Situation in Western Darfur Getting Worse

Western Darfur has been a source of recent attacks lately. Jebel Moon a specific area affected by the fighting is the home of thousands of people who are unable to escape the fighting between the government and rebels.

The people of Jebel Moon are stuck and without access to aid, they situation will turn grave if they are not able to leave.

The people of Western Darfur need help now.

We must continue to voice are dismay over the lack of help given to this area of he country.

Spielberg Says No to China and The Olympics

Congratulations to Steven Spielberg for pulling out as artistic director of the Olympics in protest of China's involvement in the Sudanese government. It seems Mr. Spielberg has had some impact as China has begun to "suggest" that the government of Sudan let in the complete hybrid UN/AU peacekeeping force.

Now, if more celebrities and athletes stood up and spoke out imagine what could be accomplished.

Like it or not China does have influence over The Sudan.

New Attacks Force Refugees to flee Darfur

It's February 2008 and the attacks on the people of Darfur continue.

The recent number 12,000.

That's how many refugees have fled Darfur after the latest attack.

This is black history month and it's a great time to learn of the struggles and obstacles overcome by African Americans in the US.

What will history say about what the world let happen to Darfur??

How will we answer when we are asked, "Why didn't anyone help?"

Peacekeeping Force On Track In Darfur?

The holidays are here, and Christmas is days away. While the people of Darfur won’t keep peace for Christmas, the New Year may start of better for them then the past 4 ½ years have been.

The UN/African peacekeeping force is due to arrive in Darfur on January 1, 2008. It’s a beautiful thought to think of the people of Darfur being safe.

The Scheduled date for deployment in January/February

~ Main body of formed police unit from Nepal

~ Battalion, signals unit, engineer unit, and transport company from Egypt

~ Advanced Party of Pakistani Engineer Unit

~ Battalion from Ethiopia
(http://www.innercitypress.com/muletunamidtcc121407.PDF)

I want to believe that this is the beginning of the end to the suffering in Darfur. I hope this will truly be A New Year for all those who have suffered too long in Darfur.

China & Darfur a Deadly Relationship

Usually when Steven Spielberg speaks people listen, he hopes that rings true when he talks to China about their role in the Defer conflict. There has been accusations that China has provided arms to the Sudanese government, which in turn use the weapons on the innocent victims of Defer.

..” The protest of the displaced in Defer camps should come as a surprise only to Chinese policy makers. The displaced communities have for long time known that the planes, which attack their villages, are Chinese made, and that the bombs that flattened their houses and burnt their huts are supplied by China. The fuel and lubricants that the planes use are produced by Chinese companies. “ (http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1217/p99s01-duts.html)

While one person or country can’t be blamed for the years of war in Defer, China does have a strong influence on the government of Sudan. If China would take a stand and cease, aiding the government the people of Defer may be able to finally go back home and live in peace.

Like it or not, the money China spends on oil in Defer is converted to war weapons.

Maybe

“The abductees – many of them children – were held as sex slaves for a month before they managed to escape. Several became pregnant. With no access to health care, pregnancy made some of the women severely ill. Others opted for life-threatening abortions.” Link to this post

Everyday women in Darfur live in fear of being raped, and beaten. Going for water and firewood is a necessity and a dangerous task. It’s during this time that many women and girls are attacked.

I can’t write about this anymore, I’ve grown tired of writing about a topic that so few people care about. I’m frustrated and feel small against the seemingly never-ending war in Darfur. I honestly don’t think people care. People are worried about things in their own lives (rightly so.)

People wonder how they will afford to heat their home, put gas in their car, and food on the table. Maybe it’s these thoughts that keep us from worrying about people so far away. With so many problems facing so many of us, maybe it’s too much to ask people to worry about yet another issue. Maybe once all the other problems improve, maybe then we’ll be able to focus on Darfur, I only hope there will be something left to focus on.

No Holiday For The Children of Darfur

While most children are getting excited for the holidays and presents, the children of Darfur are hoping for safety and the return to a normal life. "In September, there were 40 cases of sexually transmitted diseases reported in children under five. “ (voanews.com/English/12/12/2007)

It’s a horrible time to be a child in Darfur. It’s deplorable for anyone especially children to live under constant threat of rape and death.

If only Santa could reach Darfur.

Darfur Now, Nothing Has Changed People Still Waiting and Dying

Darfur Now is a powerful documentary that unfortunately people aren’t going to see it. Sand and Sorrow is an HBO special on Darfur narrated by George Clooney. I’m not sure how many people saw that film, I haven’t seen the numbers. I still don’t understand, why people haven’t gotten upset, excited, and moved to do something about what’s going on in Darfur.

Nearly every basic right that we enjoy in this country is being taken away from the people of Darfur. It’s not enough that they were driven for their homes, or that their loved ones were killed. They are now made to live in tents and depend on strangers for their survival.

