People without a country to protect them...Darfuri people trying to take refuge
Graphic, disturbing pictures
of the attack on the Kalma Camp
I took time out of my citizen activism regarding preventing and stopping genocide, specifically of Darfuri families. During my time-out, I worked as a volunteer with the Presidential candidate's campaign at the time, Barack Obama. Now, I am asking President Obama - along with everyone else who cares about inhumane behavior toward humans - to take the critically important step to select a high official for the Sudanese people of Darfur. Immediately.
A Video with Barack Obama speaking on Darfur - while on the Presidential campaign trail
A Previous post of mine on Darfur
"The United States has a moral obligation anytime you see humanitarian catastrophes...
...And when you see a genocide whether it's in Rwanda, or Bosnia or in Darfur - that's a stain on all of us, that's a stain on our souls...
I think the level of commitment and the way that I've spoken out on this issue indicates not only knowledge but also passion in bringing an end to this crisis.
It's very encouraging to see activism based not on self interest but on a moral imperative. And it's especially heartening to see the young people engaged in expressing their idealism through this movement.
We can't say 'never again' and then allow it to happen again. And as President of the United States, I don't intend to abandon people or turn a blind eye to slaughter."
Barack Obama
Pictures of Darfur from David Johnson at Silent Images
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Link to MSNBC February 24, 2009 - George Clooney and Nicholas Kristof speak regarding Darfur
Nicholas Kristof of The New York Times is a two Pulitzer Prize winner
Wolf: High Caliber Special Envoy Should Be Appointed to Sudan
Tuesday February 24, 2009February 24, 2009
Contact: Dan Scandling
(202) 225-5136
WOLF: HIGH CALIBER SPECIAL ENVOY SHOULD BE APPOINTED TO SUDAN
Recommends Former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist for Job
Washington, D.C. -- Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) today called on President Obama to appoint a "high caliber" envoy to Sudan to help bring peace and stability to the war-torn nation.
In a letter to the president, Wolf specifically recommended former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist for the job, noting that he has a passion for the people and future of Sudan.
"Even when he served in the Senate, Dr. Bill Frist continued his surgical practice, travelling to Africa yearly on medical missions, including to Sudan," Wolf wrote. "He boldly emerged as a leader in declaring what was happening in Sudan to be genocide, and co-authoring the bipartisan Sudan Peace Act."
Wolf, who is the co-chairman of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and one of the leading advocates in Congress for human rights around the globe, has been to Sudan five times. He and Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) in 2004 were the first members of Congress to travel to Darfur and have been openly critical of the government of Sudan for its involvement in the ongoing genocide.
"I’ve witnessed the nightmare with my own eyes," Wolf wrote to Obama. "Every day that passes, more men are killed, more women are raped, and more children die of malnutrition. This is simply unacceptable. The time to act is now."
Below is the complete text of Wolf’s letter to the president.
The Honorable Barack H. Obama
The President
The White House
Washington DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
I commend you for your recent special envoy appointments of both Senator George Mitchell and Ambassador Richard Holbrooke. These distinguished diplomats are well-suited to focus their full attention on foreign policy priorities. I have long favored the envoy approach as an effective way to tackle seemingly intractable challenges.
There is perhaps no more daunting challenge than the quest for peace and stability in Sudan-a nation which has long been ravaged by war, genocide and bloodshed.
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which in 2005 brought about the end to a brutal 20-year war between the genocidal government in Khartoum and the South, was a monumental achievement and was in many respects the result of tireless diplomacy by former Senator John Danforth-then U.S. special envoy to Sudan. We can learn from this successful model.
I have written Secretary of State Clinton urging the appointment of a high-caliber special envoy to Sudan. Today I echo that call to you, with the specific request that the appointment be made in a high-profile event, which makes it clear to the world that the envoy has your ear and speaks with your authority. I ask that you appoint former Senate Majority leader Bill Frist as this special envoy.
Even when he served in the Senate, Dr. Bill Frist continued his surgical practice, travelling to Africa yearly on medical missions, including to Sudan. He boldly emerged as a leader in declaring what was happening in Sudan to be genocide, and co-authoring the bipartisan Sudan Peace Act. Senator Frist is truly passionate about the people and future of Sudan and in the tradition of former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell he is respected across the aisle.
His efforts would undoubtedly be buoyed by the counsel of Theodore (Ted) Dagne, Roger Winter and John Prendergast - all capable, committed individuals whose expertise and extensive time spent in the region would make them invaluable advisers to any special envoy.
I have traveled to Sudan five times since 1989 and led the first congressional delegation to Darfur with Senator Sam Brownback. I've witnessed the nightmare with my own eyes. Every day that passes, more men are killed, more women are raped, and more children die of malnutrition. This is simply unacceptable. The time to act is now.
Best wishes.
Source: wolf.house.gov
Click here for the letter to President Barack Obama with Rep. Wolf's letterhead
This afternoon the following email was received from a Sudanese citizen, who is living in the USA currently. Many of his family members were murdered by the Sudanese-government-supported genocide activity.
Dear ALL,
Cell phones and satelite phones (Soraya) are vital tools in Darfur.
The Government of Sudan has cut off services to cell phones in Darfur (in IDP
camps in particular) to have news black-out, especially with the approaching
March 4th (ICC announcement date).
Why this is extremely crucial issue?:
1- Atrocities that happen in the camps and outside are reported by the civilians
via their cell phones to the Darfuris in Diaspora, to news agencies, to Darfur
radios (Europe and U.S.A.), to UNAMID.
2- Areal bombing raids are reported to the above mentioned entities, in
addition, the natives alert other villagers in other locations downstream of the
raid so that people can take cover or flea to hiding places ( life saving tool).
3- Via cell phones and the rapid reporting there was change of behavior noticed
of UNAMID ( becoming more engaged to save lives), Government of Sudan (hard to
deny attack news), Janjaweed (became more selective in targeting villages i.e.
select remote villages where possibility of civilians having cell phones is
little).
More violence is expected with ICC decision. It would be a disaster if this
phone service black-out continues. Many lives might be lost unnecessarily.
Land phones also are mostly cut off these days in Darfur by the GoS.
Mohamed Suleiman - End of email text
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Genocide Ends
When Enough of Us
Stand Up Against It
JOIN US
1-800-GENOCIDE
www.savedarfur.org
www.genocideintervention.net
www.standnow.org
www.miafarrow.org
Write President Obama
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
You can also call or write to the President:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Comments to President Obama:
202-456-1111
or
1-800-GENOCIDE
The White House available 9 AM - 5 PM EST weekdays
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Find your elected politicians contact information at this link:
To call the USA Secretary of State
The USA State Department public comment line
works 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
Sample of what to say:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IF NOT,
THEN,
YOUR SILENCE
CONTRIBUTES
TO
ANOTHER
GENOCIDE.
www.savedarfur.org
www.aegistrust.org
You have the most amazing blog. I learn so much and it enables me to take action on the things that concern me by giving me information.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work.
Karen,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. That means a lot to me that you gather information here and that you take action according to your concerns. Sandra