On April 27th, a large coalition of faith groups, refugee service organizations and STAND students came together to put on a wildly successful genocide awareness and prevention event in Chapel Hill, N.C. To make a long story short, these groups planned and worked for months to put together an event for Holocaust Remembrance Week and Genocide Awareness Month that celebrated survivors and liberators in our community, screened “The Last Survivor” documentary and held a discussion with the film’s co-director.
We squeezed 260 people into the sold-out theater and turned away about 50 people. We had three local mayors, two town council members and a state representative attend and participate in the celebration ceremony. We celebrated 12 survivors of the Holocaust and violence in Congo and celebrated 6 U.S. army veterans who liberated Nazi concentration camps. In fact, a veteran met for the first time a concentration camp survivor that he liberated – both now living in our community.
The movie had its usual powerful effect on the audience and especially drew praise from the survivors – who celebrated the film’s attempt to focus not just on the past. The conversation afterwards with the film’s co-director was powerful and inspiring, with a good conversation about what people can do to help prevent future crimes against humanity. People left motivated and engaged and determined.
The success of this event stands in stark contrast to the first Interfaith Coalition meeting held so many months ago at the beginning of my fellowship year - where only one person showed up. Some of the reasons why I think this event worked so well include:
**Strong coalitions. There was not one single group that planned this event. We made sure to involve groups such as the local Jewish federation, local church and mosques, refugee resettlement agencies, a Holocaust Speaker’s Bureau, and the local STAND chapter right from the early days. Asking them to come, have a booth and participate gave them ownership and motivation to promote to their constituencies.
**Involving local survivors. Bringing real survivors who live among us brought a very tangible, emotional power to the evening that simply showing the film would not have achieved.
**Planning far in advance. We began planning for this event late last year – a full five months before it happened. Of course, most work was done closer to the event but we got on elected officials’ calendars early, got out in front of other Holocaust Remembrance events and were well organized to get media attention.
What made some of your events better than others?
Showing posts with label genocide. Show all posts
Showing posts with label genocide. Show all posts
Monday, May 09, 2011
Saturday, March 05, 2011
Updated Darfur speaker website
It's been a long time coming, but I finally got around to refreshing my other blog - which is focused on creating speaking opportunities. Many people are looking for a resource for an event, but have trouble finding new and interesting ways of raising awareness. So - my goal is to help as much as I can.
Check it out at DarfurSpeaker.blogspot.com and please spread the word about this site. You never know who might be listening to you on Facebook or Twitter that needs help with an event.
Thanks!
Scott
Check it out at DarfurSpeaker.blogspot.com and please spread the word about this site. You never know who might be listening to you on Facebook or Twitter that needs help with an event.
Thanks!
Scott
Friday, March 12, 2010
Introducing CGAN
One of the biggest frustrations I had with my time as a fellow with the Genocide Intervention Network was the lack of communication among local genocide activists. I would hear about cool events AFTER they were over. I talked to people all over the Triangle region of N.C. who felt they were alone in their genocide prevention efforts, when just around the corner there was another person feeling the same way.
So, how can we stay connected? What about a wiki - a web site that anyone can edit - to create an online presence?
Thus, the idea for the Carolina Genocide Action Network (CGAN) was born. The CGAN is an informal, low-maintenance community of men and women who care about genocide prevention issues. It's targeted to people who live in North and South Carolina, but all are welcome.
So check it out, join the wiki, leave an update and let me know what you think. Is this the right direction for us to go?
So, how can we stay connected? What about a wiki - a web site that anyone can edit - to create an online presence?
Thus, the idea for the Carolina Genocide Action Network (CGAN) was born. The CGAN is an informal, low-maintenance community of men and women who care about genocide prevention issues. It's targeted to people who live in North and South Carolina, but all are welcome.
So check it out, join the wiki, leave an update and let me know what you think. Is this the right direction for us to go?
Monday, February 22, 2010
Two positive recent developments - dare we hope?
In the world of genocide prevention advocacy, we’re used to bad news. In fact, we sort of brace ourselves for the worst even while hoping for the best. That’s a trait beat into us from years of seeing oppressors escape justice for mass atrocities while the general American public blithely ignores what is happening.
Well, take heart. There have been two recent developments of note in regard to Darfur. It’s too early to declare victory on either one of these, but hopefully they are the early signs of a positive turnaround.
1. International Court Paves the Way to Charge Bashir with Genocide
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir could face genocide charges in the International Criminal Court (ICC) after a legal ruling over his role in the conflict in Darfur. Bashir, who already faces an arrest warrant on seven charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes, is now eligible to charged with genocide after an appeals court overturned a previous ruling stating there wasn’t enough evidence to charge him with genocide.
If the ICC decided to bring charges of genocide against Bashir, it would be the first time it has done so against a sitting head of state. It goes without saying that this would be monumental on many levels, including sending a major warning shot to other oppressors interested in similar tactics. Read more here.