Not only are the physically drained, but mentally as well. What do the people of Darfur have to live for? When do the people of Darfur begin to loose hope?

Water Shortage Possible Consequence of Darfur War

Today is human rights day and it saddens me that so many people around the world are having their rights violated. One of the saddest places of course is Darfur. As I have stated before, there are over 2.5 million people living in refugee camps.

Well, now in Northern Darfur a water shortage is becoming a mounting problem. “At some locations - such as Abou Shouk, the largest displaced persons camp in North Darfur and home to more than 54,000 people - water shortages are already a reality.” (all Africa.com/stories/12/10/2007)

In some of the camps in Northern Darfur, people have to stand in long lines for hours to get water. It’s not reasonable to think refugee camps will be able to sustain the ever-growing population.

If an end to the genocide doesn’t come soon, the death tool will begin to rise in these camps do to lack of food and water.

The UN must get a plan together and implement it sooner and not later.

Weekend Activities For Darfur

WEEKEND ACTIVITIES FOR DARFUR

Torch Relay for Darfur (Olympic Dream for Darfur Event)
Sunday, December 9 at 1:00 PM
Downtown Boca Raton (Boca Raton, FL)

Darfur Awareness Day (Other)
Monday, December 10 at 8:20 AM
University School of NSU (Fort Lauderdale, FL) -
At my school, the University School of NSU


Miami-Dade Dream for Darfur Program - North Dade (Olympic Dream for Darfur Event)
Sunday, December 9 at 5:00 PM
Michael Ann Russell Jewish Community Center (North Miami Beach, FL)

Human Rights Day (Other)
Monday, December 10 at 7:00 PM
1st Congregational Church (Colorado Springs, CO)

Candlelight Vigil (Other)
Monday, December 10 at 6:00 PM
Corner E. North Broadway & High (Columbus, OH)

Warrants For Issued for Men Responsible For Darfur Genocide

Moreno-OCampo is one of the six people highlighted in the film, Darfur Now. OCampo is the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, and is seeking punishment for those responsible for the displacement of millions of people in Darfur. Ocampo has gotten as far as serving arrest warrants fot two of the main figures responsible for the Genocide.

Ahmad Huran is one of the men deemed responsible for the ongoing war. Recently in a sick twist of fate Huran was promoted to oversee peacekeepers for the displaced people in Darfur. While Ocampo is working feverisly to bring people to justice, the International Criminal Court, has no power to bring people to trial, which begs the question why isn’t the ICC granted more power?

Motive Behind Save Darfur

While there has been recent debate on the motives of the Save Darfur Coalition it’s tragic that this is what we take from the situation. The source of the debate is seemingly the way the war is classified as Africans vs. Arabs.

One article goes on to say this is about the oil in Sudan and other natural resources, I say that may be one issue, but the biggest issue is helping the people of Darfur.

There is a war in Darfur, there are people dying by the thousands, there are people displaced; these are facts. What may be n question is the reason behind proposed help. I know our group The Connecticut Coalition to Save Darfur; give our money to Americares what of the best agencies around.

We will continue to raise awareness for Darfur and other parts of the world in need.

Corporate Sponsors It's Time To Speak Up for Darfur

As the start of the Olympics in Beijing get closer, the protest of its host gets louder. Eighteen large corporate sponsors were graded on their relationship with China. The results were disappointing.



"Our major conclusions were that the corporate Olympic sponsors are engaged in a form of silent complicity with the Chinese government in its support of genocide," said Ellen Freudenheim, who conducted research for the project. (Reuters.com)

All it would take is for these sponsors to voice their concern about China’s relationship with the government of Sudan. “There is no way Khartoum could thumb its nose at the entire international community and the United Nations as well without the full knowledge that it is being backed by China," said actress Mia Farrow, a Darfur activist. (Reuters.com)

There is still time and hope for the Olympic Sponsors to voice there concerns.

The corporate sponsors included in the survey are:

McDonalds and Adidas Atos Origin, Lenovo, Manulife, Panasonic, Samsung, Swatch, Anheuser-Busch, BHP Billiton, Eastman Kodak, Microsoft, Staples, Visa and Volkswagen, Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson and UPS (Reuters.com)

Let’s not help this Genocide continue.

Still Waiting for a Blessing in Darfur

The day after Thanksgiving when we are all eating wonderful leftovers I think about the starving people throughout the world, and my heart goes out to them. My heart goes out to the homeless and the victims of crime.

As a member of the Connecticut Coalition to Save Darfur, my heart is heavy when I think of the victims of Genocide in Darfur.

The 2.5 million plus people living in refugee camps in Africa depend on the aid workers to eat, and survive. These relief agencies work with a daily threat of violence.

