Yes, it IS genocide and yes, you SHOULD care

Published on March 3, 2005 By Angloesque In Current Events

This is Sudan. Many of us aren't super great at geography, so here's some perspective for you:

This is what's happening in that country right now:

"Every single day you go out to see another burned village, and more dead bodies," he said. "And the children - you see 6-month-old babies that have been shot, and 3-year-old kids with their faces smashed in with rifle butts." --Brian Steidle, former African Union team monitor. Read more about him in Kristof's article in the NYT: Link

What does it take to mobilize you? Do you have to be inundated by television images? Tough, then, because that isn't happening. Do you have to see pictures of starving or dead children? That's not happening, either, at least not on any widescale front. And I'm not going to manipulate you by bombarding you with them. Do you just need the facts? Here:

--The janjaweed is a militia financed by the Sudanese government. It is made up of Muslim Arabs who are raping, murdering, torturing, and displacing thousands of black (and also Muslim) Sudanese.
--Official reports keep the numbers in low five figures; unofficial estimations put the number killed at over 300,000, but a more accurate number probably rests around 150,000 to 200,000.
--About 1.6 million people have been displaced from their homes, either forcibly or out of fear.
--The Sudanese government has done little, if anything, to make things stop.
--The American press barely touches this issue. Apparently fucking Michael Jackson is bigger news.

I'm not going to mollycoddle any of you by saying, "And you get to sleep in your warm bed" or "look at the children" or that stuff. You have to look at it logically as well as emotionally. If you want to be prompted by your emotions--fine, but carry it to your brain. You have to realize that this is wrong--of all things in the world that fall on a greyscale, this is black and white. Ethnic cleansing is WRONG. Killing people because of their skin color or their beliefs or because they're just "different" is wrong.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
For starters, write. Write on your blog. Write to your parents, your children, your congresspeople, your local media station to ask why they're not covering this. Get the word out and increase awareness.

Volunteer, if you have the time and means and qualifications. Many organizations, however, don't need field volunteers as much as they need office volunteers. It feels menial but it still helps.

Donate. Doctors Without Borders (www.msf.org), Oxfam, ADRA, Save the Children--they're all there right now, and they need support. If you're not in a position to volunteer--and let's face it, would they even take us if we could?--then lend your support with money, no matter how little. If you're not sure about a charity, check it out first. Hell, check it out anyway. Go to www.give.org and check out a report.

Care. Someone I know who cared only enough to talk about it brought this subject to my awareness. It's all about getting the word out and getting help. Look how much money we raised--and how fast we raised it--for the tsunami victims. But that was easier--we had pictures. We had media coverage.

For Sudan, for the people in Darfur, we need to make the coverage ourselves.

Comments (Page 1)

Dr Guy

on Mar 04, 2005

The UN has delcared that there is no Genocide going on in Sudan. Who are we (lowly stupid imperialistic Americans) to argue with the Great and Powerful UN?

shadesofgrey

on Mar 04, 2005

Great article, A. Thanks for taking the time to write it.

If anyone needs to find the name of their Congress people, look at www.house.gov-- you can type in your zip code and it will give you your representative. www.senate.gov will provide you with your Senators.

When writing to Members of Congress, call the office first and find out the best way to get in touch with them. Mail is still held up by anthrax, so sometimes email or fax is better.

Angloesque

on Mar 04, 2005

Then screw the UN. If they're not going to help, then work through other means. But don't get caught in the quagmire of pointing fingers instead of doing something.

Shades, there's something very sad about having to post links so someone can find their representatives. That said, I've only recently taken up residence in my state so I had to find out. Thanks for the links. I actually e-mailed my senator and got a(n automated) reply the same day.

I can't believe how little attention this issue gets.

-A.

Dr Guy

on Mar 04, 2005

I can't believe how little attention this issue gets.

IN all seriousness, I do agree with you. It is a crime that is bordering on the Rwanda Genocide of the mid 90s. Dont worry, I have written mine. I was just being sarcastic in the first response.

Moderateman

on Mar 04, 2005

drs without borders are 1 of 4 charties i send money to.

Genocide always touches a chord inside me {jewish}

But for once why is not europe all of europe doing something about this? after all it's right on their doorstep.

Dr Guy

on Mar 04, 2005

But for once why is not europe all of europe doing something about this? after all it's right on their doorstep.

That is rhetorical, right?

shadesofgrey

on Mar 04, 2005

Shades, there's something very sad about having to post links so someone can find their representatives

Agreed, but sometimes it's necessary.

I wrote a blog linking to yours--I hope you don't mind!

P.S. I'm pretty disgusted that I wrote "Congress people" above, but I can't edit it--what was I think...I clearly meant "Members of Congress." Sometimes I sounds so daft!

Larry Kuperman

on Mar 04, 2005

Excellent post on a much overlooked topic.

How the Arab press is pressuring countries NOT to act in the Sudan: http://www.sudantribune.com/article.php3?id_article=8352

From BBC News, July 8th, 2004 (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3875277.stm)): "France opposes UN Sudan sanctions, France says it does not support US plans for international sanctions on Sudan if violence continues in Darfur."

France is debating over whether to permit war crimes trials for the actions and inactions of French military forces in Rwanda during THAT genocide, it should be noted.