2. New Truce Between Major Rebel Group and Government
The major Darfur rebel movement JEM is set to sign a truce with the Sudanese government in Doha, Qatar, this week. This agreement would mark just one in a ling string of ceasefires – but observers have high hopes for this one. Among other reasons, the Sudanese government (and Bashir in particular) is under particular pressure to demonstrate progress given item #1 above and the upcoming April elections in Sudan. If the truce holds, it will lead to more detailed peace talks in March on issues such as power sharing. Can we hope for this to be a baby-step in the right direction?
Of course, JEM isn’t the only rebel group fighting in Darfur and therefore this peace deal is limited in scope. Success will also be determined by the extent that Sudan and JEM can include the other groups and not alienate them in this process. Read more here.
So, here are two positive recent developments – dare we to celebrate? Not yet. History is littered with false starts.
We’ll keep a close eye on both and keep praying that they ultimately lead to the end of suffering in Darfur and Eastern Chad.
Well, take heart. There have been two recent developments of note in regard to Darfur. It’s too early to declare victory on either one of these, but hopefully they are the early signs of a positive turnaround.
1. International Court Paves the Way to Charge Bashir with Genocide
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir could face genocide charges in the International Criminal Court (ICC) after a legal ruling over his role in the conflict in Darfur. Bashir, who already faces an arrest warrant on seven charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes, is now eligible to charged with genocide after an appeals court overturned a previous ruling stating there wasn’t enough evidence to charge him with genocide.
If the ICC decided to bring charges of genocide against Bashir, it would be the first time it has done so against a sitting head of state. It goes without saying that this would be monumental on many levels, including sending a major warning shot to other oppressors interested in similar tactics. Read more here.
2. New Truce Between Major Rebel Group and Government
The major Darfur rebel movement JEM is set to sign a truce with the Sudanese government in Doha, Qatar, this week. This agreement would mark just one in a ling string of ceasefires – but observers have high hopes for this one. Among other reasons, the Sudanese government (and Bashir in particular) is under particular pressure to demonstrate progress given item #1 above and the upcoming April elections in Sudan. If the truce holds, it will lead to more detailed peace talks in March on issues such as power sharing. Can we hope for this to be a baby-step in the right direction?
Of course, JEM isn’t the only rebel group fighting in Darfur and therefore this peace deal is limited in scope. Success will also be determined by the extent that Sudan and JEM can include the other groups and not alienate them in this process. Read more here.
So, here are two positive recent developments – dare we to celebrate? Not yet. History is littered with false starts.
We’ll keep a close eye on both and keep praying that they ultimately lead to the end of suffering in Darfur and Eastern Chad.
Monday, January 25, 2010
State of the Union: Will Obama mention genocide?
As a Triangle resident who grew up in Sudan, I won’t be drinking shots every time President Obama says “jobs” as I watch this week’s State of the Union address. Nor will I scrutinize every word for subtle signs of socialism. I will be looking for a young president to live up to his campaign promises of change as it pertains to the most egregious of all crimes: genocide.
President Obama has chosen to deliver his first State of the Union Address on same day as the International Holocaust Remembrance Day. This provides him with an incredible opportunity to be the first president to declare a commitment and plan to abolish genocide.
Further, President Obama should specifically call on the nation and the world to redouble its efforts to prevent atrocities and bloody war in Sudan. Prevention is easier and cheaper than intervention.
So - what are the odds that Obama mentions genocide during his address?
President Obama has chosen to deliver his first State of the Union Address on same day as the International Holocaust Remembrance Day. This provides him with an incredible opportunity to be the first president to declare a commitment and plan to abolish genocide.
Further, President Obama should specifically call on the nation and the world to redouble its efforts to prevent atrocities and bloody war in Sudan. Prevention is easier and cheaper than intervention.
So - what are the odds that Obama mentions genocide during his address?
Thursday, January 17, 2008
How to Eat a Mango
You always know the whereabouts of the riverbeds. You can see them coming, still far off in the distance as you make your way forward on your bone-jarring journey across Eastern Chad. The rivers – dry, of course – are highlighted on the horizon by the long line of lush green mango trees that seem to rise out of nowhere. Sucking sustenance from some deep water table lying dormant under the earth’s sandy floor, they grow together in mighty groves stretching as far as the eye can see. Once among them, the air changes and you can sense it. It gets cooler, fresher and is laced with a sweet fragrance that lingers above the carpet of dried leaves. You can raise your eyes without squinting and listen to the foreign sounds of monkeys rustling in treetops. Up above, you hear the creaking of a limb straining under the weight of its treasure – mangos!
These plump, juicy and fibrous fruits have been called many things throughout the ages, including such portentous titles as “fruit of the gods.” I don’t doubt that ancient mythological creatures would treasure the sweetness and sense of fulfillment one gets from devouring a ripe mango, but I am skeptical that they would actually eat one for fear of getting their hands sticky and staining their white robes.
