It’s been nearly seven years since the Darfur genocide began. Fortunately, the conflict continues to garner much-needed attention worldwide. This is in large part due to the unprecedented number of Americans and dedicated elected officials like U.S. Representatives Brad Miller and David Price who have refused to give up on the people suffering there.
President Obama stated on March 18th that “Sudan is a priority for this Administration,” yet the Administration has failed to demonstrate the sense of urgency and executive attention that is necessary to distinguish Sudan as a true priority. The Administration has yet to release a long-overdue policy review of Sudan and has appeared focused more on rewards for the Government of Sudan instead of a balanced approach that includes punitive measures for continued intransigence. The release of an appropriately balanced policy review would help to alleviate fears that the United States will squander its leverage on continued broken promises from Khartoum.
As Senators, President Obama, Vice-President Joseph Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were three of the strongest advocates for Sudan, but now that they are in the Administration we have yet to see them live up to their promises to prioritize peace in Sudan.
Sudan Now, an ad campaign coming out this week in several major news outlets, calls on Obama, Biden and Clinton to keep the promises that they’ve made to the people of Sudan. The release of the policy review on Sudan is expected within days. Obama, Biden and Clinton must take this opportunity to become a part of the process; weighing in to ensure that the policy matches up with their rhetoric. More information on the campaign can be found by visiting www.SudanActionNow.com.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
What's in a name?
In the temper tantrum that immediately followed the ICC's indictment of President Bashir or Sudan, the Sudanese Government kicked out 13 aid groups working in Darfur. This retaliation against "the West" was particularly damaging to the situation in Darfur because the expelled aid groups were significant players in the humanitarian scene - providing about 40 percent of the aid to the millions who are suffering. Names like Doctors Without Borders, Mercy Corps, Save the Children and Oxfam are well-known around the world for their professionalism and quality work under dire conditions. If they're in your background, you've got issues but you're in good hands.
Thankfully, according to news reports, the Sudanese Government is now letting these groups back into the country...with one condition. The only condition seems to be that they change their name. This is an odd move, but one is probably just a face-saving tactic. The best part is the same experienced staff, resources and logistical networks can return to work.
I can understand the hesitancy of aid groups to change their identity. Afterall, its a brand they've built for decades and it matters to donors and staff. It's also about pride in your work. As a public relations professional, I know the value of consistency in communications and image. However, this is a time when your typical PR instinct should get thrown out the window.
Names do not matter in the game of life and death. There are millions of men, women and children in desperate need of water and medical care, and I really don't think they care what logo is on the truck. So, I say to the expelled groups: go ahead and change the name on your badge, the logo on your truck and heck, throw up a new web site to appease those in power. Because the refugees without power need your help, and they need it now. And they don't care what you're called.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Help Sarah ride against rape
Right now, rape is at an all-time high in areas of Sub-Saharan Africa where large concentrations of Sudanese refugees are seeking shelter from the crisis in Darfur. A great number of these rapes occur when women venture outside of the camps, in places such as Congo and Chad, to get firewood. Rape is used as a political tool as well as a means of demoralizing and socially degrading women.
One local Raleigh high school student has said "no more!" and is taking action to provide these women with protection. Sarah Cheshire is setting out on a coast-to-coast bike ride to raise money for Genocide Intervention Network's civilian protection program. She begins in Charleston, S.C., and with your help she will make it all the way to San Diego, CA.
For more information on how to sponsor Sarah and provide real protection to women threatened by rape, contact Sarah at [scheshire AT cfsnc DOT org]. The deadline for raising money is June 15 – so act quickly!
One local Raleigh high school student has said "no more!" and is taking action to provide these women with protection. Sarah Cheshire is setting out on a coast-to-coast bike ride to raise money for Genocide Intervention Network's civilian protection program. She begins in Charleston, S.C., and with your help she will make it all the way to San Diego, CA.
For more information on how to sponsor Sarah and provide real protection to women threatened by rape, contact Sarah at [scheshire AT cfsnc DOT org]. The deadline for raising money is June 15 – so act quickly!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
The creative side 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 years of posts, here is a list of some of my more creative pieces:
How to eat a Mango
Arrival: Part 1
Arrival: Part 2
A Night Without Gunfire
Nighttime Ritual
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 years of posts, here is a list of some of my more creative pieces:
How to eat a Mango
Arrival: Part 1
Arrival: Part 2
A Night Without Gunfire
Nighttime Ritual
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
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Peacekeeper shot during carjacking
The latest report out of Chad/Darfur recently remind us of the volatile situation on the ground in Darfur. On Thursday of last week, an African Union-UN peacekeeper was killed - not in battle, but by a rogue thug tryiing to steal his vehicle. For me, this is almost worse than being ambushed by the Janjaweed militias, because it reflects the utter chaos of the region and desperation of the people. He is the 15th peacekeeper to die since the AU-UN mission began last year.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Are you a Triangle NC Darfur advocate? Come join us!
