❧❧❧ Whatever you can do or dream, you can BEGIN IT. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Goethe ❧❧❧
❧❧❧ You were born whole, not broken. Sandra Hammel ❧❧❧
Genocide in 2010 should not be tolerated.As an US Senator, you said all the right things about the Darfuri people. However, as President you have a disaster of a US Special Envoy to Sudan, who has been your voice for far too long.
but I am so very sad that you have done nothing effective about this humanity-defining issue.I am so very disappointed in you on this issue.And the Darfuri people who once had hope with your election, now cannot believe your administration's lack of will to take any constructively strong steps to turn the corner for the Sudanese victims, who want justice first, then peace, then to go home to their land.
What will be your legacy, with the first genocide that has had years of public support to end it, but have seen the leaders of the international community stand idly by?
Thank you, Mr. President.
Sincerely,
Sandra Hammel
Use Your Voice to Save Darfur RI
....................................
.................................... Tell Barack Obama to live up to his words www.whitehouse.gov/contact Uploaded by saulpaulus ....................................
.................................... Tell Barack Obama to live up to his words
If you are an organization submitting comments on behalf of your membership, please use our Organization Contact Form. Uploaded by rp4obama
You can also call or write to the President:
The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Please include your e-mail address
One hundred fourteen Darfuris and 27 Associations and Organizations in North America issued a statement today calling on the international community to act on their Responsibility to Protect (R2P), particularly the United States:
“Currently, our people in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp of Kalma are under threat of violence, homelessness, and lack of basic life subsistence. The threat is coming from the local government of South Darfur and from central government in Khartoum. Similar conditions are faced by IDPs in Hamideyeah in the Zalengi area of West Darfur.
The Government of Sudan is intent on dismantling these camps by force. The Government officials in South Darfur made their intentions very clear in defiance of all international protocols and conventions that protect IDPs. This is a continuation of the crimes of genocide in Darfur.
We believe strongly that the Government of Sudan, sadly, has perfected reading in advance the reaction of the international community, and the United States in particular.
The Government of Sudan, headed by a President indicted for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, continues using same tactics used by other genocidal perpetrators through history to finish the job. They will not stop till they are stopped.
The Government of Sudan feels absolutely immune to any accountability. Furthermore, the officials in Khartoum and South Darfur audaciously state their plans in dismantling the IDP camps in meetings with UNAMID and NGOs representatives.
We believe that what is happening in Darfur has direct relation to the U. S. policy in handling Darfur’s crisis.
The international community has an obligation to protect the Darfuri civilians. This Responsibility-To-Protect (R2P) should be exercised now to stop the on-going genocide in Darfur.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : August 6, 2010 CONTACTS: Jonathan Hutson, jhutson@enoughproject.org, 857-919-5130 Janessa Goldbeck, goldbeck@genocideintervention.net, 202-559-7405 Ann Brown, abrown@savedarfur.org, 301-633-4193
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Human rights advocacy organizations expressed dismay today following reports that the Obama Administration is not approaching the situation in Sudan with the urgency it demands. In a New York Times article published yesterday (“Violence Said to Be Rising in Sudan’s Darfur Region” by Neil MacFarquhar), a senior State Department official was quoted saying, “There is no sense of urgency that this is a crucial moment [in Sudan].”
The comment comes on the heels of an alarming resurgence of violence in Darfur and just months before south Sudan is scheduled to vote for its own independence—a landmark event that, if mishandled, could plunge Sudan back into all-out war.
John Prendergast, Co-founder of the Enough Project, said, “The US and other key countries have largely turned away from serious political engagement in Darfur in favor of the North/South issues. US Special Envoy Gration has fallen into the same trap which has doomed previous diplomatic efforts by allowing the Khartoum regime to play the North/South crisis against the one in Darfur. The old adage of walking and chewing gum at the same time on Darfur and the South seems unattainable to the internationals attempting to address Sudan’s interrelated ills. By not focusing on an all-Sudan solution, they end up with no solution at all, and the crises bleed on.”
Mark Hanis, President of Genocide Intervention Network, said, “Where is Candidate Obama, who promised the American people that he would address the crisis in Sudan with ‘unstinting resolve’? It will take more than rhetoric to ensure that the people of Sudan are not plunged again into war. Voters demand that the president and his administration do the right thing.”
Mark Lotwis, Acting President of the Save Darfur Coalition, said, “It is disturbing to hear that the there is no sense of urgency in the Obama administration in implementing an effective Sudan policy. I recently returned from Darfur and South Sudan and know that conditions on the ground have deteriorated, the Darfur Peace Process is stalled, and critical preparations for the referendum are not being made. The president needs to provide his entire team—Vice President Biden, Secretary of State Clinton, Ambassador Rice and Special Envoy Gration—with a new direction that makes all of Sudan an urgent priority now.”