After personally enjoying mangos on four different continents, I have come to the conclusion that the world lacks some serious mango know-how. I have seen people try to peel it, chop it, rip into it and all have managed to get themselves incredibly messy. Please, allow me to explain the best way to eat a mango, learned from the experts themselves in the dry riverbeds of Eastern Chad.
Step 1: Get a mango. Big, juicy and ripe (otherwise they are kind of sour). Look for the ones that are starting to turn reddish or yellow and not just solid green. Avoid the ones with maggots.
Step 2: Get a knife. Doesn’t have to be big, just effective.
Step 3: Stand the mango upright on a hard surface. Each mango has a broad side and a narrow side – point the narrow side towards you.
Step 4: Carefully cut off one entire broad side of the fruit. Position the knife just off-center (to avoid the hard inner core) and in one clean stroke, go from top to bottom.
Step 5: Cut the half of mango by making deep cuts in a criss-cross pattern (like tic-tac-toe). Don’t cut the skin, but go deep enough to separate the “meat” into little squares.
Step 6: Grab the cut half and flip it inside-out. Push the outer edges back and the center toward you. This will make the squares “pop out” and stand ready to be eaten. Enjoy.
Step 7: Repeat steps 3 through 6 with the other side of the mango. Enjoy again.
Step 8: With the knife, carefully peel off the skin from the remaining core.
Step 9: Hold the core in the middle with your hand and eat the fruit around the edge, similar to biting the crust off a piece of bread. Now, you have eaten an entire mango with very little mess.
Step 10: Get out the dental floss and remove the hundreds of fibers stuck between your teeth, rinse your hands and wipe your smiling face.
These 10 steps have provided many hours of succulent bliss in my life and I am glad to share them here. Unfortunately, with the current chaos and violence wreaking havoc on the areas of Eastern Chad and Darfur, there is little time to enjoy the simply pleasures provided by the mango. These lands are embroiled in what the UN calls the “world’s worst humanitarian crisis" and all food is now scarily scarce. More than 200,000 people have already died and millions more are on the verge.
We can help. We can restore peace, justice and hope to this land and its beautiful people. We can assist my friends and their families return to enjoying the simple fruits of life. For a list of things you can do, check out the 20 WAYS I CAN HELP link on the right side of this page.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
DarfurFast
On December 5th, students around the world will ask their peers, families, and communities to join them in DarfurFast by fasting from one luxury item for one day and donating the money they would have spent on those items to protect civilians in Darfur. Just three dollars– less than the cost of a latte– can provide protection for one woman for a year.
For more about this international campaign led by students, go to www.standnow.org/darfurfast
On a personal note, I have been invited to speak at a DarfurFast event in Greensboro, N.C., that evening at 7;30 p.m. Sponsored by the UNC-G STAND chapter, this event will include a mixture of music, art and awareness. For more information, email standuncg [at] gmail [dot] com.
Hope to see you there!
For more about this international campaign led by students, go to www.standnow.org/darfurfast
On a personal note, I have been invited to speak at a DarfurFast event in Greensboro, N.C., that evening at 7;30 p.m. Sponsored by the UNC-G STAND chapter, this event will include a mixture of music, art and awareness. For more information, email standuncg [at] gmail [dot] com.
Hope to see you there!
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Darfur peace talks open in Libya
Today, key UN and other international leaders are meeting in Libya to begin official peace negotiations to try to end the long-running conflict in Darfur. However, many people are calling the negotiations futile and doomed since the main rebel group’s leader pulled out before it started. It is true that there is severe intra-fighting between the splintered rebel groups and no one voice that speaks for the people of Darfur. That fact makes a comprehensive peace agreement virtually impossible. But is all really lost before it’s even started?
If one views peace talks like a win-lose situation (like a sports game) where the win is a piece of paper with everyone’s signature promising everlasting peace, then, yes, these talks are doomed.
But instead of viewing the peace talks like a sports game, let’s view them as a medical conference. Here, talented men and women with experience in international diplomacy can get together and put their heads together to come up with a long-lasting cure. We must share ideas, listen to the opposite sides and then push for action. So much can happen when people get together around a common goal.
I would much rather they have “doomed” peace talks than no peace talks at all.
If one views peace talks like a win-lose situation (like a sports game) where the win is a piece of paper with everyone’s signature promising everlasting peace, then, yes, these talks are doomed.
But instead of viewing the peace talks like a sports game, let’s view them as a medical conference. Here, talented men and women with experience in international diplomacy can get together and put their heads together to come up with a long-lasting cure. We must share ideas, listen to the opposite sides and then push for action. So much can happen when people get together around a common goal.