This Sunday is an exciting day. It is the "relaunch" of the Interfaith Coalition for Sudanese Peace in the Triangle region of North Carolina.
Many people have participated with the Interfaith Council on past events, while others may not know about the Interfaith Coalition but care about the crisis in Darfur. We thank each of you for your hard work - from volunteering to fundraising to praying – that has helped improve the lives of the men, women and children of Darfur.
Unfortunately, the situation in Darfur remains dire and now more than ever we must work together to raise our voices on behalf of these people. Since we last spoke with many of you, the Interfaith Coalition for Sudanese Peace has changed. We have new members, new structure and a new strategic vision for working to end the crisis in Darfur. We want to reconnect with you (or connect for the first time) and hear what you and your organizations are doing in this area.
You are invited to an event specifically for men and women who have demonstrated a passion and interest in resolving the crisis in Darfur. At this event, we will network with other local activists and get a brief update on the current situation in Darfur. We will also learn about the Coalition’s new organization and examine ways we can partner together this year.
When: Sunday, April 26 from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Where: Connections community space, 1280 Buck Jones Road, Raleigh NC
For more information, call 919 612 1698
Many people have participated with the Interfaith Council on past events, while others may not know about the Interfaith Coalition but care about the crisis in Darfur. We thank each of you for your hard work - from volunteering to fundraising to praying – that has helped improve the lives of the men, women and children of Darfur.
Unfortunately, the situation in Darfur remains dire and now more than ever we must work together to raise our voices on behalf of these people. Since we last spoke with many of you, the Interfaith Coalition for Sudanese Peace has changed. We have new members, new structure and a new strategic vision for working to end the crisis in Darfur. We want to reconnect with you (or connect for the first time) and hear what you and your organizations are doing in this area.
You are invited to an event specifically for men and women who have demonstrated a passion and interest in resolving the crisis in Darfur. At this event, we will network with other local activists and get a brief update on the current situation in Darfur. We will also learn about the Coalition’s new organization and examine ways we can partner together this year.
When: Sunday, April 26 from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Where: Connections community space, 1280 Buck Jones Road, Raleigh NC
For more information, call 919 612 1698
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
A bailout for human life
What does $50 billion get you these days?
Not as much as it used it, at least according to the headlines. The U.S. government is doling out that amount right and left to various mega-industries in the form of "bailouts" and Madoff singlehandedly swindled his clients out of a similar amount.
However – last week the U.S. government decided it could not afford to spend $50 billion to save and improve the lives of millions of men, women and children around the world. Instead, it cut almost $5 billion from the International Affairs Budget. This is an extremely dangerous and short-sighted move by Congress.
The International Affairs Budget funds essential diplomatic and development programs that improve the lives of millions of people around the world, while protecting our national security, promoting economic prosperity, and demonstrating our humanitarian values. Secretary Clinton, Secretary Gates and other respected military leaders support increased funding for the International Affairs Budget as essential to national security and to implementing a "smart power" strategy in U.S. foreign policy.
A mere 1.4% of the entire FY10 Budget request, our nation cannot afford to shortchange these vital programs, especially during these difficult economic times. Our support for the Kerry-Lugar Amendment to restore critical funding to the International Affairs Budget will ensure America has the "smart power" tools and resources it needs to strengthen U.S. national interests and restore America's image abroad.
Senator Burr and Senator Hagan must support the Kerry-Lugar Amendment to restore the full FY10 International Affairs Budget in the Senate Budget Resolution and oppose any further cutting amendments.
We’re #1!
This is one race you don't want to win. Forbes Magazine today released the list of the world's most corrupt countries and guess which one made a return to the top? Yep, Chad. Check out the story by clicking here.
Chad even beat out its genocide-promoting neighbor, Sudan, to take top honors. My quick takes on this news:
- This explains why a country rolling in oil money can still not afford to pay its teachers and doctors.
- From my experience, the rural populations are so marginalized, do they even realize they are being conned out of all this money?
- It's a sad day when the only way to succeed is by cheating and bribing – this turns even good people bad.
- How does this affect the large humanitarian presence in Chad? Are the UN, World Relief, Doctors without Borders, etc playing along with corruption (justifying the means for the end) or are they taking a stand?
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Not on Our Watch Broadcast
UPDATE - Unfortunately, the Triangle Community Church will not be hosting this broadcast this afternoon. Stay tuned for more opportunities.
Not on Our Watch - the organization started by George Clooney, Don Cheadle and Matt Damon - is hosting a live broadcast with an all-star cast of speakers aimed at the Christian community.
Because of the urgent and critical nature of this crisis, the Christian Communication Network (CCN) will air a special LIVE broadcast on Sunday, March 29, 2009 from 6:00 - 7:45 pm ET/MT (5:00 - 6:45 pm CT/PT). This event is FREE to all churches with CCN equipment. We encourage you to gather your community to learn what you can do to make a difference.
