Darfur Rally

Hopefully this isn't news to you, but as one of the worst humanitarian crises in our time, the genocide in Darfur needs attention. I went to a rally in Central Park a few days ago. It was part of a world-wide campaign to send UN Peacekeeping troops into Darfur and to draw attention to the conflict. There were over 20,000 people at the rally in NYC alone. We listened to speakers--diplomats, aid workers, Sudanese people,-- and we also texted president Bush and Kofi Annon (how we got their #'s, I don't know...).

There were little sheets passed out by Amnesty International (I'm a member, and it's a really good thing. Ask me if you wanna know anything or go to their webstite.) detailing what we can do. Here is what applies:

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Protect Darfur
Take the Next Step

September 18-23
Telephone, tell a friend, tell the President
-Call the White House each day this week- it takes less than 5 minutes!
Phone scripts will be available online at: http://darfur.amnestyusa.org.

Sept. 25-29
Lobby Congress
- Join a local delegation to educate your Members of Congress about the situation in the Darfur region.
-Find a delegation in your area at: http://darfur.amnestyusa.org/search.

Today: Join Amnesty Int'l www.amnestyusa.org/join.
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Sudan's western boarder has now been plagued by political and ethnic violence for three years after rebels took up arms against the government. Over 200,000 people have been killed. And the more than two million people are displaced by conflict. This is not a war--it has been declared genocide.

I don't claim to be an expert on the Darfur crisis, but I do know that it is just that. A crisis. It feels daunting to me that there are such atrocities being committed in the world, and I feel virtually helpless to stop them. Even so, with this as with other world issues, I think it is so important to DO something, however small. Apathy and inaction are responsible for more than we care to address and admit (get it?). If you care at all, do something. Educate yourself. Educate others. Take some concrete steps.

Here are some photos I took at the rally:





Info on Darfur and the rallies all over the world on Sept 17:

http://view.nowpublic.com/?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.news.com.au%2Fdailytelegraph%2
Fstory%2F0%2C22049%2C20430642-5006003%2C00.html

Photos and Essay:

http://www.ushmm.org/conscience/alert/darfur/steidle/?gclid=CJCg9bPszIcCFQ8BOAody1
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