I would much rather they have “doomed” peace talks than no peace talks at all.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Whirlwind Week
When I posted my CNN/YouTube debate question two weeks ago, I had no idea what it would spark. The video question caught the attention of the YouTube.com Political Editor and before I could hardly blink, I was asked to be interviewed live on CNN.
Last Wednesday, I had the privilege of going on national primetime TV and sharing my passion for saving my friends in Darfur. The experience was both surreal (sitting in a cold room speaking to the voice in my ear) and exciting (spreading an important message, even if for just a few seconds).
The response from that interview has been impressive. Many people were genuinely moved and encouraged by the interview and reached out to me to let me know. I have had a nurse tell me she has found her life’s calling after seeing me, a missionary kid share deep secrets, a newspaper contact me about writing a feature piece and a theatre director in London call for an interview. I also did an interview with the local 24-hour news channel, News 14 Carolina. This aired on Friday and over the weekend as part of their Presidential Debate coverage.
Granted, it is nice to receive the many encouraging emails and phone calls – but what means more to me is the fact that Darfur was placed on the national and local agenda for at least one week and prompted genuine, strong reactions from people as they discovered the truth.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Purpose of this blog
I write this blog not only to provide the occasional commentary on world events pertaining to Darfur, but also to share the stories of life in Darfur as I knew it before the genocide began. My hope is that these creative pieces will grab your attention and make you want to learn more about this region and its wonderful people. They are all based on real life events or people I knew as I lived and played in Eastern Chad.
To save you the trouble of scrolling through months of posts, here is a list of some of my more creative pieces:
A Night Without Gunfire
Evacuation Is Not An Option
The Water Boys
When Is A Chicken Worth Its Weight In Gold?
A Tale of Two Girls
How To Catch A Bat
To save you the trouble of scrolling through months of posts, here is a list of some of my more creative pieces:
A Night Without Gunfire
Evacuation Is Not An Option
The Water Boys
When Is A Chicken Worth Its Weight In Gold?
A Tale of Two Girls
How To Catch A Bat
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
20 WAYS I CAN HELP
A resource guide for North Carolinians seeking to fight injustice in Darfur.
Excellent General Resources:
Save Darfur Coalition: www.savedarfur.org
Genocide Intervention Network: www.genocideintervention.net
US Holocaust Memorial Museum: www.ushmm.org/conscience
LEARN
1. Although there is a serious lack of media coverage, some can be found if you look hard enough. Seek out media reports on the area:
BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/Africa
CNN: www.cnn.com/WORLD/africa
African media: www.AllAfrica.com
2. Get current news directly from agencies working in Darfur:
Reuter’s humanitarian agency news: www.alertnet.org
World Vision: www.worldvision.org
Amnesty International: http://news.amnesty.org/regions/AFR
3. Browse online journals (blogs):
www.DyingintheDust.com (my personal site)
www.passionofthepresent.com
www.coalitionfordarfur.blogspot.com
Search Google Blogs for posts on Darfur
4. Sign up for alerts from any of the three “general resources” above.
ATTEND
Seek out events about Darfur in our community
5. Check out events calendar on www.savedarfur.com
6. Join groups on social networking sites such as Facebook.com, Meetup.com and MySpace.com and subscribe to email distribution lists. http://sudanpeace.meetup.com/84/?gj=sj3
EDUCATE/VOLUNTEER
Don’t keep it to yourself – share!
7. Share what you are learning with your family, closest friends and Bible Study members.
-Darfur on Google Earth for “techies”
-MTVU for teens
8. Plan a fundraising event
5K Run, Dimes for Darfur, classic fundraisers, etc.
www.genocideintervention.net/fundraising
9. Plan an awareness event
-Darfur Stories – a theatre piece www.darfurstories.org
-Film showings (Hotel Rwanda), Dinners for Darfur, Dream for Darfur gatherings
-Publish it: www.savedarfur.org
-Check out the event planning guides from the “general” resources
LOBBY
10. 1-800-GENOCIDE (easy to use system tells you the latest talking points and automatically connects you with your elected official)
11. Encourage your senators to support the Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act (DADA) which passed the House of Representatives 418-1 on July 31, 2007.
Senator Elizabeth Dole (R-NC): 202-224-6342, dole.senate.gov
Senator Richard Burr (R-NC): 202-224-3154, burr.senate.gov
12. Stay current on how all elected officials are doing: www.DarfurScores.org
U.S. Rep David Price (D-NC4): (202) 225-1784
U.S. Rep Brad Miller (D-NC13): (202) 225-3032
Highlight
13. Generate press coverage of your events and the crisis
-Issue press releases, media advisories prior to event
14. Make sure the crisis is covered in the news when important events occur
-Write a guest editorial for a newspaper
-Write a Letter to the Editor in response to an article
15. Publish posts online about the crisis or in magazines
Contribute
16. Provide funding for the humanitarian missions
Great list of groups on BBC: How to help. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3793577.stm