Featuring John Prendergast - human rights advocate and Co-Chair of the Enough Project, and Reverend Michael Slaughter - lead pastor at Ginghamsburg Church in Ohio, Not On Our Watch will give audiences across North America:
- an understanding of the crisis in Darfur
- a deepened compassion for the lives affected
- a biblical perspective on why Christians should take action in Darfur
- a charge to pray
- and practical steps for how to make a difference
In the Raleigh, NC, metropolitan area, the only church showing this broadcast is the Triangle Community Church on 4216 Kildaire Farm Road in Apex, NC.
Are you going?
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
First look: Sudanese president charged with genocide
Could this be the beginning of the end? Today, the International Criminal Court at the Hague issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir for a five-year campaign of violence in Darfur. This is the first time a sitting head of state is charged for war crimes under this international tribunal.
(Link to story: http://tinyurl.com/dgsgpx)
It will be very interesting to see how this plays out in the world, in Sudan and especially, in the villages of Darfur. Here are two initial questions I have:
*Will it be enough? It’s only a warrant for an arrest and Sudan is not likely to simply hand over their head of state. No Western government will support going in an forcibly removing Bashir – so as long as he stays home, he is probably safe. However, will the international pressure and bad publicity drive Bashir to reform his ways? I want to say yes for the sake of my friends and their families who are suffering, but history doesn’t support hope in this case.
*Will Darfur get a backlash? How will Bashir and tribes loyal to him respond? I know they will lash out against the ICC and Western “colonial” powers – but I worry that there will also be retaliation against the men, women and children of Darfur in the form of even greater violence and suffering. The UN is already warning its people to be extra careful in the next few days. Can the AU troops protect the millions of refugees?
Only time will tell the effectiveness of this bold move by the ICC, but I for one and glad they took the first step – if only for the media coverage this will receive. It’s been months since Darfur was in the mainstream media and this will bring it back into focus, albeit briefly. Silence will only empower the perpetrators of injustice.
(Link to story: http://tinyurl.com/dgsgpx)
It will be very interesting to see how this plays out in the world, in Sudan and especially, in the villages of Darfur. Here are two initial questions I have:
*Will it be enough? It’s only a warrant for an arrest and Sudan is not likely to simply hand over their head of state. No Western government will support going in an forcibly removing Bashir – so as long as he stays home, he is probably safe. However, will the international pressure and bad publicity drive Bashir to reform his ways? I want to say yes for the sake of my friends and their families who are suffering, but history doesn’t support hope in this case.
*Will Darfur get a backlash? How will Bashir and tribes loyal to him respond? I know they will lash out against the ICC and Western “colonial” powers – but I worry that there will also be retaliation against the men, women and children of Darfur in the form of even greater violence and suffering. The UN is already warning its people to be extra careful in the next few days. Can the AU troops protect the millions of refugees?
Only time will tell the effectiveness of this bold move by the ICC, but I for one and glad they took the first step – if only for the media coverage this will receive. It’s been months since Darfur was in the mainstream media and this will bring it back into focus, albeit briefly. Silence will only empower the perpetrators of injustice.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
2009 Carl Wilkens Fellowship
I am excited and honored to be a 2009 Carl Wilkens Fellow from the Genocide Intervention Network.
The Wilkens Fellowship is named for Carl Wilkens, the only American to remain in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide. The fellowship “gives emerging leaders the skills and networks they need to build in their communities sustained political will to end genocide. Over the course of the year, Wilkens Fellows receive leadership training, conflict and legislative education, organizing tools and resources, and one-on-one coaching.”
The 20 inaugural Wilkens Fellows were chosen from around the country to participate in this year-long, part-time program. I am excited to be a part of such a talented and motivated group of men and women, all of who are dedicated to ending genocide and mass atrocities. I believe this Fellowship will help me “raise the bar” in my own work to bring peace to Eastern Chad and Darfur, where my friends and their families are still struggling to survive.
*For more information on the fellowship or the Genocide Intervention Network, click here.
*To read the bios of the 2009 Carl Wilkens Fellows, click here.
The Wilkens Fellowship is named for Carl Wilkens, the only American to remain in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide. The fellowship “gives emerging leaders the skills and networks they need to build in their communities sustained political will to end genocide. Over the course of the year, Wilkens Fellows receive leadership training, conflict and legislative education, organizing tools and resources, and one-on-one coaching.”
The 20 inaugural Wilkens Fellows were chosen from around the country to participate in this year-long, part-time program. I am excited to be a part of such a talented and motivated group of men and women, all of who are dedicated to ending genocide and mass atrocities. I believe this Fellowship will help me “raise the bar” in my own work to bring peace to Eastern Chad and Darfur, where my friends and their families are still struggling to survive.
*For more information on the fellowship or the Genocide Intervention Network, click here.
*To read the bios of the 2009 Carl Wilkens Fellows, click here.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Performances for Peace
CHECK OUT THIS UPCOMING EVENT - I'M GOING!
