This video will turn your stomach. It's not for the faint of heart, but it's truth, and therefore should be acknowledged.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cI1w-oBoqY

Sembra strano che dopo tutto questo tempo la crisi in Darfur sia trattata alla stregua di una crisi regionale eppure, nonostante la presenza di forze di pace straniere, questa è la triste realtà.   Read More »

The crisis in Darfur, in western Sudan, has led to some of the worst human rights abuses imaginable, including systematic and widespread murder, rape, abduction and forced displacement. Hundreds of thousands of civilians have died as a result of both deliberate and indiscriminate attacks, and more than 2 million civilians have been forced to flee from their homes. The situation on the ground has been plagued with renewed violence, Janjawid attacks, and aerial bombing by the Government of Sudan's military. Currently, the Government of Sudan is resisting the UN Security Council-mandated peacekeeping operation that is desperately needed.

The international society must, at long last, put a stop to these atrocities and bring relief to those who have survived but continue to suffer. Join the growing movement of citizens worldwide who are taking action for Darfur.   Read More »

Psalm 68, a song of David, King of Israel, 11th Century B.C.

1 God is already beginning to arise and His enemies (the dark forces at work behind the LRA and corrupt & cowardly government officials) to scatter.
Let them also who hate Him flee before Him!
2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away, as wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked [dark forces] perish before the presence of God.
3 But let the just [humble Sudanese] be glad; let them be in high spirits and glory before God.....
5 A Father to the fatherless, and a judge and protector of widows, is God in His holy habitation.
6 God places the lonely in families and gives the desolate a home in which to dwell; He leads the prisoners out to prosperity; but the rebellious [LRA and dark forces] dwell in a parched land.
7 O God, when You went forth before Your people [and the lovely people of Sudan], when You marched through the wilderness,
8 the earth trembled, the heavens also poured down rain at the presence of God, and Sinai [Darfur] quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel [Sudan].
9 You, O God, did send a plentiful rain, You did restore and confirm Your heritage when it languished and was weary.
10 Your flock found a dwelling place; You, O God, in Your goodness did provide for the poor and needy.
11 The Lord gives the word of power; the women who bear and publish the news are a great host.
12 Kings of the enemies' [dark forces'] armies, they flee, they flee! She who tarries at home divides the spoil left behind;
13 though you slackers may lie among the sheepfolds in slothful ease, yet for Israel [Sudan] the wings of a dove covered w/ silver are trophies taken from the enemy....
17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands upon thousands. The Lord is among them, as He was in Sinai [Darfur] in the holy place - the sanctuary of Israel [Sudan].
18 You have ascended on high. You have led captivity captive....
19 Blessed be the Lord, Who bears our burdens and carries us day by day, even the God Who is our salvation!
20 God is to us a God of deliverances and salvation, and to God, the Lord, belongs escape from death, setting us free.
21 But God will shatter the head of His enemies [the dark forces at work], those who go on still in their trespasses and guilty ways...
26 Bless God in the congregation...
28 God has commanded your strength, your might...O God, display Your might and strengthen what You have achieved for us! ....
30 ...trample under foot those who lust for tribute money; scatter the peoples [LRA & corruption] who delight in war.
31 Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall hasten to stretch out her hands with offerings of submission to God.
32 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord!
33 Sing praises to Him Who rides upon the heavens, the ancient heavens; He sends forth His voice, His mighty voice.
34 Ascribe power and strength to God; His majesty is over Israel (Sudan, Africa), and His strength and might are in the skies.
35 O God, awe inspiring, profoundly impressive and terrible are You out of Your holy places; the God of Israel [Sudan], He gives strength and fullness of might to His people [humble people of Darfur]. Blessed be God!

(Read Isaiah 57 & 58 to continue this thought.)

So, in school this past week, our chapter of Students Against Genocide group decided to show the senior ethics classes the documentary, " Facing Sudan" which is absolutely terrific, by the way. When I first watched this movie, the pictures alone got to me. I nearly cried after witnessing the terrible malnutrition that is taking place, and the beatings, rapings, and killings. I think that we should try to find a site that has this movie available and stream it to make others aware of the tragedies of genocide going on in Sudan today. Any thoughts on this... please post back or message.

-Will

This innovative project hopes to help bring an end to the atrocities of the genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan. Students are trying to raise awareness by presenting the project to the general public, the government, and the media. This project is completely student driven, run by student volunteers. Please participate, and help spread the word about this project.

"We, Elm Place Middle School students, have created a project called "Reach for Change." The purpose of Reach for Change is to raise awareness about the Darfur genocide. We are asking you to color paper dolls which will be used as a visual aid to show the impact of the loss of so many lives. Our goal is to collect 400,000 paper dolls, representing the estimated 400,000 people who have died in the genocide so far. Please share this project with family, friends, and co-workers so that Darfur can be saved! . . . Also, as of right now, there is no deadline!"