17. Provide funding for security/protection missions
Genocide Intervention Network provides funding for “non-lethal” security aid
18. Provide support for missionaries working in the area
WEC International (USA) www.wec-usa.org
Divest
19. Make sure you are not unintentionally funding genocide. www.sudandivestment.org
Pray
20. Never underestimate the power of prayer. Make lifting up Darfur a regular part of your prayer life.
SMALL STEPS LEAD TO BIG CHANGE
Excellent General Resources:
Save Darfur Coalition: www.savedarfur.org
Genocide Intervention Network: www.genocideintervention.net
US Holocaust Memorial Museum: www.ushmm.org/conscience
LEARN
1. Although there is a serious lack of media coverage, some can be found if you look hard enough. Seek out media reports on the area:
BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/Africa
CNN: www.cnn.com/WORLD/africa
African media: www.AllAfrica.com
2. Get current news directly from agencies working in Darfur:
Reuter’s humanitarian agency news: www.alertnet.org
World Vision: www.worldvision.org
Amnesty International: http://news.amnesty.org/regions/AFR
3. Browse online journals (blogs):
www.DyingintheDust.com (my personal site)
www.passionofthepresent.com
www.coalitionfordarfur.blogspot.com
Search Google Blogs for posts on Darfur
4. Sign up for alerts from any of the three “general resources” above.
ATTEND
Seek out events about Darfur in our community
5. Check out events calendar on www.savedarfur.com
6. Join groups on social networking sites such as Facebook.com, Meetup.com and MySpace.com and subscribe to email distribution lists. http://sudanpeace.meetup.com/84/?gj=sj3
EDUCATE/VOLUNTEER
Don’t keep it to yourself – share!
7. Share what you are learning with your family, closest friends and Bible Study members.
-Darfur on Google Earth for “techies”
-MTVU for teens
8. Plan a fundraising event
5K Run, Dimes for Darfur, classic fundraisers, etc.
www.genocideintervention.net/fundraising
9. Plan an awareness event
-Darfur Stories – a theatre piece www.darfurstories.org
-Film showings (Hotel Rwanda), Dinners for Darfur, Dream for Darfur gatherings
-Publish it: www.savedarfur.org
-Check out the event planning guides from the “general” resources
LOBBY
10. 1-800-GENOCIDE (easy to use system tells you the latest talking points and automatically connects you with your elected official)
11. Encourage your senators to support the Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act (DADA) which passed the House of Representatives 418-1 on July 31, 2007.
Senator Elizabeth Dole (R-NC): 202-224-6342, dole.senate.gov
Senator Richard Burr (R-NC): 202-224-3154, burr.senate.gov
12. Stay current on how all elected officials are doing: www.DarfurScores.org
U.S. Rep David Price (D-NC4): (202) 225-1784
U.S. Rep Brad Miller (D-NC13): (202) 225-3032
Highlight
13. Generate press coverage of your events and the crisis
-Issue press releases, media advisories prior to event
14. Make sure the crisis is covered in the news when important events occur
-Write a guest editorial for a newspaper
-Write a Letter to the Editor in response to an article
15. Publish posts online about the crisis or in magazines
Contribute
16. Provide funding for the humanitarian missions
Great list of groups on BBC: How to help. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3793577.stm
17. Provide funding for security/protection missions
Genocide Intervention Network provides funding for “non-lethal” security aid
18. Provide support for missionaries working in the area
WEC International (USA) www.wec-usa.org
Divest
19. Make sure you are not unintentionally funding genocide. www.sudandivestment.org
Pray
20. Never underestimate the power of prayer. Make lifting up Darfur a regular part of your prayer life.
SMALL STEPS LEAD TO BIG CHANGE
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Crisis or cash cow?
The Sudanese government recently refused to allow the World Food Programme to bring 100,000 metric tons of sorghum flour into the country to feed the Darfur refugees. The reason was that the government claimed the sorghum was genetically modified, or GM. First of all, there is no such thing as genetically modified sorghum in the world today. Second of all, even if there was – why would the government object to the food needed to keep its own citizens alive?
The real reason behind the Sudanese government’s attempt to blockade this sorghum is because it is trying to pressure the WFP to buy the flour from Sudan. In other words – the Sudanese government wants to make a profit off of this disaster.
In my mind, I have to wonder that if the Sudanese government has the sorghum supplies available to gladly sell to WFP, why isn’t the government using it to aid the plight of its people? If supplies exist then why is there a famine? I believe it’s just one more indication of the marginalization of Darfur by the central government and the root cause of this crisis.
I am glad the WFP stood firm and insisted on bringing in its flour. For starters, the claims that it was GM were false. Secondly, with the rainy season approaching, it is imperative that all the supplies for the next three months arrive early. And thirdly, it would be self-defeating to allow the Sudanese government to make a profit off this refugee crisis. What motivation would the government have to stop the fighting and allow refugees to return home? The war would be a cash cow and we would have no choice but to pay up or lose lives. Instead, we have to make it financially difficult for Sudan to justify supporting the crisis and delaying aid to its own people.
