Movements For Darfur Having (Relative) Success
The Christian Science Monitor reports about the relatively successful grass roots movement in America calling on the US government and the UN to do something against the genocide taking place in Darfur, Sudan.
Students are organizing themselves and are trying to make the UN do something against the violence in before mentioned region which has already cost 200 000 people their lives and forced 2.5 million people to abandon their homes and (move towards relative safety).
Some of the impact this movement / these movements have had:
In the past month alone:
• The US appointed a special envoy to Darfur, bowing to pressure after an international day of protests – including a rally of some 30,000 in New York’s Central Park.
• California passed legislation to stop investing in companies supporting the Sudan regime – the fifth state to do so. More than two dozen colleges and universities are also in the process of divesting.
“The grass-roots people have really kept the issue alive and forced the hand of the governments,” says Alex de Waal, a fellow of the Global Equity Initiative at Harvard University, who has been advising the African Union on Darfur. He says the UN Security Council’s decision in March 2005 to refer Darfur war crimes cases to the International Criminal Court and the US move two years ago to label the conflict “genocide” would not have happened without advocates’ pressure.
However, I used the words ‘relatively successful’ purposely: the violence in Darfur has not ended. People continue to die on a massive scale as a result of violence, hunger, sickness, &c. The ‘success’ of the grass movements mainly exists out of the fact that they have made it into an important issue for the Bush administration and of the UN. Yet, no peace force has been sent to Darfur yet: “the Sudanese government has rejected a Security Council resolution passed last month that calls for 22,000 UN troops to replace the underfunded 7,000-member African Union force.”
Matthew Clark explains that although Bush seems to be willing to do something against the horrific things happening in Sudan, the US is dependent on the Sudanese government to fight against terrorism.
The US also has reasons not to push the Khartoum-based government too hard, observers say. Sudan has helped the US penetrate terror networks it might never have been able to on its own. Also, the US does not want to provoke further instability, says Mr. de Waal. Putting UN troops on the ground would “inflame the situation,” he says.
The Bush administration also worries that a peace deal in a separate decades-long conflict – between Sudan’s Muslim and mostly Arab north and its Christian south – would unravel if Khartoum felt cornered.
For now, the African Union has agreed to extend its stay in Sudan, which was set to expire at the end of September, until the end of the year and add 4,000 troops. “The advocacy movement will not give up on this,” says Reeves, who backs UN intervention.
Which makes sense. But I wonder: why isn’t the rest of the free world putting pressure on Khartoum to let UN peacekeepers in? The US should not be forced to take the lead, the UN itself should. And what the heck is the opinion of the European Union. Why isn’t my own country pressuring the UN into doing something / putting pressure on the Sudanese government to let the UN stop the violence?
The US isn’t solely responsible for the (future of) the world, we all are.
STAND is the student organization dedicated to prevent more useless killings in Darfur. Its websites are here and here. There they explain how you can “take action to help end the genocide in western Sudan.” One can – among other things – sign up for STAND’s National Newsletter, donate money, help organize something at your own school / University, andsoforth.
19 Responses to “Movements For Darfur Having (Relative) Success”
Michael, why do you think that anybody gives a [DELETED] about what you write? I still believe you are a paid hack for the rightwing of the republican party. Sorry, but that’s the way it is.
Sarum – not cool. I don’t always agree with Michael’s views, but he generally presents and defends them well. Not to mention, supporting the people of Darfur and condemning Genocide should be fairly universal sentiments.
Sarum: I’m deleting a word you used that we really don’t want on this site (I think a coblogger used it once and I let it go just once). You’ve made your truly ridiculous point about him being a paid writer for the GOP and totally ignored my previous comment to you about him being a student in the Netherlands. We truly don’t need this kind of thing in discussion here. If you disagree on some of his points, simply explain what they are, why you disagree and why you think he is so wrong. I know a lot of sites love the kind of comment you left but we truly will pass on them here. I’m deleting that word and leaving you actual comment intact. We LOVE it when someone explains why they feel a post is not correct and make their case. That’s a separate issue. I’ve also been accused in the same week of working for the GOP and the Democrats and in some recent emails was told that I must be a Democratic operative (someone emailed me that I was referred to as a “Progressive blogger” which will be news to the sites on the left that won’t blogroll TMV and consider me too conservative…except when I write something I like and then they consider me a “true moderate.). You made your point and I do hope we made ours.