If Genocide is a concern purchase a t-shirt to show you support of ending the Genocide.

Rwanda & Darfur a Failed History Lesson

The genocide in Rwanda took 100 days, and the world watched and did nothing. There was an estimated 800,000 citizens of Rwanda killed. The people of Rwanda were killed and those that survived temporarily later died in refugee camps. The history of Rwanda is tragic enough, but the fact that we didn’t learn makes it even more tragic. The conditions in Darfur have lasted four years, and there is still no end in site.

"... The world must deeply repent this failure. Rwanda's tragedy was the world's tragedy. All of us who cared about Rwanda, all of us who witnessed its suffering, fervently wish that we could have prevented the genocide. Looking back now, we see the signs, which then were not recognized. Now we know that what we did was not nearly enough--not enough to save Rwanda from itself, not enough to honor the ideals for which the United Nations exists. We will not deny that, in their greatest hour of need, the world failed the people of Rwanda ..." (U.N. Secretary-General, Kofi Annan speech)

"... the international community, together with nations in Africa, must bear its share of responsibility for this tragedy, as well. We did not act quickly enough after the killing began. We should not have allowed the refugee camps to become safe havens for the killers. We did not immediately call these crimes by their rightful name: genocide. We cannot change the past. But we can and must do everything in our power to help you build a future without fear, and full of hope ..." (President Bill Clinton speech)



Watch the PBS special tonight at 9pm Frontline: A story of Darfur

When Your Children Ask about the Genocide in Darfur, What will YOU say?

When your children, and grandchildren study the genocide of Darfur in the future, what will you tell them when they ask why no one helped? As a child reading about the holocaust made me angry, seeing a film like Sophie’s Choice made me sick, and I couldn’t imagine living in a time in which something as vile as genocide was allowed to occur.

Now, whether people want to acknowledge it as a genocide the reality is, the people of Darfur, have been rapped, beaten and murdered. They have been driven from their homes. Those that have survived initially are living in overcrowded refugee camps. They depend on food from relief organizations to survive. If forces are able to halt the relief efforts and prohibit them from completing their deliveries the people in the camps will not eat, and they will die.

They cannot survive indefinitely in the camps. There is not enough sanitation, or even living space. The story of Darfur will be written in history books, and our children will ask how we let this happen.

There is a PBS Frontline special on Tuesday, November 20 9pm on Darfur called On Our Watch.

Frontline On Our Watch Story of Darfur

Letter From Don Cheadle Darfur Now

Below is a copied letter from Don Cheadle regarding his new film Darfur Now. The film is opening in CT today and will be playing at Bow-Tie Cinemas in Hartford (860-549-0030)(Brainard Rd.), and Garden Cinemas Norwalk. (203-846-8795)


Dear Vonda,

Thank you for your continued efforts to bring an end to the conflict in Darfur. I hope that you can join me in getting the word out about the new documentary "Darfur Now".

Darfur Now is a story of hope amid one of humanity's darkest hours. It shows how the work of six people can make a difference in Darfur, and how our voices united can bring an end to the unspeakable horrors the people of Darfur face every day.

It follows the achievements of a Darfuri woman, a community leader in West Darfur, a UCLA graduate, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, a U.N. humanitarian aid worker, and an actor and activist (me).
As you may know, a film's opening weekend is extremely important and determines the exposure it gets. Darfur Now opens this weekend, but only in selected cities. Come watch the movie and bring your friends so we can ensure a nationwide release, help educate people about the crisis in Darfur, and empower them to help end it.


Sincerely,


Don Cheadle, Not On Our Watch

Senator Obama's Plans to Address Issues

“The Illinois Senator, Obama, listed climate change, nuclear weapons, poverty, HIV and AIDS and the genocide in Darfur as issues he plans to address.” (examiner.com)

Do you agree with the senator’s list of issues?

What do feel is the biggest issue the next president of the United States will face? Aside from the Iraq war, which is clearly the biggest issue, facing our country today, and most likely a year from now?

It is time the real issues of the people are addressed. It’s time the politicians stop taking care of their own agenda and start taking care of the needs of their people. It’s time the media stops wasting resources reporting on Brittney Spears, and report real stories about real problems.

We have a say on how our country is run! If they won’t listen, the first time say it repeatedly until someone listens.

Darfur on PBS 9pm Tonight with Mia Farrow

Tonight on PBS Frontline will feature a story on Darfur. The program is titled “On Our Watch.” and features Mia Farrow. Mia has visited Darfur on several occasions and tells about what she has personally seen.

Mia explains, “On my first trip, I met a woman whose husband and children were murdered. She told me“, “Tell people what is happening here.” (TV Guide/Nov 19 issue)

Visit Mia Farrow’s website at miafarrow.org for pictures and information on Darfur.