Among World readers

Today the article I wrote for Among Worlds, the magazone for adult
Third Culture Kids, hits mailboxes around the world. It is my hope
that what I wrote from the heart will spur fellow adult TCKs to think
about the crisis in Darfur, evaluate your role in world events and
perhaps even prompt some of you to lend a voice to the voiceless.

If you read the article, feel free to post a comment here in response.
Don't worry, all comments are welcome even if you disagree!

Thanks,
Scott