darfur
today is the national ‘day of action’ to address the conflict in Darfur, this is a region in Sudan, which is the largest country in Africa. Conflict has been brewing in this region for years, but in 2003 overflowed when rebel groups attacked a government military base. In response the Sudanese government endorsed an Arab military group called the Janjaweed who according to Prendergast “are like a grotesque mixture of the mafia and the Ku Klux Klan. These guys have a racist ideology that sees the Arab population as the supreme population that would like to see the subjugation of non-Arab peoples. They’re criminal racketeers that have been supported very directly by the government to wage the war against the people of Darfur." The means that the Janjaweed use to control and fill terror into the hearts of the people of Darfur are extremely grotesque and brutal, torture, murder, rape, a ‘scorched earth policy’ that involves burning all crops and homes, poisoning of wells and kidnapping are all means that the Janjaweed use to attack their victims. There are 2.5 million displaced people, many of them living in refugee camps in neighboring Chad. All of the violence has lead to a massive famine in the region where 3.5 million people are malnourished and dying of hunger. According to the UN more than 400,000 people have died since 2003, which is more people than Eugene and the surrounding area. And 10 to 15 thousand are dying every month, 500 people every day, of those 80% are children under five. If nothing is done, another two million could perish.
Although these are staggering numbers, there is something you can do to make a difference in their lives. By acting now you can take a stand against genocide.
§ Log on to www.savedarfur.org to learn more information about the genocide, and what you can do
§ Call the White House and your Congresspersons regularly to let them know you care about Darfur
§ White House: (202) 456-1111
§ Congress: (202) 224-3121
§ Write a letter to your White House Liaison
§ Voice your concern to neighbors and friends about this tragedy
§ Offer donations to a humanitarian agency
Wearing a green ribbon or wristband signifies support of the innocent people at risk of death in the Sudanese region of Darfur, and in memory of their dead. Remember you cantake a stand against genocide-you can make the difference
Although these are staggering numbers, there is something you can do to make a difference in their lives. By acting now you can take a stand against genocide.
§ Log on to www.savedarfur.org to learn more information about the genocide, and what you can do
§ Call the White House and your Congresspersons regularly to let them know you care about Darfur
§ White House: (202) 456-1111
§ Congress: (202) 224-3121
§ Write a letter to your White House Liaison
§ Voice your concern to neighbors and friends about this tragedy
§ Offer donations to a humanitarian agency
Wearing a green ribbon or wristband signifies support of the innocent people at risk of death in the Sudanese region of Darfur, and in memory of their dead. Remember you cantake a stand against genocide-you can make the difference