Performances for Peace: A Diary of Darfur
February 6, 2009 at 7 pm at UNC's Memorial Hall
By the time Emmanuel Jal was seven years old, he was already fighting in the rebel army in Sudan. For five years, he fought in Sudan's bloody civil war.
Today, he is a child soldier turned hip hop artist, channeling his childhood pain into songs. Jal will be speaking at UNC- Chapel Hill's Memorial Hall on February 6th at 7pm. In 2008, Jal released a new album, "Warchild," and has appeared in film festivals to promote an award-winning documentary on his life. His autobiography will be released in the Spring of 2009.
UNC Students United for Darfur Awareness Now (SUDAN), a committee of the Campus Y, is hosting "Performances for Peace: A Diary of Darfur" in the hopes that Jal's narrative will inspire a community dialogue about the current genocide in Darfur.
Tickets are $3 for students (K-12 and college) and $5 for non-students. Proceeds from the ticket price will go directly to aid current refugees living in dangerous conditions in Sudanese camps.
The UNC Loreleis, Modern Inversions, Zankiliwa, and EROT will open for Jal. Penn Badgley and Blake Lively, stars of The CW's "Gossip Girl," are tentatively planning on hosting the event.
*Tickets go on sale Jan. 29th at Memorial Hall Box Office and can also be bought in the Pit or from any SUDAN member*
Performances for Peace: A Diary of Darfur
February 6, 2009 at 7 pm at UNC's Memorial Hall
By the time Emmanuel Jal was seven years old, he was already fighting in the rebel army in Sudan. For five years, he fought in Sudan's bloody civil war.
Today, he is a child soldier turned hip hop artist, channeling his childhood pain into songs. Jal will be speaking at UNC- Chapel Hill's Memorial Hall on February 6th at 7pm. In 2008, Jal released a new album, "Warchild," and has appeared in film festivals to promote an award-winning documentary on his life. His autobiography will be released in the Spring of 2009.
UNC Students United for Darfur Awareness Now (SUDAN), a committee of the Campus Y, is hosting "Performances for Peace: A Diary of Darfur" in the hopes that Jal's narrative will inspire a community dialogue about the current genocide in Darfur.
Tickets are $3 for students (K-12 and college) and $5 for non-students. Proceeds from the ticket price will go directly to aid current refugees living in dangerous conditions in Sudanese camps.
The UNC Loreleis, Modern Inversions, Zankiliwa, and EROT will open for Jal. Penn Badgley and Blake Lively, stars of The CW's "Gossip Girl," are tentatively planning on hosting the event.
*Tickets go on sale Jan. 29th at Memorial Hall Box Office and can also be bought in the Pit or from any SUDAN member*
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
No Home for the Holidays
*This is a guest entry by my wife, Sarah.
I can’t go see the place where my husband grew up and quite frankly I’m pissed off about it. This came to mind over the recent holidays when most people are visiting family, possibly going back to their hometowns. Some even go back to visit the same house their parents have lived for 30 years, the same house in which they grew up.
No such experience for me. Why? My husband grew up in Adre, on the edge of Chad and Sudan. Because of the genocide it’s not even safe to visit. This conflict has been going on since early 2003, which is about a year after we started dating. The last time he visited was Christmas break 2002-2003. I had the opportunity to go then, but not enough cash. If I had known what was to come, I would have gone anyway. At this time, the organization with which my husband’s family worked has deemed Adre too unsafe for their people to be working there.
Even if it were safe to visit his hometown, my husband assures me that the place would be completely changed. A nearby village called Farchana used to barely support a population of nearly 200 is now home to a UN refugee camp of 20,000. Think about what would happen if your hometown grew 100 times in less than 1 year.
So, next time you find yourself visiting your spouse’s hometown/old house, don’t complain - be thankful. Be grateful you have the opportunity to know that part of his/her history. Then go call your congressperson or donate money or do something to help the people who live in Darfur.
-Sarah
I can’t go see the place where my husband grew up and quite frankly I’m pissed off about it. This came to mind over the recent holidays when most people are visiting family, possibly going back to their hometowns. Some even go back to visit the same house their parents have lived for 30 years, the same house in which they grew up.
No such experience for me. Why? My husband grew up in Adre, on the edge of Chad and Sudan. Because of the genocide it’s not even safe to visit. This conflict has been going on since early 2003, which is about a year after we started dating. The last time he visited was Christmas break 2002-2003. I had the opportunity to go then, but not enough cash. If I had known what was to come, I would have gone anyway. At this time, the organization with which my husband’s family worked has deemed Adre too unsafe for their people to be working there.
Even if it were safe to visit his hometown, my husband assures me that the place would be completely changed. A nearby village called Farchana used to barely support a population of nearly 200 is now home to a UN refugee camp of 20,000. Think about what would happen if your hometown grew 100 times in less than 1 year.