###
Enough Project – Enough is a project of the Center for American Progress to end genocide and crimes against humanity. Founded in 2007, Enough focuses on crises in Sudan, Chad, eastern Congo, northern Uganda, Somalia, and Zimbabwe. Enough’s strategy papers and briefings provide sharp field analysis and targeted policy recommendations based on a “3P” crisis response strategy: promoting durable peace, providing civilian protection, and punishing perpetrators of atrocities. Enough works with concerned citizens, advocates, and policy makers to prevent, mitigate, and resolve these crises. Visit www.enoughproject.org.
Genocide Intervention Network – Genocide Intervention Network is working to build the first permanent anti-genocide constituency, mobilizing the political will to stop genocide when it occurs. Accessible online at www.GenocideIntervention.net, Genocide Intervention Network empowers individuals with the tools to stop genocide.
The Save Darfur Coalition – an alliance of more than 190 faith-based, advocacy and human rights organizations – raises public awareness about the ongoing crisis in Darfur and mobilizes a unified response to promote peace throughout the Darfur region and all of Sudan. The coalition’s member organizations represent 130 million people of all ages, races, religions and political affiliations united together to help the people of Sudan. Please join the movement at www.SaveDarfur.org.
Stop Genocide Now/i-ACT is a grassroots community dedicated to working to protect populations in grave danger of violence, death and displacement resulting from genocide. Through active education, advocacy and policy change SGN resolves to change the way the world responds to genocide. All of our projects focus on and utilize the strength and power in grassroots connectivity. For information, visit www.stopgenocidenow.org.
Investors Against Genocide is a non-profit organization dedicated to convincing mutual fund and other investment firms to change their investing strategy so as to avoid complicity in genocide. The organization works with individuals, companies, organizations, financial institutions, the press, and government agencies to build awareness and to create financial, public relations, and regulatory pressure for investment firms to change. The ultimate goals are that the Government of Sudan ends its deadly genocide in Darfur and that investment firms avoid investing in genocide. For more information, visit www.investorsagainstgenocide.org.
Genocide will ONLY stop if we want it to stop and do what it takes to get our leaders to lead on this humanity-defining issue.
WANTED! Leadership to enable us to stop the 7 year genocide of the Darfuri people. When WILL be the time, President Obama, VP Biden and Secretary Clinton - after you have left office or during your time? This is a humanity-defining issue. And it is defining us right now.
.................................................
................................................. Uploaded by stopgenocidenow
On Friday, Foreign Policy Magazine broke the news suggesting that, after months of delay, a plan for moving the U.S. Policy on Sudan forward has finally landed on President Obama's desk. As Sudan prepares for a referendum that is likely to split it in two, and as the humanitarian crisis in Darfur grows increasingly dire by the day, we must let President Obama know that we are closely watching and awaiting his decision. Now is the moment for the President to implement a Sudan policy which, as he promised in 2008, leads a process for peace, helps prevent another deadly war in Africa, and holds those responsible for crimes against humanity to account. Millions of lives are at stake. Urge the President to make peace in Sudan a priority now.
Mr. President: Now is the moment for you to implement a Sudan policy which, as you promised in 2008, leads a process for peace, helps prevent another deadly war in Africa, and holds those responsible for crimes against humanity to account. News reports (http://bit.ly/aEkexV) suggest that, after months of delay, a plan for moving the U.S. Policy on Sudan forward has finally landed on your desk. As Sudan prepares for a referendum that is likely to split it in two, and as the humanitarian crisis in Darfur grows increasingly dire by the day, we are closely watching and awaiting your decision. Your legacy is on the line. Millions of lives are at stake. Make peace in Sudan a priority now.
By Twitter - Tweet this message:
RT Decision on #Sudan policy is on @BarackObama's desk. What will be the #ObamaLegacy on #genprev? http://bit.ly/aEkexV #SudanNow @presssec
and for USA Vice President Biden
.........................................
......................................... Uploaded by stopgenocidenow
I am writing you today to request that your pressure your peers in the current White House administration to work together for peace in Sudan now by applying the wide range of pressures the United States has.
I am disappointed that the current White House administration still appears split on its approach to policy and no concrete outcomes seem to have resulted from the deputies meeting. Violence on the ground in Darfur continues, the Sudanese government is still engaged with proxy militias, and no one has been held accountable for the many war crimes that have occurred to date.
I therefore urge you to escalate real pressures on the parties, call for a strengthened civilian protection mandate for both UNAMID and UNMIS, and deploy more full-time diplomats on the ground in Sudan to accelerate peace efforts. Sudan is entering a make or break period, and U.S. leadership is vital.
The United States is also in a position to provide the helicopters UNAMID needs for rapid response in Darfur. Besides this equipment donation that is direly needed, the U.S. must also forcefully push for the unrestricted movement of UN peacekeeping personal across Darfur and south Sudan and for unfettered access throughout the country for aid workers who are in a position to save large numbers of lives.
Mr. Vice-President, you have long promised to bring peace in Sudan. The time is now.
Sincerely,
Background
If you’re new to this, here are a few places you can find some information at:
KHARTOUM — UN representatives and aid workers were allowed into a refugee camp in war-torn Darfur on Monday, more than two weeks after deadly fighting there, the United Nations said.
