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This is our main discussion thread for general conversations on pretty much everything related to our work (and ourselves!), and from here we can move to more specific issues by creating more focused discussions. Feel free to share thoughts about the movement, about the state of affairs around the world, about how you're feeling.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Gabriel on -
Nell, yes it does give me hope! It's good to hear how the work of individuals can have a real impact on the life of another individual that is in danger. For those of us working on Darfur for years, it's sometimes hard to refocus and realize that we are making an impact on real people, not just numbers and statistics.
Happy holidays, Nell!
g
Nell Okie said:At the moment, I am feeling great hope for changes to come.
At a rally for Darfur across from the UN, I was asked by a man unknown to me, a Darfuri, to help gain the release of a US citizen who was born in Darfur. He was arrested for false charges and imprisoned by the state security in Dubai, who refused the US Embassy and Consulate in the UAE access, breaking international law. The fear was that he would be sent to Khartoum and executed. After 18 days of screaming across continents, this man was released and is now safe in the US. Two of his brothers were imprisoned in Khartoum; one escaped and is now living abroad. I know; it is unbearable to think of what some people in the world are going through. Hoping this story gives you some hope, too...
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Permalink Reply by KTJ on -
Thank you Nell for your story of hope. Many Darfurians have been imprisoned and I hope that they will be free soon. Not only those behind bars but also those who are trapped in the refugee camps without options and opportunities. With the Xmas frenzy and people wishing me peace and happiness in cards and emails, it strikes me so deep how we can ignore all that is our global community - brothers and sisters. At times I am just not sure what to do.. more actions... more emails... more what.. what else to make people realize that all the brothers and sisters in the world are friends, not enemies, and we all need a little help and sometimes even the voice of another to survive.
best, ktj
Nell Okie said:At the moment, I am feeling great hope for changes to come.
At a rally for Darfur across from the UN, I was asked by a man unknown to me, a Darfuri, to help gain the release of a US citizen who was born in Darfur. He was arrested for false charges and imprisoned by the state security in Dubai, who refused the US Embassy and Consulate in the UAE access, breaking international law. The fear was that he would be sent to Khartoum and executed. After 18 days of screaming across continents, this man was released and is now safe in the US. Two of his brothers were imprisoned in Khartoum; one escaped and is now living abroad. I know; it is unbearable to think of what some people in the world are going through. Hoping this story gives you some hope, too...
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Permalink Reply by Nell Okie on -
Very sorry to say that Lark Previn, daughter of Mia Farrow, died on Christmas day.
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Permalink Reply by Gabriel on
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Sad to hear, Nell. Thanks for letting us know. Mia is such a wonderful person. We spent some days in a refugee camp with her, helping produce her Darfur Olympics show, and she's the real deal. The women of Darfur connected with her immediately. A big hug to Mia.
Nell Okie said:Very sorry to say that Lark Previn, daughter of Mia Farrow, died on Christmas day.
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Permalink Reply by Eric on -
President Bush announced an airlift of equipment today. While searching for related news stories I found an article that mentions that the official White House press release about the airlift calls out Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times. Is this a score for the Good Guys? Was Nicholas Kristof's unrelenting criticism of the Bush administrations lacking response partially to credit for Bush's last minute action? Was this a successful "shaming" that resulted in action?
It is a new year, and today I'm going to be an optimist and say that YES this is a score for the Good Guys. Nicolas Kristof got the White House to issue a defensive news release saying that he is wrong and they are right, and most importantly they did something to accompany the rebuttal. In my book, that means you're doing something very right.
Good on Nicholas Kristof, and I hope he shows Obama even less slack and holds him to an even higher standard. No more pretty words, it's time for action.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2009/01/20090105-4.html
Today, President Bush announced his approval of the airlift of
equipment for the United Nations/African Union Mission in Darfur
(UNAMID). The President also authorized the waiver of the 15-day
congressional notification requirements to allow the airlift
assistance to proceed immediately, because failing to do so would pose
a substantial risk to human health and welfare.
The U.S. provision of airlift will deliver equipment and vehicles that
are critical to the UNAMID deployment, and will thus help UNAMID
directly protect civilian lives and improve the safe and effective
delivery of lifesaving humanitarian aid to areas of west Darfur
currently inaccessible due to security concerns.
Today's announcement is further evidence that Nicholas Kristof's
portrayal last week of this Administration's response to the genocide
in Darfur (A New Chance for Darfur, December 28, 2008) was inaccurate.