So, next time you find yourself visiting your spouse’s hometown/old house, don’t complain - be thankful. Be grateful you have the opportunity to know that part of his/her history. Then go call your congressperson or donate money or do something to help the people who live in Darfur.
-Sarah
Monday, December 01, 2008
Arrival: Part Two
For part one, click here.
As I cross the blue line into the crowded hall, I eagerly embrace my parents. It’s been months since we last touched and the hug feels so good. Their clothes are warm as if they were just removed from a dusty dryer and faintly laced with the scent of sweat created as they waited for us under the airport’s tin roof. Our joyous exchanges are cut short by the loud shrieking of the baggage conveyor belt coming to life – a reminder that we are not yet fully home.
My bag shuffles around the corner and I reach for it. Before I make contact, a quick arm flashes in front of me and a porter snatches it and loads it on a cart. I protest and explain that I do not need help. Ignoring me, he begins to maneuver my bag toward to the long cement tables on the other end of the room. I shrug and follow; after all, he needs to eat. At our next destination begins the process of showing our passport to one grumpy soldier after another. Each one searches for a reason to detain us, delay us, or otherwise bother or us into offering him a bribe. Disappointed that our paperwork is in order, they pass us along to the next.
Finally before me is the last hurdle before exiting the chaos – the bag checkers. These men and women stand in between me and the light shining through the doorway. They know it and use their power to take advantage of us tired, emotionally drained passengers. My bag check lady rolls up her sleeves and gleefully paws through my luggage looking for contraband. Finding something of interest, she casually asks me if she can keep it. No, I answer, it’s mine. She replaces it with a shrug and asks about the next object. No again. Seeing an obvious tourist behind me with over stuffed bags, the women waves me on with a flick of her wrist. Perhaps she’ll have better luck with him.
I grab my baggage and try to stuff it all back together. I resign myself to sitting on the bag to drag the broken zipper around. The sweat beads start to drip down the back of my neck – it’s 6:00 o’clock in the morning. I tip my porter, sending him dashing back to coerce another unsuspecting traveler. I grab my bags and step through the doorway out into the airport’s grand hall. Harkening to a more majestic time, murals on the wall show hunters chasing gazelles and dancers careening across the mud-brick walls to the sound of silent drums. The strong smell of perfume and garbage wafts up around me as the duty-free shack sits next to a toilet that doesn’t work. I forge ahead and with my family around me, move out into the morning sun.
The brightness momentarily blinds me as I blink away the dark spots dancing in front of my eyes. Once they adjust, I take in the sights and sounds all around me. Taxis. Vendors. Bicycles. Dust. Wind. Shouting. Everything assaults me and I pause to take it all in. One white boy trying to adjust to the heartbeat of Chad. We drag ourselves over to our four-wheel drive vehicle and load it up. I brush the dust off the seat and reach for the seatbelt, only to find none. I settle back and look out the window. My heart leaps inside my chest – I’m back. I’m home in Africa.
As I cross the blue line into the crowded hall, I eagerly embrace my parents. It’s been months since we last touched and the hug feels so good. Their clothes are warm as if they were just removed from a dusty dryer and faintly laced with the scent of sweat created as they waited for us under the airport’s tin roof. Our joyous exchanges are cut short by the loud shrieking of the baggage conveyor belt coming to life – a reminder that we are not yet fully home.
My bag shuffles around the corner and I reach for it. Before I make contact, a quick arm flashes in front of me and a porter snatches it and loads it on a cart. I protest and explain that I do not need help. Ignoring me, he begins to maneuver my bag toward to the long cement tables on the other end of the room. I shrug and follow; after all, he needs to eat. At our next destination begins the process of showing our passport to one grumpy soldier after another. Each one searches for a reason to detain us, delay us, or otherwise bother or us into offering him a bribe. Disappointed that our paperwork is in order, they pass us along to the next.
Finally before me is the last hurdle before exiting the chaos – the bag checkers. These men and women stand in between me and the light shining through the doorway. They know it and use their power to take advantage of us tired, emotionally drained passengers. My bag check lady rolls up her sleeves and gleefully paws through my luggage looking for contraband. Finding something of interest, she casually asks me if she can keep it. No, I answer, it’s mine. She replaces it with a shrug and asks about the next object. No again. Seeing an obvious tourist behind me with over stuffed bags, the women waves me on with a flick of her wrist. Perhaps she’ll have better luck with him.
I grab my baggage and try to stuff it all back together. I resign myself to sitting on the bag to drag the broken zipper around. The sweat beads start to drip down the back of my neck – it’s 6:00 o’clock in the morning. I tip my porter, sending him dashing back to coerce another unsuspecting traveler. I grab my bags and step through the doorway out into the airport’s grand hall. Harkening to a more majestic time, murals on the wall show hunters chasing gazelles and dancers careening across the mud-brick walls to the sound of silent drums. The strong smell of perfume and garbage wafts up around me as the duty-free shack sits next to a toilet that doesn’t work. I forge ahead and with my family around me, move out into the morning sun.