"Today a mission of UN and NGO got access to Kalma," said Sam Hendricks, spokesman for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
"We had access for an assessment of the situation and delivery of fuel for the water pump," Hendricks told AFP.
The UN representatives accompanied by members of non-governmental organisations
Eight people were killed in fighting two weeks ago at the Kalma and Zalengei refugee camps between partisans of the rebel Sudan Liberation Army and supporters of peace talks between rebels and the Khartoum government.
Sudanese authorities had blocked five NGOs and UN agencies from reaching the camp, which houses more than 80,000 displaced persons from the troubled western region of Darfur and is one of the world's largest refugee camps.
The United Nations have expressed concern that the situation in Kalma camp would deteriorate unless aid workers were given access to the compound.
John Holmes, the UN's undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs, said on Saturday "If access is not urgently restored, the situation risks deteriorating rapidly."
Hendricks said that medicine was delivered to two clinics in the camps, where the aid workers were hoping to assess the food situation.
Meanwhile the joint UN-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) said in a statement on Monday that the situation in Kalma remains "tense."
SalemNews—May 26, 2010 — This video smuggled out of Umsauna, South Darfur, shows government soldiers (Government of Sudan) beating and torturing innocent civilians, asking them where JEM leaders are located.
After two days of a deadly battle, fighters from the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) managed to claim Umsauna back from the GOS, 5 days ago - the town is now in their full control.
This video smuggled out of Umsauna, South Darfur, shows government soldiers (GoS) beating and torturing innocent civilians, asking them where JEM leaders are located.
After two days of a deadly battle, fighters from the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) managed to claim Umsauna back from the GOS, 5 days ago - the town is now in their full control.
On-ground sources confirmed earlier today, that the GOS 106th infantry battalion lined more than 87 vehicles and are ready roll into Umsauna tonight.
Darfur has seen a massive increase in violence.
Radio Dabanga has reported several arrests of citizens in Nyala on suspicion of belonging to rebel parties specifically JEM.
The targeted violence has many innocent families fleeing into neighboring displaced/refugee camps. These camps are already suffering extreme shortages of water and food.
A leader of the displaced people in Kalma camp in South Darfur revealed that 480 families had fled to the camp in the wake of fighting between government forces and the Justice and Equality Movement in areas of Sharq Jebel Marra, Shangil Tobayi and parts of south the railway.
The camp leader, Hussein Abu Alsharati, said that these families are living in extremely difficult conditions. He said that no one has offered to help them.
I write to you about two important issues to me personally and globally.
The oil disaster should NOT be in the hands of BP.It is unbelievable that the government did not take this problem-solving away from BP and simply make them accountable in every way, financially, legally and criminally. As much as I supported you, Mr. Obama, for President, I am that disappointed in your handling of this crisis that has been going on for five weeks.
BP and lack of proper oversight by our government agencies allowed the present disaster in the gulf and yet you have let BP be in charge of the unending oil gushing into our planet’s waters. Rep. Charlie Melancon said more how he cared today, than this administration has demonstrated since the crisis in the gulf began.
And I am also thoroughly disappointed in your lack of interest in the Darfuris situation.
Special Envoy Gration is a disaster for the Darfuri people.And yet he remains the Special Envoy.The Sudan elections were a sham and yet your administration treats them like they are just.
It is difficult to remain calm with the inaction of our representative government on both of these issues.As a human rights activist, specifically regarding genocide prevention and intervention, and even more specifically, regarding Darfur and Sudan, I am thoroughly disgusted with this administration’s lack of engagement in the Darfuris’ plight.
The attending of al-Bashir’s May 27 inauguration by Haile Menkerios of South Africa, head of the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), and Ibrahim Gambari of Nigeria, joint head of the African Union/UN Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) is inappropriate.Your silence is irrefutably wrong.And our USA acceptance of this election is obvious by how Gration speaks and behaves.It just makes me sick in my heart to watch our government continue the impotent handling of what goes on regarding the Darfuri people.
With all due respect, I would like to see you be the leader that I was led to believe you would be.
Sincerely yours,
Sandra Hammel
Use Your Voice To Stop Genocide RI
To show I am human and not spam my required words to type were:"the suffered".
You can also call or write to the President:
The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Please include your e-mail address
Phone Numbers
Comments: 202-456-1111
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Darfur In the News
AFP:Sudan shuts door on more peace talks with Darfur rebel group. Sudan has closed the door on peace talks with Darfur's main rebel group, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), a top negotiator said Wednesday, warning that instead its leaders will be prosecuted. Presidential adviser Ghazi Atabani told reporters that the mediators in the peace talks between JEM and the Khartoum government -- Qatar, the United Nations and the African Union -- had been notified of Khartoum's decision. JEM, one of two key Darfur rebel groups, signed a framework accord in February in Doha that was hailed by the international community as a major step toward bringing peace to the region devastated by a seven-year war. But there was no final, comprehensive peace agreement by a March 15 deadline and JEM broke off from the talks that same month claiming ceasefire violations and resumed attacking government forces.