President Bush has been committed to resolving the crisis there since
the United States first labeled it genocide in 2004. Even prior to the
Darfur crisis, the President showed his commitment to the cause of
peace in Sudan by pressing for a historic peace agreement between the
North and South that ended the country's 22-year civil war which took
more than two million lives.
The President has named three special envoys to advance peace in
Sudan: Senator John Danforth, who helped achieved the North-South
peace and initiated our efforts on Darfur; followed by the appointment
of Andrew Natsios, and finally the appointment of Rich Williamson in
January 2008. Prior to Williamson's appointment, more robust military
options were considered by the President for Darfur. The decision not
to pursue those options was driven by the pleas of the leading church,
advocacy, and humanitarian organizations dedicated to Darfur, who
argued that United States military action would imperil their ability
to deliver the kinds of life saving assistance that continues to keep
more than 3.5 million Darfuris alive each year. Experts within the
U.S. Agency for International Development were making similar
arguments, as was the African Union, which at the time had more than
7,000 peacekeepers deployed across Darfur. And in a meeting just this
month with a leading Darfuri human rights activist, the message was
once again reiterated that U.S. military action would only worsen the
situation for the very people we are trying to save.
This is not to say that increasing pressure on the Government of Sudan
to relent in its campaign of violence is not a crucial element of U.S.
policy toward Sudan. It is. U.S. financial sanctions against Sudan are
among the toughest we have. Over the last five years, hundreds of
millions of dollars in Sudanese transactions have been blocked or
disrupted. Last year, the President further tightened these measures,
announcing sanctions against dozens of companies tied to the Bashir
regime or linked to violence in Darfur. Sudanese companies lost access
to international markets and financing, including one of the regime's
primary bankers in Europe. Within months of this action, the Sudanese
government relented in its opposition to allowing United Nations
peacekeepers to deploy to Darfur.
Unilateral pressure alone cannot be our policy. And it is not. That is
why we are working closely with the United Nations to ensure that the
peacekeepers are actually deployed and that they are trained and
equipped effectively to carry out their mandate. It is also why we are
supporting the work of the U.N./AU Mediator, Djibril Bassole, who has
slowly gained the trust and confidence of government officials and
rebel leaders alike. Bassole knows that, regrettably there are no
silver bullets or quick fixes to this great human tragedy. The United
States will continue to lead the international community to stand by
the people of Darfur and to deploy and support the U.N. peacekeeping
operation.
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Permalink Reply by KTJ on
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There have been reports of renewed bombing in Darfur. It's discouraging to think that the government still has so much power. As they send one of their VPs to America to talk about the North-South Peace Agreement... they drop fire and bullets, and bombs on the Darfur. This affects aid work. Then disease and starvation begin increasing once again... Aid organizations rethink their positions, some pull out... more civilians left with aid and/or protection. This cycle is so gross.
I have been encouraged by some partnerships and conversations that we have had in the last few weeks that will re-energize the activists and grassroots base. This all takes co-ordination from a person or group. And that person or group needs energy and time and, unfortunately, money.... and so things move slower, I wish they didn't. I wish I had more time, more energy. I wish I could do more. I wish I had all the knowledge I needed, and all the skills to execute the plans and visions and piles of ideas that might lead to more action that might actually end the genocide.
anyways... just my thoughts and feelings in the new year.
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Permalink Reply by Gabriel on
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Hello Brittany! Thank you for choosing working for peace in Darfur as your class project. Where is Riverdale High School? And, did you have any dates in mind for possibly bringing Camp Darfur? There are different options for making it happen, but the answer to those two questions will help a lot. Thanks!
Brittany Blumberg said:Hello, I am a senior at Riverdale High-school and I am currently working on the senior project my school requires for graduation. The topic I have chosen is genocide and I would like to bring Camp Darfur to my school. I how can I get the materials needed to start the project and more information?
thank you very much for your help,
~Brittany
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Permalink Reply by Katie-Jay Scott on
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Hi MJ!
Welcome! There is a great new campaign called Sudan Sham Elections 2010 - 50 states, 50 days of action! GA doesn't have a leader yet, although there are a few people interested in jumping on board. Check out the website: http://sudansham2010.org/index.html
I can put you in touch with the other GA folks and you could take get your community to take action on your day along with others statewide!
Email me at ktj@stopgenocidenow.org and I can put you in touch!
Welcome to the community!
best, ktj
MJ said:What can i do in my community to help out with the issue of Genocide?
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