The brightness momentarily blinds me as I blink away the dark spots dancing in front of my eyes. Once they adjust, I take in the sights and sounds all around me. Taxis. Vendors. Bicycles. Dust. Wind. Shouting. Everything assaults me and I pause to take it all in. One white boy trying to adjust to the heartbeat of Chad. We drag ourselves over to our four-wheel drive vehicle and load it up. I brush the dust off the seat and reach for the seatbelt, only to find none. I settle back and look out the window. My heart leaps inside my chest – I’m back. I’m home in Africa.
Secretary of State: Change Darfur Needs
Today, President-elect Barack Obama chose Hillary Clinton to lead our State Department. Although I have some personal reservations about Sen. Clinton, this nomination bodes well for our efforts to bring an end to the genocide in Darfur. Obama, VP-elect Joe Biden and cabinet members Clinton and potentially Bill Richardson all expressed strong support for helping my friends in Darfur while they were on the campaign trail. [Check out a previous post after one of their debates: click here] Now that they are off the trail and not seeking election, it’s time they stepped up to the plate and put actions behind their rhetoric.
Here, in her own words, is what Sen. Clinton feels should be done in Darfur:
“There are three things we have to do immediately. Move the peacekeepers--that, finally, the United Nations and the African Union have agreed to--into Sudan as soon as possible. In order for them to be effective, there has to be airlift and logistical support, and that can only come either unilaterally from the United States or from NATO. I prefer NATO. And finally, we should have a no-fly zone over Sudan because the Sudanese governments bomb the villages before and after the Janjiwid come. And we should make it very clear to the government in Khartoum we're putting up a no-fly zone; if they fly into it, we will shoot down their planes. Is the only way to get their attention.” ~Clinton at the June 28 2007 Democratic Primary Debate.
OK Clinton - now you have the power. Let's make it happen.
Here, in her own words, is what Sen. Clinton feels should be done in Darfur:
“There are three things we have to do immediately. Move the peacekeepers--that, finally, the United Nations and the African Union have agreed to--into Sudan as soon as possible. In order for them to be effective, there has to be airlift and logistical support, and that can only come either unilaterally from the United States or from NATO. I prefer NATO. And finally, we should have a no-fly zone over Sudan because the Sudanese governments bomb the villages before and after the Janjiwid come. And we should make it very clear to the government in Khartoum we're putting up a no-fly zone; if they fly into it, we will shoot down their planes. Is the only way to get their attention.” ~Clinton at the June 28 2007 Democratic Primary Debate.
OK Clinton - now you have the power. Let's make it happen.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Tents of Hope
Last weekend was the big finale of the Tents of Hope campaign. Across the country, citizens who care about Darfur bought large canvas tents and painted them. Some sold squares as fundraisers; others gave the painting opportunity away for free. Last weekend, the tents from all over came to Washington D.C. where they were all set up on the National Mall. This moving display of such colorful, meaningful tents was quite impressive. Afterwards the tents are being sent to Darfur to serve as meager, yet cheerful, dwellings for refugees.
I liked Tents of Hope because it engaged so many people and offered so many opportunities to touch lives. First, the people painting the tent had fun being creative as they become more aware and more connected to the crisis. Second, the display in Washington must have been a powerful show of unity and passion (although I did not get to be there due to a family wedding, I've seen pictures and heard reports). Third, the tents will touch the lives of refugees living without much hope in Darfur. It will not only be a symbolic gesture (the paintings) but also a practical one (providing a living space). I like awareness events that are more than just holding hands and singing kum-ba-yah.
Kudos to Tents of Hope and their entire team. I hope and pray that the people inspired by this campaign will in turn take up the fight and press on. For more info and photos of amazing tents: www.tentsofhope.org.
In the photo: I am painting my squares on a tent at a Tents of Hope event in Raleigh, N.C.
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Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Do the Math
There was a glimmer of hope coming from the news about the tragedy in Darfur today. According to UPI, a group of 111 newly-trained Chadian soldiers have begun a deployment to eastern Chad as part of a U.N. mission to improve security in the region. They will join forces with another 320 soldiers who are already trained and in the area. This is good news. Properly-trained security forces are a key element in restoring peace to a region embroiled in war. They can protect the women going into the fields to collect firewood. They can bring order to the chaotic food lines. They can fight off rebel attacks aimed at undermining whatever fragile fragments of society remain intact. This all seems very hopeful, until you do the math.
This group of 431 soldiers (eventually the number is supposed to rise to 850) is expected to bring security and safety to more than 400,000 refugees and others running for their lives in an area the size of Texas. So if you do the math, that means each soldier is roughly responsible for watching out for the welfare of about 950 men, women and children. Wow. How can we possibly expect these security force members to be successful when they have such odds stacked against them, when the ratio is so out of whack?
I understand that even baby steps are good if they are in the right direction. Deploying 431 troops is a baby step - and we must do more. One of the way you can help is by contributing to organizations, like GI-Net, that purchase radios and other "non-lethal" materials for peace keepers. Things like radios help increase the effectiveness of the troops and reduce the incredible odds they face.