BBC:Sudan's Omar al-Bashir is sworn in as president. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has been sworn into office again, following his controversial win in last month's elections. President Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes in Darfur. Many international leaders stayed away from the inauguration but at least five African presidents attended the event. The UN said it was sending the heads of the two UN peacekeeping missions in the country to the ceremony. Presidents from Ethiopia, Chad, Malawi, Mauritania, and Djibouti were in the audience.
Citizen-Times:2 Samaritan's Purse workers released, 1 still held in Sudan. Samaritan's Purse reports that two of three aid workers abducted in Sudan have been released. Here's the report posted on the Samaritan's Purse website Tuesday: Two Sudanese Samaritan's Purse workers abducted in the Darfur region last week have been released. A third staff member is still being held. Please continue to pray for continued safety and a quick release.
NPR:In Parts Of Sudan, Life Hasn't Changed In Centuries. In Sudan, voters are expected to return to the polls in January, when the South takes up a referendum on full independence from the North. But as the people of southern Sudan prepare to decide their future, it's necessary to acknowledge their present. For while some Southerners live in the 21st century, others are still in the 19th -- or in some cases, a biblical age.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Statement from Darfuris in Diaspora, North America
Regarding the latest events in Darfur
May 26, 2010
We, the undersigned Darfuris in Diaspora in North America, would like to express our gravest concern regarding the suffering of our people back home in Darfur. There are numerous indicators that lead us to believe that the international community is no longer diligently seeking a just political solution to the conflict in Darfur.
Today we see the representatives of the institutions of the international community respond to the demands of the regime in Khartoum while Darfuris bleed to death in Darfur. Over a year after General Martin Agwai, the ex- head of UNAMID, said that war in Darfur is over, the Government of Khartoum continues more fierce campaigns of aerial bombings targeting civilians and water wells. Today, following elections described by the U.S. State Department as neither free nor fair, we see delegations from the United Nations, African Union, and Arab League turn a blind eye to the killings in Darfur that were inflicted recently by the Khartoum regime while they flock to Khartoum to celebrate the inauguration of the killer as president of Sudan.
We would like to summarize here in three points the danger of such indifference by the leading players of the international community:
1) The United Nations announced that it will send the two highest ranking of its officials in Sudan to represent at AlBashir’s inaugural ceremonies in Khartoum on the 27th of May. The two top U.N. officials, Haile Menkerios, head of the U.N. Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), and Ibrahim Gambari, joint head of the African Union/U.N. Mission in Darfur (UNAMID, will celebrate with the killer in Khartoum while the blood of our relatives is spilled in Jebel Marrah and Jebel Moon. We, the sons and daughters of those whose blood is spilled there in Darfur, believe that the soft policy of the American Administration towards Sudan sent the wrong signal to the United Nation, African Union, Arab League, and other international bodies.
2) We believe that the first criterion of the international mediators in the Darfur conflict is to be honest brokers. The world witnessed and followed last week the unfolding events of the 19 hours standoff at the N’djamena’s airport in Chad. The leader of the Justice and Equality Movement, Dr. Khalil Ibrahim, was denied entry to the country, yet what was learned later was that the international mediators were pulling strings from Doha, capital of Qatar, to force the head of JEM to sit down for negotiation with the Government of Sudan. The government of Sudan has a great interest in signing meaningless agreements with Darfuri factions. We believe that the mediators are serving, knowingly or not, as tools to the Government of Sudan to suppress the Darfuri cause. In the last seven years we have seen the international mediators press the Darfuri factions to compromise and give up in return for nothing except seeing the suffering of their own people prolonged. Instead, the international mediators should be exerting pressure on the government of Sudan, the root cause of the problem in Darfur. The N’djamena standoff was part of a tactic to force all Darfuri leaders into capitulation. We condemn such acts of those mediators who, through such acts will only make matters worse in Darfur.
3) Albashir is an indicted war criminal. In the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing on May 12th, U.S. Special Envoy Gration testified that the Obama Administration is pursuing "locally owned accountability and reconciliation mechanisms in light of the recommendations made by the African Union's high-level panel on Darfur." In Darfur we have millions of our people who have lost everything, including loved ones, to the genocide. The victims hope for nothing in this life but justice. Darfuris have no trust left in Gration since he uttered the words “remnants of genocide” in his early days on the job. Now we believe that this AU panel on Darfur is nothing more than an effort to let AlBashir off the hook.We will not, as Darfuris, accept any substitute to the ICC as a venue for justice for Darfur crimes.
CC to:
- Honorable Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton.
- Honorable U.S.Special Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration.
- Honorable U.N. General Secretary Ban Ki-moon.
- Honorable The joint AU-UN mediatorDjibril Bassolé.
- Office of the Prosecutor, International Criminal Court.