From the Christian Science Monitor earlier today (http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0304/p08s01-comv.html)comparing the UN actions in the Congo to their inaction in the Sudan: "Strangely, the Council isn't nearly so bold in Africa's other giant country, Sudan, where millions have been displaced and tens of thousands killed since 2003 in the province of Darfur."

A sticking point is "whether the US should approve a proposal to let the International Criminal Court try some of Darfur's aggressors for "crimes against humanity." Meanwhile, only about 1,800 lightly armed troops from African nations are in Darfur, where they are obliged just to monitor a much-violated cease-fire."

The United Nations has put a condition on stopping the killings in the Sudan: the US must agree to accept the authority of the ICC. The US is loath to do so, for fears that US civilians will be tried before it. Currently, UN peace keepers accused of crimes are tried in their country of origin. See the Fraance comment above.

So, people die and women are raped, while the country is used as a political football.

By the way, I agree with you about the need to blog this. See http://kupe.joeuser.com/index.asp?aid=21828

foreverserenity

on Mar 04, 2005

This is a horrible situation. It's true there are not enough coverage about it by our own news media. The last I heard was as Larry commented about the UN's condition which is so ridiculous. It's Rawanda all over again.

Reiki-House

on Mar 04, 2005

If the victims were white there would be help on the way. That's the politically incorrect thing to state, but it's a deep-rooted truth. In fact, it's so deep-rooted and definite there's no need even to discuss it. It's a given truth. But if we're talking about taking responsibility then maybe the US could give compensation to Sudan for the pharmaceutical factory they hit with cruise missiles. Once again they made the claim it was a place that makes the big mean scary WMD the US is so scared stiff over. I understand it covers about 1/100,000 in square footage when compared to the production warehouse square footage that create the US's illegal WMD arsenals. But it's still scary! Knocking out Sudan's means of creating medicine is according to humanity, a crime. But shhhhh! Don't tell anyone.

Angloesque

on Mar 05, 2005

I wrote a blog linking to yours--I hope you don't mind!

No I don't mind. But this is one of those times where I wish I were one of the more popular bloggers, if only it would help get more people reading and thinking. Grr. That's the first time in years I've wanted to be popular. Apathy is so frustrating.

-A.

couchman

on Mar 05, 2005

If the victims were white there would be help on the way.

Not quite...First off remember the situation Europe had in oh say the Balkins? Bosnia anyone?....The UN was pretty much deaf, dumb and blind on those situations...and that was not on Europe's doorstep but rather inside the house itself....it wasn't till Nato with US military power backing it did something happen...by the way they were 'white' so the issue over race is basicly a moot point. Quite frankly I'm all for US military deploying to try and end the genocide in the Sudan/Dafur region....but then would we still hear that the US is an imperialistic power who ignore the UN?(gee doesnt that sound awefully familiar?)

We can all agree that going the status quo route is not gonna end the crisis in the region...dimplomacy won't work...neither will 3min spots on the nightly news...or any sort of sanctions (if one could get them passed (Russia & China have large dealings there..sound familiar?)...only raw military power is going to do anything.

We can agree or disagree over whether going into Iraq was a good/bad thing...thats not the point...the real point is that everyone (pro/con) knew full well the only way Saddam's regime was going to be overthrown was by pure American military power (with whatever allies joined) and not wishful thinking...I hate to say this but the same thing goes for the current crisis in the Sudan/Dafur region.....does that mean we should be prepared to overthrow the Sudanese goverment..no (although I dont mind)... confronting the goverment controlled militia's who are responsible for most of the horror we hear bout (though the goverment has considerble blame) is the only thing I can forsee whereby some semblance of order can be attained out of the chaos they have now...

What I wrote may sound cold and harsh...but that is the reality of the world we live in....

ParaTed2k

on Mar 05, 2005

Angloesque.. GREAT ARTICLE!!!!

Once again we see that "Press = Participation". When Sudan was in the press, there was a call to action. However, the UN spoke, the press listened and all was well with the world.

Race cards, "us vs. them", finger pointing, and trashing legitimate suggestions...

No one has to go further the responses of this very article to see a microcosm of why politics trumps real help almost every time.

Dr Guy

on Mar 05, 2005

What I wrote may sound cold and harsh...but that is the reality of the world we live in....

It is the truth, without the hate rhetoric of some others as well. And at the same time, given the whipping the US has received in the world press, it is unlikely that anything will be done. There are too many cowards that have shirked their moral responsibility. It should not be a US action, it should be a UN action, but they have already shirked their duty.

couchman

on Mar 06, 2005

That is true...but given the fact that some important changes are happening for the better in Iraq, Afghan, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia and the Palestinian "occupied" territory (all to the dismay of many out there because gulp, it may prove the Bush administration was correct in how they handled the problems....it's not inconceivable that Bush would not push for deployment of an international military force there to actually do something more that be observers (current problem troops from African Union are having). The only sure bet is the Brits would sign on almost immediately...Blair has been very keen about the Sudan issue for some time....the only questions remaining is whether any of our traditional allies(fair weather friends) come to the decision that there has been enough talk...and how long it is gonna take before Bush/Blair put this out to the international community in an effort to garner support (troops/backing).

You are correct that given all the hypocritical rhetoric slamming the US's actions and motives regarding Iraq and even to some extent Afghanistan...the US has been slow to respond but when one considers the hypocrocy of those who say the international community must do something about Sudan (funny how when thats said they always look to the US to act-this from many who have labled us as Empire building thugs)...sometimes I just shake my head.

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