This group of 431 soldiers (eventually the number is supposed to rise to 850) is expected to bring security and safety to more than 400,000 refugees and others running for their lives in an area the size of Texas. So if you do the math, that means each soldier is roughly responsible for watching out for the welfare of about 950 men, women and children. Wow. How can we possibly expect these security force members to be successful when they have such odds stacked against them, when the ratio is so out of whack?
I understand that even baby steps are good if they are in the right direction. Deploying 431 troops is a baby step - and we must do more. One of the way you can help is by contributing to organizations, like GI-Net, that purchase radios and other "non-lethal" materials for peace keepers. Things like radios help increase the effectiveness of the troops and reduce the incredible odds they face.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Event: Drinks for Darfur
I spend a great deal of time learning about the crisis engulfing my friends in Darfur and sharing my experiences with my friends in America. Now, we finally get to have some action to go along with this talk. The Interfaith Council for Sudanese Peace is hosting a multi-location fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 27 in the Triangle of North Carolina.
Named "Drinks for Darfur," the Council has partnered with restaurants and bars in Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Durham and Cary to raise awareness and money. This event will allow people to enjoy going out and socializing with friends while supporting a good cause. I personally will be at Tir Na Nog restaurant in Raleigh, NC, where we will have a private screening of "The Devil Came on Horseback" along with other activities.
I know it seems a bit ironic to have an event that involves merriment and food to raise funds for people who are starving and suffering. However, any little bit helps and if this is what it takes to have an impact on the crisis - then so be it. I encourage you to spread the word and come out yourself to support Drinks for Darfur. More information on the events can be found on SaveDarfur.org. Click here for more information.
What: Drinks for Darfur - Raleigh
When: Saturday, Sept. 27 at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Tir Na Nog, 218 S. Blount St, Raleigh
How Much: $10 cover
Who: Anyone and everyone who cares about Darfur and enjoys a good night out.
See you there.
Named "Drinks for Darfur," the Council has partnered with restaurants and bars in Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Durham and Cary to raise awareness and money. This event will allow people to enjoy going out and socializing with friends while supporting a good cause. I personally will be at Tir Na Nog restaurant in Raleigh, NC, where we will have a private screening of "The Devil Came on Horseback" along with other activities.
I know it seems a bit ironic to have an event that involves merriment and food to raise funds for people who are starving and suffering. However, any little bit helps and if this is what it takes to have an impact on the crisis - then so be it. I encourage you to spread the word and come out yourself to support Drinks for Darfur. More information on the events can be found on SaveDarfur.org. Click here for more information.
What: Drinks for Darfur - Raleigh
When: Saturday, Sept. 27 at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Tir Na Nog, 218 S. Blount St, Raleigh
How Much: $10 cover
Who: Anyone and everyone who cares about Darfur and enjoys a good night out.
See you there.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Big Oil Money = Big Problems
In 2000, one of the poorest countries in the world struck gold - black gold. Exxon and a consortium of oil companies discovered vast reserves of oil under the hot, dusty terrain of southern Chad. Millions of barrels to fuel global demand lay just within reach - but there was one major problem: Chad is a land-locked country. It has no ports, no railroads and no water transportation routes; carting barrels of oil on the backs of camels wasn't exactly what Big Oil had in mind. So, in one of the most ambitious projects of its kind, the oil companies built a 665-mile pipeline from Chad to the coast of Cameroon.
This deal would bring billions of dollars to Chad, providing riches in a place where the previous two largest industries were cigarettes and beer. However, Africa has a shoddy track record of getting the money to help anyone but the elite. The World Bank tried something groundbreaking to prevent the new-found riches from being whisked away to a private swiss bank account. It entered into an agreement with Chad that would only give Chad the money in return for investing it in anti-poverty measures. This was hailed as a landmark achievement and the future looked bright. Then, the pipeline was built.
I have heard so many first-hand accounts of the damage to society that occurred thanks to the pipelines. Yes, the oil companies built roads and infrastructure - but home prices rose 500 percent, food prices sky-rocketed and the oil companies imported hundreds of workers from Indonesia and the Philippines. Locals could not afford to stay in their own houses or villages and were forced out. White workers received special passes to allow them to cut in front of any line they wanted and lived in single units with AC. Imported workers were stuffed into barracks eight at a time. Native Chadians were forced to sleep under the stars on the ground. Despite these challenges, many people felt the suffering was worth it because of how the money would change the country for the good overall.
Well, the money started pouring in and the government became more and more corrupt, less and less transparent, and eventually did everything it could to avoid using the money to fund real anti-poverty measures. They have used the crisis in Darfur as an excuse to purchase weapons. They have said "the government is too corrupt to follow the anti-corruption agreement" with the World Bank.