Signed by:
No Name State ةيلاولا مسلإا
1 Mohamed E. Suliman CA أُرىفٌاو ْاٍُّط خذافٌا ذّذِ
2 Mohamed Altom CA أُرىفٌاو َىرٌا ذّذِ
3 Maki Ibrahim Maki TX صاظىذ ٍىِ ُُهازتإ ٍىِ
4 Abdulrahim Khamis TX صاظىذ ضُّخ ُُدزٌاذثع
5 Kamaldine Moustapha IN أاَذٔإ ًفطصِ َٓذٌا ياّو
6 Tragi Mustafa Abutalib Canada اذٕو ةٌاطىتأ ًفطصِ ٍجازذ
7 Ismail Omar Ibrahim TX صاظىذ ُُهازتإ زّع ًُعاّطإ
8 Dr. Mohamed Hassan NE اىطازثٔ د . ٓظد ذّذِ
9 Bakri Gumaa NJ ٍظَزجىُٔ حعّج يزىت
10 Aljazoli Sharif Haroun NY نرىَىُٔ ْوراه فَزش ٌٍوشجٌا
When three of us showed up, and few came after us, we discussed why people may not show up like they did when I fist did a walk in 2007. I have done four major events now and only one of them received people from three states and that I didn't know were coming.
Reasons could be:
1) the economy
2) the news has decreasesed even more about Darfur, so it gets ignored
3) people are stressed out in their lives
4) people don't care or don't know
The last thing about people not knowing is still so very true. My brother asked me recently when Haiti had the earthquake, if Darfur and Haiti were the same place and didn't they have the same problem.
People still don't know what genocide is. I prefer using other words to describe what it is, such as targeting a group of people to get rid of, whether by direct killing or by more indirect means, such as withholding care, food and water. And also rape as a tool of exterminating a whole ethnic group or race.
I made this video of our Walk to End Genocide for Sudan
............................................................
The Walk to End Genocide for Sudan was in Newport, Rhode Island
April 11, 2010 Uploaded by ilovemylifesblog ............................................................
............................................................
Uploaded at Facebook, too
Best to watch in High Quality - HQ
Here is my speech
The first part given at the start of the walk and the second part given at the end of the walk.
Touro Park little speech – 3 minutes
Welcome on behalf of the Darfuri people and all the Sudanese marginalized people.They appreciate your moral support more than you know.I know for me, knowing this personally, has moved me to stay inspired to keep doing this volunteer work toward treating human beings with dignity, especially around the reoccurring theme of genocide on this planet.
We come together in solidarity for justice for people most of us have never met, but feel the need to make our desire for freedom for all - known.Today is the first of3 days in Sudan for national elections. These elections are a sham and make a mockery of the CPA - the peace agreement that brought us to this day.At the end of our walk we will have a speech, where more will be explained about the election, music and actions that each one of us can continue to take.Making an effort to drag our leaders toward doing something right about something that is very wrong. (Comprehensive Peace Agreement)
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your presence here today. If you want to talk to me in the future, provide your email and phone number on the petition. And if anyone wants to see the pictures and video from today, please provide me with your email address. When I post it online, I will send you a link.And do check out our new grassroots website: i on sudan
Let’s Walk to End Genocide for Sudan on this day of elections in Sudan
Speech
Walk to End Genocide for Sudan - April 11, 2010
April – Genocide Prevention Month
Newport
10:29
25 minutes
"If we care, the world will care.
If we bear witness, the world will know. If we act, the world will follow."
Words spoken at the first Darfur national rally,
held on the mall in Washington, D.C.
by Barack Obama April 30, 2006
Moments of silence for those who have died and live with injuries from the hands of the government of Sudan.
Babylon - A Song of Exile~composed by Marguerite Heenehan
I would like to thank Miki Green and Sally Hanchett, who have always been willing to help.
And also my thanks to Marguerite Heenehan who accepted the invitation to sing for us today.Her first song was her own composition: Babylon - A Song of Exile
Later, she will sing Pete Seeger's Golden Thread
In April of 2004, in a private moment I made a decision after watching PBS’ 10 year anniversary airing of Ghosts of Rwanda about the genocide. I decided, then, I would speak out about the immorality of genocide.
November 22, 2005.
I spent the day at the death camp at Dachau, Germany. I spent hours just in one room reading how a genocide comes about. In another room, with two ovens built for the purpose of burning fellow human beings, I stood by German high school students on their field trip.
On the stone structure’s pillars and walls, I read of the unthinkable human experiments done by doctors to the residents of the camp, which were not only Jews, but priests, homosexuals, mentally ill and anyone who disagreed with the dictator, Mr. Hitler. Dachau’s camp was opened March 20, 1933 and the surviving victims were liberated by American forces April 29, 1945. April is Genocide Preveniton Month. The holocaust went on for 12 long years.
I believe that
GENOCIDES GO ON BECAUSE WE THINK IT COSTS US NOTHING,
BUT WE ARE WRONG - it defines us
I wonder how many of us heard about the April 6 anniversary this year of the Rwandan genocide of 1994. Even though it took place in Rwanda, it is an anniversary for the world. All genocides are.