Thoughts?
The real reason behind the Sudanese government’s attempt to blockade this sorghum is because it is trying to pressure the WFP to buy the flour from Sudan. In other words – the Sudanese government wants to make a profit off of this disaster.
In my mind, I have to wonder that if the Sudanese government has the sorghum supplies available to gladly sell to WFP, why isn’t the government using it to aid the plight of its people? If supplies exist then why is there a famine? I believe it’s just one more indication of the marginalization of Darfur by the central government and the root cause of this crisis.
I am glad the WFP stood firm and insisted on bringing in its flour. For starters, the claims that it was GM were false. Secondly, with the rainy season approaching, it is imperative that all the supplies for the next three months arrive early. And thirdly, it would be self-defeating to allow the Sudanese government to make a profit off this refugee crisis. What motivation would the government have to stop the fighting and allow refugees to return home? The war would be a cash cow and we would have no choice but to pay up or lose lives. Instead, we have to make it financially difficult for Sudan to justify supporting the crisis and delaying aid to its own people.
Thoughts?
Monday, April 02, 2007
Motivated by Meredith
This past week has been promising for my friends in Darfur. Unfortunately, my uncle passed away last week as well, so I have been distracted from writing on this blog. However, there has been some positive momemtum.
I had the privilege of sharing my passion with a packed house at Meredith College this past week. It was refreshing to see so many eager faces interested in learning more about Darfur, the possible solutions and how students can play a role in ending the conflict. A credit to the organizers, the event was well planned and offered me a great platform to share my heart. The questions from the audience were intelligent and engaged and I thought the panel discussion afterward offered a diverse range of opinions. One of the first events of its kind at this all-girl school, I hope that it is a great launching point for greater awareness and compassion on this campus.
This event motivated me and encouraged me. It was great to see a room full of men and women who might have wandered in without a clue, but who left an enaged global citizen.
I had the privilege of sharing my passion with a packed house at Meredith College this past week. It was refreshing to see so many eager faces interested in learning more about Darfur, the possible solutions and how students can play a role in ending the conflict. A credit to the organizers, the event was well planned and offered me a great platform to share my heart. The questions from the audience were intelligent and engaged and I thought the panel discussion afterward offered a diverse range of opinions. One of the first events of its kind at this all-girl school, I hope that it is a great launching point for greater awareness and compassion on this campus.
This event motivated me and encouraged me. It was great to see a room full of men and women who might have wandered in without a clue, but who left an enaged global citizen.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
A night without gunfire
This night began like all other nights that summer in Chad. My family said our prayers and headed outside to sleep under the stars. The long night of cool breezes across our bodies was worth the risk of a morning battle with a pesky fly. Protected by the large walls of our compound and the flimsy fabric of our mosquito nets, we settled in for another peaceful night in Africa. This night though, there would be no peace.
Bang – bang – bang. Gunshots rang out in the night - jolting me from my sleep. Disoriented, I struggled to understand the situation as my father appeared at my bedside. With a few swift motions he untucked my netting and scooped me out of bed. Another series of rifle fire forced me to flinch. This time, the sounds that poured over our compound walls were obviously closer. Voices were yelling, guns firing and chaos reigned.
My family rushed indoors, closing the large steel doors to our house just as more shots rang out. We headed to my room because it offered the best protection. A former bathroom, its two windows were small and up high. Huddled together in my parents’ embrace, my sisters and I listen to the firepower display taking place just a few hundred feet away. Silently we sit as the shouts and shots pass us by and continue up our street, around the corner and away into the distance. That night, we slept inside.
The next morning my father went out to see what had caused last night’s gunfire. The answer was a mad cow. A cow worked itself loose from its restraints and charged through the village streets in the middle of the night. The gunfire came from desperate herders intent on intimidating the cow into submission. As the chase continued throughout the streets, the cow became more and more frenzied, eventually forcing the herdsmen to kill it to prevent more damage.
Looking back on this night, the comical reality of the situation is overshadowed by the reality of the emotions that swept over us from hearing gunshots. We were scared. We were uncertain. We were waiting helplessly inside our house as this unusual event took place outside our walls.
*******************************
Today in Eastern Chad and Darfur, gunfire is not unusual - it is a nightly event with no funny story in the morning. The nightly terror is real and people wake up in the morning to find out which relatives have been murdered and/or whose livelihoods stolen. The gunfire is incessantly denying men, women and children a peaceful night’s sleep. The gunfire is a constant reminder of the mass atrocities taking place across this region, the rapes, the slaughters and the pure hatred.