Finally, after eight years of trying to set up a different model - the World Bank quietly ended its "landmark" agreement with Chad. It is now completely up to the will of the government to invest this incredible new flow of money in real, meaningful development activities to benefit the average Chadian citizen.
To read more, check out the New York Times article on this latest setback for my friends and family in Chad. http://tinyurl.com/6kgmu3
This deal would bring billions of dollars to Chad, providing riches in a place where the previous two largest industries were cigarettes and beer. However, Africa has a shoddy track record of getting the money to help anyone but the elite. The World Bank tried something groundbreaking to prevent the new-found riches from being whisked away to a private swiss bank account. It entered into an agreement with Chad that would only give Chad the money in return for investing it in anti-poverty measures. This was hailed as a landmark achievement and the future looked bright. Then, the pipeline was built.
I have heard so many first-hand accounts of the damage to society that occurred thanks to the pipelines. Yes, the oil companies built roads and infrastructure - but home prices rose 500 percent, food prices sky-rocketed and the oil companies imported hundreds of workers from Indonesia and the Philippines. Locals could not afford to stay in their own houses or villages and were forced out. White workers received special passes to allow them to cut in front of any line they wanted and lived in single units with AC. Imported workers were stuffed into barracks eight at a time. Native Chadians were forced to sleep under the stars on the ground. Despite these challenges, many people felt the suffering was worth it because of how the money would change the country for the good overall.
Well, the money started pouring in and the government became more and more corrupt, less and less transparent, and eventually did everything it could to avoid using the money to fund real anti-poverty measures. They have used the crisis in Darfur as an excuse to purchase weapons. They have said "the government is too corrupt to follow the anti-corruption agreement" with the World Bank.
Finally, after eight years of trying to set up a different model - the World Bank quietly ended its "landmark" agreement with Chad. It is now completely up to the will of the government to invest this incredible new flow of money in real, meaningful development activities to benefit the average Chadian citizen.
To read more, check out the New York Times article on this latest setback for my friends and family in Chad. http://tinyurl.com/6kgmu3
Monday, July 21, 2008
Spiraling downward
The steady diet of bad news and impotent peace efforts have continued to flow from the land that I love even while I’ve taken a brief absence from writing. Just because my words have been few and far between doesn’t mean my mind has left Darfur or the men, women and children who are struggling to avoid dying in the dust.
I wish I was being melodramatic – but I’m not. And the situation for millions of families just got grimer with this news:
“Humanitarian organizations Oxfam and Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) have suspended their operations in Kerfi, Eastern Chad, following rising insecurity in the area. The two NGOs say gunmen have increasingly attacked their staff and compounds, the latest incident being a night attack on July 9, when six gunmen shot at and tried to burn a house where Oxfam staffers were hiding. And MSF reported that dozens of local young men beat up their staff members and patients on July 8. The two organizations undertake humanitarian work that supports over 10,000 displaced people living around the town of Kerfi.”
I sit up and take notice when the brutal actions of angry thugs are causing MSF (one of the most fearless humanitarian groups in the world) to leave their mission. 10,000 lives in danger due to the actions of six gunmen. This is the reality on the ground.
The politics are getting heated up more than usual with the impending indictment of Sudan’s president by the International Criminal Court for charges of crimes against humanity. While the government-forced rallies in the Sudanese capital have slowed down, the calls from other governments to avoid the indictment have increased. The African Union has weighed in, asking the ICC to drop the indictments.
The question I have for you is this: What message does it send Sudan’s president if the African Union (his peers) are standing by his side and urging the ICC to drop the case? Is this a good thing because it means they are united and focused on diplomacy and peace, or a bad thing because it gives credibility to a genocidal leader?
I wish I was being melodramatic – but I’m not. And the situation for millions of families just got grimer with this news:
“Humanitarian organizations Oxfam and Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) have suspended their operations in Kerfi, Eastern Chad, following rising insecurity in the area. The two NGOs say gunmen have increasingly attacked their staff and compounds, the latest incident being a night attack on July 9, when six gunmen shot at and tried to burn a house where Oxfam staffers were hiding. And MSF reported that dozens of local young men beat up their staff members and patients on July 8. The two organizations undertake humanitarian work that supports over 10,000 displaced people living around the town of Kerfi.”
I sit up and take notice when the brutal actions of angry thugs are causing MSF (one of the most fearless humanitarian groups in the world) to leave their mission. 10,000 lives in danger due to the actions of six gunmen. This is the reality on the ground.
The politics are getting heated up more than usual with the impending indictment of Sudan’s president by the International Criminal Court for charges of crimes against humanity. While the government-forced rallies in the Sudanese capital have slowed down, the calls from other governments to avoid the indictment have increased. The African Union has weighed in, asking the ICC to drop the indictments.
The question I have for you is this: What message does it send Sudan’s president if the African Union (his peers) are standing by his side and urging the ICC to drop the case? Is this a good thing because it means they are united and focused on diplomacy and peace, or a bad thing because it gives credibility to a genocidal leader?
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