I would like to offer some perspective to the reason we gather today and the place we are standing right now.
Historical Town
This is a historical town. Newport. We have a history here rich in examples of how varied human behavior expresses itself. The good, the bad. Just every day average people.
Slave Trade
Newport, Rhode Island played a leading role during the Colonial Period in the Slave Trade.
By 1776, several thousand African slaves lived and work here.
In Colonial times, slaves comprised nearly one third of our town’s total population
with one in three Newport families owning at least one slave.
Jews
When Jews were forced to convert to Catholicism in Europe
and expelled if they refused,
some eventually came to Newport.
In the spring of 1658, fifteen Spanish Portuguese Jewish families arrived in Newport
who formed the beginnings of what eventually is the congregation of Touro Synagogue.
Native Americans- Genocide Right Here
This land was the homeland of people such as the Wampanoag, Coweset, Nipmuc, Niantic, Pequot and Narragansett. The truth is we stand on land that once had an entirely different social structure than the one that came from immigrants.Land that was stolen from those already here, then treaty after treaty was dishonored by the government side of the treaty.And a very neglected story of discrimination became a systematic attempt to exterminate indigenous peoples.So the subject that we are here to speak out against today for Darfuris, is not a remote story that only has happened in a far off land.
Still Tolerated in Sudan
In this 21st century, Genocide is still tolerated.Since, 2004, the world has little more than spoken words
against the actions of systematic extermination by the government of Sudan for the people of the Darfur region.
It has been disheartening to see President Obama’s Special Envoy to Sudan,
Scott Gration, be so very lame, though he promised “carrots and sticks” to his approach,
we have seen nothing but “carrots”.
This in spite a multitude of violations that warrant “sticks”.
His remark of only having “remnants of genocide” in Darfur is an insult to the Darfuri people.It is difficult to destroy a village a second time.A village that has already been burned to the ground and water wells stuffed with murdered Darfuris to insure the survivors won’t return.
Death by starvation and removing the humanitarian aid agencies that provided clean water and medical assistance is no less an effective means to exterminate the Darfuris.
The government of Sudan began expelling humanitarian aid agencies from Darfur March 4, 2009, immediately following the International Criminal Court charging President A-Bashir with many counts, including “crimes against humanity”.
It is easy for the world to dismiss this story because there is scarce media attention.
But it is still systematic and death by intention to do away with a targeted people.How we moralize it into being acceptable is simple.
Primarily, nations who could do something, ignore it.And if there aren’t enough standing up and saying clearly and persistently “Genocide Will Stop With Us”, then genocide will go on.And so it does.
In my volunteer work with others in the 50 United States – including the Sudan Sham campaign, I have gotten to know three Darfuri of the DiASpora community living in the USA.I exchange thoughts through emails with Mohamed Suleiman, Mohamed Yahya and Bakheit Shata. I asked them what they thought I should say today to you and I received their emails yesterday.
Mohamed Suleiman has a blog where he updates information before official news outlets have it and sometimes never post it. Mohamed has daily contacts inside Sudan.
Genocide articles don’t sell much copy. In reality, a certain golf pro (Tiger Woods) defeats Darfur for winning space in a newspaper and on your nightly news stations.
Mohamed Suleiman said
1- Needed first is Justice, then a safe environment without harm, followed with peace for the people of Darfur.
2- The sham elections in Sudan will serve only to legitimize the rule of al-Bashir, the indicted war criminal.
Mohamed’s 2nd point has been underscored by many human rights groups around the world.
3- Obama's Administration should be on the side of the victims, not the perpetrators.
The Obama administration, led by Scott Gration has cozied up to al-Bashir, to the detriment of the Darfuri people.
When you are already feeling broken, vulnerable and forgotten by the world in your need for hope, seeing the President of the USA pick a man that sides with the perpetrators of genocide, would naturally lead you to lose trust that the USA is a reliable resource to the road back to a peaceful village.
4 – Humanitarian Aid restored to pre March 4, 2009 levels
“After the arrest warrant for al-Bashir was announcedon March 4, 2009, 13 humanitarian aid agencies’ expulsions began.Still today, humanitarian aid is not at the level before the expulsions.”
Most of the aid agencies that were thrown out last year by President al-Bashir were working quietly to support survivors of sexual violence and to protect thousands of women and girls from rape. One of the principal tools of war in Darfur has been systematic rape, a factor in any argument supporting the existence of genocidal intent. By removing most of the groups that were protecting or caring for rape survivors, a cover up is on.
It would be natural to think that all Sudanese would welcome having its first national election in 24 years after al-Bashir assumed the role for 21 years.
This was supposed to be an exciting time for Sudan, but it is not by Darfuris for sure.
The preoccupation of al-Bashir’s Party (NCP) has been to win the election now taking place.
1) In total Control
2) Manipulated voter registration
3 )Drafted the election laws in its favour
4) Gerrymandered electoral districts
5) co-opted traditional leaders and paid people to vote for them.