The crisis in Darfur has rained so many bullets over the heads of my friends that the big news of the day is when there is NO gunfire the night before. I friend of mine living in Abeche remarked in a recent email how it was the first night in three months without the heart-stopping sounds of the conflict echoing off her walls.
We must all work together to end the gunfire. With more than 200,000 people already dead in the dust, millions in peril and no end in sight to the mass crimes against humanity – the situation looks bleak. There is hope; this recent night without gunfire is hope. One day at a time, we must devote ourselves to giving my friends in Darfur one more night without gunfire.
Bang – bang – bang. Gunshots rang out in the night - jolting me from my sleep. Disoriented, I struggled to understand the situation as my father appeared at my bedside. With a few swift motions he untucked my netting and scooped me out of bed. Another series of rifle fire forced me to flinch. This time, the sounds that poured over our compound walls were obviously closer. Voices were yelling, guns firing and chaos reigned.
My family rushed indoors, closing the large steel doors to our house just as more shots rang out. We headed to my room because it offered the best protection. A former bathroom, its two windows were small and up high. Huddled together in my parents’ embrace, my sisters and I listen to the firepower display taking place just a few hundred feet away. Silently we sit as the shouts and shots pass us by and continue up our street, around the corner and away into the distance. That night, we slept inside.
The next morning my father went out to see what had caused last night’s gunfire. The answer was a mad cow. A cow worked itself loose from its restraints and charged through the village streets in the middle of the night. The gunfire came from desperate herders intent on intimidating the cow into submission. As the chase continued throughout the streets, the cow became more and more frenzied, eventually forcing the herdsmen to kill it to prevent more damage.
Looking back on this night, the comical reality of the situation is overshadowed by the reality of the emotions that swept over us from hearing gunshots. We were scared. We were uncertain. We were waiting helplessly inside our house as this unusual event took place outside our walls.
*******************************
Today in Eastern Chad and Darfur, gunfire is not unusual - it is a nightly event with no funny story in the morning. The nightly terror is real and people wake up in the morning to find out which relatives have been murdered and/or whose livelihoods stolen. The gunfire is incessantly denying men, women and children a peaceful night’s sleep. The gunfire is a constant reminder of the mass atrocities taking place across this region, the rapes, the slaughters and the pure hatred.
The crisis in Darfur has rained so many bullets over the heads of my friends that the big news of the day is when there is NO gunfire the night before. I friend of mine living in Abeche remarked in a recent email how it was the first night in three months without the heart-stopping sounds of the conflict echoing off her walls.
We must all work together to end the gunfire. With more than 200,000 people already dead in the dust, millions in peril and no end in sight to the mass crimes against humanity – the situation looks bleak. There is hope; this recent night without gunfire is hope. One day at a time, we must devote ourselves to giving my friends in Darfur one more night without gunfire.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
US State Department puts Darfur first
It’s normally a very bad day when your hometown shows up at the top of a U.S. government list of the world’s worst human rights abuses – so why am I so happy?
When the State Department published its annual report on human rights around the world – it had plenty of items to discuss. From concerns in Russia to coups in Fiji, there was no shortage of human rights issues to condemn. However, at the top of its "most concerning" list is the genocide in Darfur – and the killing of my friends.
I am pleased that this crisis has been acknowledged for what it is – a humanitarian disaster on a scale only seen in previous genocides. This is positive because it will garner media attention (CNN has it on its front page), raise awareness and really sharpen the focus on Sudan’s actions. The end result is that if the U.S. Government says its important – then it is.
However, I am disappointed that it was “in retrospect.” In other words, this list is a list of abuses in 2006 – THEY ALREADY HAPPENED. My friends are already dead, their blood already shed out of hatred and the young girls already raped. No list in the world will return families from the dead and heal deep scars. We must act as the violence continues into 2007 and make it an absolute priority that the Darfur crisis does not appear on the 2007 version of the list as well.
Now that the State Department has made it so obvious what its #1 concern is, the other parts of the government - especially the newly elected Democratic Congress and President Bush – must take action. If more is not done to save the men and women of Darfur and to restore their ability to built futures and fulfill childhood dreams – the we are getting dangerously close to becoming “guilty by non action.”
When the State Department published its annual report on human rights around the world – it had plenty of items to discuss. From concerns in Russia to coups in Fiji, there was no shortage of human rights issues to condemn. However, at the top of its "most concerning" list is the genocide in Darfur – and the killing of my friends.
I am pleased that this crisis has been acknowledged for what it is – a humanitarian disaster on a scale only seen in previous genocides. This is positive because it will garner media attention (CNN has it on its front page), raise awareness and really sharpen the focus on Sudan’s actions. The end result is that if the U.S. Government says its important – then it is.
However, I am disappointed that it was “in retrospect.” In other words, this list is a list of abuses in 2006 – THEY ALREADY HAPPENED. My friends are already dead, their blood already shed out of hatred and the young girls already raped. No list in the world will return families from the dead and heal deep scars. We must act as the violence continues into 2007 and make it an absolute priority that the Darfur crisis does not appear on the 2007 version of the list as well.
