I found out about today’s call to action from the Electronic Village and I just had to respond.
Tens of thousands of people have been murdered in Darfur, women are repeatedly and brutally raped by both the Janjaweed, an Arab militia and also the Sudanese military, millions of people are displaced within Sudan and a quarter of a million have fled the bloodshed to Chad. Nearly 100 children a day are dieing from this hate filled violence. This genocide has been going on since 2003 in an area that has seen famine, desertification due to global warming and internal conflicts. The first question one asks is Why? Why is humanity being slaughtered? Once again the quest for the Earth’s blood is causing human blood to flow. Oil, yes oil and again oil.
Why should you care about what is happening in Darfur? It is so simple. You are human. Humanity has a failsafe mechanism called empathy. Empathy is recognizing the common thread that holds all humanity together. Empathy makes one stop and think about the consequences of their actions on others. I have heard many soldiers who have declared they are against war only after they have killed. When they saw the destruction and death laid by their hands they are overwhelmed with empathy for their fellow humans, only then does a shift occur. I am continually disheartened to see that the human trait of empathy has become lessened. When we see the news of a child abused or murdered the event hits us hard since we too have children, and we all have been vulnerable, innocent children, we can easily recognize that common thread. The people of Darfur share that common thread as well. If you expect others to honor your human value you must stand up against those who deny that value to others.
A plethoria of information on Darfur can be found here.
Contact your Representative, your senator, and the dishonorable President and remind them that Americans are against genocide, that real freedom is inseparately bound to respecting human value and that you will hold them accountable for the murder of our brothers and sisters worldwide.
Before composing your letter or picking up the phone watch these videos first.
Sudan and others deny the genocide in Darfur. See the footage for yourself.
The ongoing Darfur Genocide is no accident, no local tribal conflict. The genocide is the brutal plan of three men in the Sudanese national Government — President Bashir, Vice-President Taha, Security Chief Gosh. Now they are spreading their system of terror to other African countries, including Chad and the Central African Republic . Yet our governments continue to cut deals with them - deals they repeatedly break. It is time for the US and European governments to stop appeasing genocide. We call on our governments to fully support the International Criminal Court to indict the perpetrators of genocide, and to help ensure their arrest. It is time for justice, because only justice can bring peace.
For Bashir, Taha and Gosh, it is time for handcuffs, not handshakes. From Darfur: A Genocide We can Prevent
Here are some more talking points from Oprah.com
Since China has used it’s veto power in the United Nations against international peacekeepers assisting Sudan in ending the murder, contact the corporate sponsors of the Olympics to be held in Bejing.
Sign this petition demanding the money launders to stop investing in Darfur’s genocide.
Sign this petition “Children in Darfur Need a Future” Every day 70 children under the age of 5 die DAILY in Darfur.
Sign the Global Petition to End the Violence in Darfur from Amnesty International.
What is the blogosphere saying on Darfur:
Heat from Electronic Village
Day of Action for Darfur from BlackPerspective.net
Darfur Day of Action, Will You Blog from BlackPerspective.net
A Day for Darfur from Eddie G. Griffin
You can spread the word further by sharing this article on digg and stumbleupon.
on Oct 24th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
Danielle, thank you for sharing this information with us. You provide a wealth of information for us to use in learning more.
I love the new look of your Modern Musings blog!
peace, Villager
on Oct 24th, 2007 at 5:40 pm
Wayne,
I am merely building upon your efforts on this one.
Thanks for the compliment on the new spot!
Ebony and Ivory working to inject the world with empathy.
Much Love!
on Oct 24th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
thank you for this information. Hope that this tragedy will be stop. A very well information you got.
on Oct 24th, 2007 at 6:57 pm
Thank you Rhyan for your words of encouragement.
I urge you to take the actions noted in this piece.
Together, we stand stronger to put an end to the genocide occurring in Darfur.
I look forward to your future participation.
Wishing you well.
on Oct 25th, 2007 at 10:53 am
Hi, Danielle!
Best wishes to you and Modern Musings new home. It’s looking great!
mahud
on Oct 25th, 2007 at 11:30 am
Thank you for writing about Darfur. It seems these people are forgotten so often and what is happening to them is just unimaginable. This is one of the reasons I want to launch a day to write about others on this earth. They need us.
on Oct 25th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
Mahud,
Thank you so much!
I haven’t forgotten the religious meme that you tagged me for a while back, just waiting for the dust to settle.
Much Love!
on Oct 25th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
Joy,
Essentially we all need each other.
The people of Darfur and many other places worldwide need our compassion to recognize their existence and dignity.
And the more fortunate of the world need to be reminded that there are others that need us to care, it seems as though the more fortunate one is the easier it is to lose the sense of empathy.
We must make room every day to acknowledge suffering with action.
So good to see everybody making their way over.
Much Love!
on Oct 25th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Good post. Thanks for participating.
on Oct 25th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
Hi Yobachi!
Thank you for your words of encouragement. As I said to Wayne, I am merely trying to build upon your own efforts. The influence of the blogosphere is increasing especially in terms of the pertinent social issues of the day. I am so glad to see the fruits of your hard work bloom into engaged participation toward realizing our full potential both individually and collectively.
Wishing you and yours health, balance and joy.
on Oct 25th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
Danielle, thanks for reminding us that “it seems as though the more fortunate one is the easier it is to lose the sense of empathy.” That is so true. I took the Darfur action link you provided in your latest Darfur Update post. The new look in your new blog is awesome, and you’ve got great picture of Dennis Kucinich below!
on Oct 25th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
Hiya Marde!!!
I am so glad you have answered the call to action, I try not to be pushy ;}.
Thanks so much for the words of encouragement.
The picture of Kucinich was during his term as mayor when he was the same age as I am today. The light in his eyes remains the same as well as his principles.
As always my dear friend from Maine!!!!
on Oct 30th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
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