This is true all over Sudan, but especially in Darfur, where it has had freedom to carry out its strategy, since that is the only region still under emergency rule.
One indication of the NCP's long-term plans to rig the elections was the management of the 2008 census.
The flawed results were then used to draw electoral districts,
apportion seats in the national and state legislatures and organise the voter registration drive.
Census takers – aided by NCP party – expended great efforts to count those who support the current regime. They also reportedly counted newcomers from Chad and Niger, who had settled in areas originally inhabited by persons displaced in the Darfur conflict, and issued them identity papers so they can vote as Sudanese citizens.
However, most of the estimated 2.6 million internally displaced (IDPs) living in camps, as well as people from The result is an almost certain victory for the NCP and Omar al-Bashir.
And the consequences for Darfur are catastrophic.
Disenfranchising large numbers of people will only further
marginalise them and complicate an already complicated huge problem.
Since the vote will impose illegitimate officials through rigged polls, they will be left with little or no hope of a peaceful change in the status quo, and many can be expected to look to rebel groups to fight and win back their lost rights and lands.
Ideally, elections would be held after a peace deal has been negotiated and the problems with the census, voter registration and demarcation of electoral districts resolved.
The NCP is desperate to legitimize President Omar al-Bashir,especially because he has been indicted by the International Criminal Court.
And there are fears that any delay may risk jeopardising the southern Sudan’s referendum scheduled for January 2011 to vote to become a separate country.
On top of all this
Candidates were blocked from campaigning freely, detained, and threatened.
The major party that represents southern Sudan’s candidate withdrew from the presidential race last week – (Yasser Arman, of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement- SPLM)
and the party announced its will boycott the parliamentary races in Darfur, as well.
Fraud, Unresolved, Unfair, Unfree
They cited alleged fraud, the unresolved crisis in Darfur, and unfair and unfree conditions as reasons for withdrawing.
Many northern party candidates have also voluntarily withdrawn from the presidential race. The Umma party has withdrawn from all races.
At this point the presidential race is virtually uncontested.
Monitors Withdrew
The European Union has withdrawn their election monitors from Darfur citing insecurity and lack of access.
Observers and monitors have been threatened and intimidated by al-Bashir.
Cut fingers off
Al-Bashir responded to a comment re a potential slight delay in elections with the statement:“if they interfere in our affairs, we will cut their fingers off, put them under our shoes, and throw them out."
President Jimmy Carter arrived in Sudan last Thursday to lead the Carter Center’s monitoring mission.
Gration said that Sudan had “given him confidence that the elections … would be as free and as fair as possible,” adding that they “have gone to great lengths to ensure that the people of Sudan will have access to polling places and that the procedures and processes will ensure transparency.”
Sean Brooks of SDC – recent 4 week trip to Sudan
Sean Brooks of SDC said: Gration’s optimism is baffling. After recently visiting Khartoum, the southern part of the country, and Darfur, Brooks stated
“There is no chance that these elections will be even remotely free or fair.
The government has been harassing its opponents for months.”
BBC: stated: “Sudan's elections risk going down in the history books for all the wrong reasons.”
My friend Mohamed Yahya, said,
"Sudan should be ready for war. The government has torn life apart. There is no one to help the Darfuri people
* with 6,000 villages, of which 90% aredestroyed
* thousands of women and girls identity destroyed
** I lost 21 relatives in one day.
** There are 1000s of people like me. How do I forget?
They will never change, this is unjustified and deliberate.
It will continue, if al-Bashir is not stopped.
There is a clear divide between what the Sudanese people are saying and what Gration is promoting.”
Last night from a fellow activist, I received an email with these words written by a young Darfuri woman who still lives in Sudan:
"It does feel good though, that there are people like you concerned about what's going on here, I do believe some day he will fall, people here are powerless, even authorities of power, I mean this President is making it impossible for almost everyone. Thanks - it's your words that are a highlight in days full of darkness."Fatimah Ismail
I receive these same kind of comments from the Darfuris living in this country.They are so grateful for any support we give them.
"Our Lives Begin to End The Day We Become Silent About Things That Matter." Martin Luther King, Jr.
Golden Thread sung by Marguerite Heenehan
************************************
I skipped this page by mistake:
I believe we must make decisions based on moral principles.
Unfortunately too many politicians won’t do that, unless we make it clear
that is what must be done.
That is evident because of every genocide that has come and gone.
What human behavior will we condemn – if not genocide?
We step up when there are disasters caused by weather, such as in Haiti,
but where are the multitude of news reports and TV shows,
asking us to support the end of genocide, a disaster of our human race’s making?
Where there is a will there is always a way
and where there is no will there is never a way.
Political will won’t just happen.That is transparently clear.
We could find ways to stop genocide, if we wanted.
Our politicians get away with doing nothing because they believe it will cost them nothing to do nothing.
But we do have some brave ones who have stepped to the plate, but they need also to hear from us.
When I have lobbied US RI Senators and Representatives about Darfur, I have been told that they need to know we are behind them when they do step forward.