Now that the State Department has made it so obvious what its #1 concern is, the other parts of the government - especially the newly elected Democratic Congress and President Bush – must take action. If more is not done to save the men and women of Darfur and to restore their ability to built futures and fulfill childhood dreams – the we are getting dangerously close to becoming “guilty by non action.”
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Progress in Darfur?
Some rare good news: New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson just released a joint statement with Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir that, if implemented, would bring some immediate security and relief to the people of Darfur as well as provide a clear path forward to long-term peace in the region.
Save Darfur asked Governor Richardson to travel to Sudan to discuss ways to secure peace in Darfur and to end the genocide. The Governor was accompanied by Save Darfur Senior International Coordinator Ambassador (ret.) Lawrence Rossin, Refugees International Executive Director Kenneth Bacon, and Public and International Law and Policy Group senior attorney Amjad Atallah. Since Sunday, when they arrived in Khartoum, Governor Richardson and the delegation have visited Darfur and participated in a variety of meetings with government officials, rebel leaders, humanitarian officials, AU commanders and UN officials.
The promises from President Bashir in this agreement are encouraging. They include commitments to:
*A 60-day ceasefire with an international peace summit to be held before March 15, 2007.
*Sudan's cooperation to work with the African Union and United Nations on the deployment of a hybrid peacekeeping force in Darfur.
*Ensuring "zero tolerance" policies for gender-based violence in Darfur.
*Free access for humanitarian aid workers and journalists.
This news is very promising - but without swift action, the deal is only as valuable as the paper it was printed on. People - my friends - in Darfur are used to promises and overtures from heads of states. What they really care about, and what we should really care about, are the actions on the ground.
Real progress would be a night without gunshots ringing across the desert. Progress would be the ability to walk to a well to get clean water without fear of rape. Progress would be new seeds distributed to start new fields before this year's rainy season. Progress would be refugees streaming out of camps instead of into them.
On the upside, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has now completed two successful negotiations with Sudan (he freed National Geographic reporter Salopek last year). This means he has done more than the President and more than the UN Secretary General together as far as real results with the Sudanese goverment go. More than just a signed piece of paper, this peace agreement speaks to a real relationship between two leaders - and relationships will go a lot farther in the high stakes world of ending mass genocide than empty threats and sanctions.
Kudos to Richardson for getting on a plane, flying across the ocean and investing in the relationship. And good for him for thinking about more than just his constituents in New Mexico - understanding the importance of being a global citizen. Although the true success of his efforts will be measured only in saved lives, this is finally some decent news for Save Darfur activists and my friends in Chad and Sudan.
Save Darfur asked Governor Richardson to travel to Sudan to discuss ways to secure peace in Darfur and to end the genocide. The Governor was accompanied by Save Darfur Senior International Coordinator Ambassador (ret.) Lawrence Rossin, Refugees International Executive Director Kenneth Bacon, and Public and International Law and Policy Group senior attorney Amjad Atallah. Since Sunday, when they arrived in Khartoum, Governor Richardson and the delegation have visited Darfur and participated in a variety of meetings with government officials, rebel leaders, humanitarian officials, AU commanders and UN officials.
The promises from President Bashir in this agreement are encouraging. They include commitments to:
*A 60-day ceasefire with an international peace summit to be held before March 15, 2007.
*Sudan's cooperation to work with the African Union and United Nations on the deployment of a hybrid peacekeeping force in Darfur.
*Ensuring "zero tolerance" policies for gender-based violence in Darfur.
*Free access for humanitarian aid workers and journalists.
This news is very promising - but without swift action, the deal is only as valuable as the paper it was printed on. People - my friends - in Darfur are used to promises and overtures from heads of states. What they really care about, and what we should really care about, are the actions on the ground.
Real progress would be a night without gunshots ringing across the desert. Progress would be the ability to walk to a well to get clean water without fear of rape. Progress would be new seeds distributed to start new fields before this year's rainy season. Progress would be refugees streaming out of camps instead of into them.
On the upside, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has now completed two successful negotiations with Sudan (he freed National Geographic reporter Salopek last year). This means he has done more than the President and more than the UN Secretary General together as far as real results with the Sudanese goverment go. More than just a signed piece of paper, this peace agreement speaks to a real relationship between two leaders - and relationships will go a lot farther in the high stakes world of ending mass genocide than empty threats and sanctions.
Kudos to Richardson for getting on a plane, flying across the ocean and investing in the relationship. And good for him for thinking about more than just his constituents in New Mexico - understanding the importance of being a global citizen. Although the true success of his efforts will be measured only in saved lives, this is finally some decent news for Save Darfur activists and my friends in Chad and Sudan.
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