Thanks Joe and Morgan: no need for me to go off in a rant I see
Joe, seriously though, did you receive that 50 000 dollars I sent over to you, for letting me use TMV to make the GOP look better?
This post was disappointing and clearly shows why the people of Dafur are serious trouble.
In this post Michael rails on the UN and those who criticize the USA but fails to address the failure of his own country to raise this issue on the world stage. A person has to ask themselve if grass roots groups can be formed in the USA and Canada for the people of Dafur why not the Netherlands?
There’s a saying about people pointing fingers with dirty hands and this could be one of those situations.
Michael,
Have you written to your elected officials asking about this issue?
Corvus I am only responding to your comment because I am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. You say:
“In this post Michael rails on the UN and those who criticize the USA but fails to address the failure of his own country to raise this issue on the world stage.”
Then what the heck is this:
You missed that I suppose?
No I didn’t miss it, it’s percisely why a posed the question.
You still haven’t answered that question Michael
What have YOU done?
Have you complained to your own elected officials over their failure to act on this issue?
I know it’s much easier to just blame other organizations or countries for their lack of action but some might question why these critiques are being launched by someone who’s country is doing ZILCH.
PS
Please don’t do me any favors by responding.
I Believe I’ve made my point.
Corvus, what.an.arrogance. Who the hell do you think you are telling me not to respond because you have “made” your “point”? Getoutahere.
Seriously, you are repeating “I know it’s much easier to just blame other organizations or countries” this and adding this “but some might question why these critiques are being launched by someone who’s country is doing ZILCH.” Than what the heck did I write myself? I criticized my own government.
What a nerve. Seriously. You should start thinking about visiting other blogs, because you sure as heck don’t add anything here.
I spend a lot of time writing posts for you all to read and comment on, on some issues I simply try to make people aware of a serious problem, and all I get in return from you – a person who can only comment with personal attacks – are ridiculous comments that don’t add anything.
Go somewhere, go play with the Kiddies.
Because of your lack of ability to read carefully I will repeat:
go somewhere else. go to other blogs. You are not appreciated here. Leave. Ciao. Goodbye. Auf Wiedersehen.
Like I said it’s easy to blame others rather than face your own inaction on the issue.
Why are you responding to my comments? I told you that your comments do not add anything, that I, in fact, consider you to be a troll. Leave. Go.
I guess you’ll never answer my question because you’d have to admit ..as bad as the UN is they’ve done substantial more than you or your government for the people suffering in Dafur.
If the BOSS of this site wants to ban me then fine ,but don’t think for a minute I follow your orders. As long as I’m here I’ll continue to point out when you comments are self serving and hypocritial.
Grow up! and take responsibility for your own inaction.
Corvus: great, seemingly you are still unable to read.
I always find it hilarious when people like you actually think that I take them seriously. I don’t. In fact, let me share a secret with you: I had a great laugh about your comments. You know why that is? Because you ask questions, but are not awaiting the answer to them. You know why that is as well? Because you do not read what I write. You know why that is? Because you are a troll and you know that I know it, but still you’re trying to piss me off. You know why that is? Because if I wanted to hear a well developed opinion like yours, I would ask my niece of 2.5 years old what she thinks about certain subjects.
Off Topic- Hang in there Mvdp! Don’t let the trolls get you down!
Kim, thank you. A couple of us are noticing that more and more are getting out of the suers…
O and I would like to add: I am MichaelvdG, not vdP LOL -> I noticed you making that mistake a couple of times now haha.
I guess a few lines in a Blog is now considered social activisim. I advised my teenage children to review your remarks and advise me if i was out of line.
They both came to the same conclusion
They thought it was rude and hypocritical for someone to be critical of others when they’ve done nothing themselves. So I referred them to your posting of how folks in your country were voted the most rude in a poll.
Now they understand you’re rude and it’s obviously a part of your nature , so they understandably feel sorry for you.
Sorry= Mdvg! LOL!
Corvus great. I showed people your comments and we all agreed that you are a troll. Go.away.
Kip
I forgive you.