Stopping genocide is a choice – and we choose, even if we do nothing.
So, I ask you to do something.This week.
end of the page I skipped
TAKE ACTION
Suggestions:
1 Sign the petition
2 Make calls or email
US officials
President, Secretary of State, Senators Reed, Whitehouse, Reps Kennedy and Langevin
1-800-GENOCIDE
President Obama and VP President Biden
202-456-1111
email: whitehouse.gov
on right hand side is Contact
Encourage them to ensure that the Sudanese elections do not legitimize a genocidal, corrupt government and instead reflect the true will of the Sudanese people.
3 Get involved locally. I am willing to keep up the good fight. But, I need help.
Provide your name, email and or phone number if you will help in some way
Just like our leaders, it helps to have support.
Mohamed Yahya has offered to come and speak to us.So when he does, come and listen.
If you know a school or church group, who would like me to come and speak, ask.
I encourage you to go to our new website: ionsudan.net
reporting news on the ground in Sudan and giving actions you cantake that are up-to-date.
4 Donate - If you want to make a tax-deductible donation to the effort:
Thank you for your letter urging action to end the genocide in Darfur. I share your outrage over the hundreds of thousands of lives lost, and the suffering of millions more. It has gone on for far too long. Bringing relief to the battered region of Darfur is a top priority for my Administration.
So help me hold him to this commitment.So far, his man Gration has not.
I am waiting to see the legacy about genocide and in particular Darfur and Sudan of this administration.
If you want peace, work for justice
إذا كنت تريد السلام ، أعمل من أجل العدالة
Our being silent is used as a tool in the arsenal of Bashir.
But we gather here to say with our presence
Genocide is Not Okay with Us.
Genocide in our time
MUST Be Noticed,
Genocide in our time is
worthy of being reported by our media,
worthy of having the leaders
of free nations use their political will
to end the Darfur genocide
And actually put some meaning to the words
Never Again
Words we love to use
At the languishing end of each genocide that this planet has hosted.
A Moral Nation Needs to Stand Up for Right
Genocide flourishes when there is no accountability.
We have been called to be human in the most basic way on this subject.
I am one person, but I am on a mission. Genocide vs. the human right to live…out … a normal existence -a passion for me.
How long will we allow ourselves, our nations, our will, to be defined by the tolerance, acceptance of genocide?Our leaders have certainly shown that it doesn’t matter, whether Republican or Democrat, the political will needs us to make the difference.
So, let’s be the difference.
Let’s do something that will bring peace to our pillow – knowing we have done our part.
Thank you on behalf of the voiceless Darfuris and all marginalized Sudanese.
We are a symbol of what is right about humans being human.
Let your light shine.
Photos taken by Krista Powell
April 11, 2010
Newport, Rhode Island
Our route:
Touro Park
Pelham Street
Bellevue Aveune
Memorial Boulevard
Americas Cup Avenue
Thames Street
Touro Street
Washington Square
Eisenhower Park
when-humans-humanity-is-indifferent
Soapbox The media has been missing an opportunity and responsibility to report on this story.It seems the US media would rather obsess on Sarah Palin, The Tea Party and Tiger Woods – the “soup de jour”.There is always some story that the US media obsesses over until they latch onto some other story to go on and on about.All while ignoring real stories that direly need them to report them.It is no longer news, it is entertainment.And it isn’t even good “entertainment” value.They should live that up to artists, actors and writers and report stories of importance.
I love my life. I love where I live. And I am passionate about my passions. I love to dance. Necessary to live: music, piano, singing, writing, acting, painting.
I have been fighting for and supporting the arts all my adult life. Since 2004, I have been working with other activists to end the Darfur genocide.
I have traveled to Europe many times since my early twenties. Places I have been: many USA states including Hawaii, Montreal, Canada, Barbados, France, Spain, Luxembourg, England, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Greece and Germany - and have wonderful memories.
My last trip was in May - June 2013 to Spain.
I would like to travel to Europe and Kyoto, Japan.
I love the southwest where I have visited Hopi, Navajo, Zia and San Idlefonso potters.
Life is exciting and I intend to live it full-out to the end.
B.S. and M.M., both in music
................................................
Khartoum, Sudan Stop Genocide Time
................................................
Spain Time
................................................
Melbourne Time
................................................
Hawaii Time
...............................................
...............................................
RAFA NADAL -BRING BACK LONG PANTS - SLEEVELESS TOPS
Double Click on Videos to Enlarge
Darfur - The Abandoned Genocide - a video by Sandra Hammel
Want to help? Call 1~800~GENOCIDE
"May I Suggest" by Susan Werner
Satchita - Playing for Change
Stand By Me ~ Playing for Change
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Genocide is not only a word,
it is crying of the whole human race.
There is nothing redeeming about being silent
when speaking up is the humane thing to do.
The honor and integrity of the human race is at stake.
Darfuri leaders believe continuation of crimes of genocide in #Darfur relates to misdirected US #Sudan Policy http://bit.ly/b63Ym9 @presssec