Get your dolls!
Please download and print the doll template from this link:

http://www.nssd112.org/elmplace/teachers/Levi/PaperDolls.pdf

Once you have decorated your dolls, please send them to:

Elm Place Middle School

2031 N. Sheridan Rd.

Highland Park, IL 60035

To contact us with questions or comments:

Phone #: (847) 432-9217

Fax #: (847) 432-9213

E-mail: reachforchange@msn.com

Website: http://reachforchange.com/index.html

Save Darfur Coalition cause on facebook.com is now making a lot of different and calling upon people to raise awarness about the on going Genocide in Darfur. Therefore, if any of you guys have facebook or want to join.. You can add the Save Darfur cause on your page and invite friends to it too..

here is hte link to cause and joining.

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/view_cause/72?recruiter_id=1087068&h=ppn

Hey, everyone here.. Our friend Dean Jacobs the writter and founder of Travel for life is traveling to Sudan as part of his world wide Journey across the globe on a low budget..

While he's in Sudan he'll be studying situation there in Sudan.. Check out his latest adventures..

You can also support him by buying his new Book "Wondrous Journey"

Visit him and sign up for news letter.. or get more info about his Journey across the globe.


Here is the link

http://travel4life.org/

IT'S APPARENT IN TIMES OF GENOCIDE

WE MUST LEAD

OUR LEADERS

NOTE: my main blog is Link
where you can read my other posts and see pictures.

What do these locations have in common?

* Darfur, Sudan
* Rwanda
* Yerevan, Armenia
* Sarajevo, Bosnia
* Germany and surrounding countries
* Phenom Penh, Cambodia
* Nanking, China http://nankingthefilm.com/
* The land the United States of America was created upon

Human inhumanity is a legacy and a stain on all of us. All of these places have this word in common: GENOCIDE. Do you know what genocide is? It was defined December 9, 1948 at the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide… Link

And do you know the date that the United States of America ratified it? Not until November 25, 1988.

A Summary of United Nations Agreements on Human Rights: Link

I was on a nationwide, worldwide really, hour conference call today with approximately 75 others via the Save Darfur Coalition offices in Washington, D.C. I consider myself a human rights activist and Darfur community leader in the state of Rhode Island. It was a privilege today to participate in this call. We listened to the worldwide coordinator of the Olympics Torch Relay for Darfur, Jill Savett, explain the progress and plans of this huge endeavor. There will be a Torch Relay for Darfur going through countries that have had genocides: Starting at the Chad/Darfur border, where the current genocide is, continuing in Rwanda, Armenia, Bosnia, Germany, Cambodia ending in China or in a symbolic location of China (if China won't allow us in China). The Torch Relay will link the Darfur genocide to China, where the 2008 Olympics will take place. The Dream for Darfur Olympic Torch Relay will begin August 8, 2007, one year in advance of the opening ceremonies in Beijing, China of the 2008 Olympics. By the way, Steven Spielberg is producing the opening and closing ceremonies in Beijing, China, land of the Darfur genocide funding.

Link

But also, there will be a symbolic Torch Relay for Darfur in the United States of America. This United States of America Olympic Symbolic Torch Relay will begin September 9, 2007 which is the anniversary date that Secretary of State Colin Powell initially identified and acknowledged the actions as genocide in Darfur. The USA Darfur Relay will culminate on December 10, 2007, Global Day of Action for Darfur, which is also the date of World Human Rights Day.

Link

Link

…………………………………………

SaveDarfur.org has a post called "Unity Statement" that's worth checking out...

The emergency in Sudan's western region of Darfur presents the starkest challenge to the world since the Rwanda genocide in 1994. A government-backed Arab militia known as Janjaweed has been engaging in campaigns to displace and wipe out communities of African tribal farmers (notes…

…………………………………………

Why Focus on China

China has two large oil companies in Sudan, which makes money for the Sudanese government. Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir uses 70 % of the nation's budget for his military who works in coordination with the Janjaweed to commit the genocide on the Darfuri families. This is proven by human rights organizations, independent films, such as Darfur Diaries, as well as the African Union troops who have for years been documenting the stories and actions, in addition to taking pictures of the carnage. China sits on the Security Council of the United Nations and is in a position to put an end to this four and half year genocide, however it has done not only nothing to alleviate or stop the genocide, but it has done the opposite by making supportive statements repeatedly for Omar al-Bashir, the mastermind behind the genocide.

Email the National Olympic Committee to state your position on the Darfur genocide:

Link

...................................................

Please . . . please, Sign the Petition.

Tell the Olympic Committee to Bring the Olympic Dream to the People of Darfur.

Sign the Petition to the International Olympic Committee:

Link


The organizers of the Dream for Darfur's sponsored International Olympic Torch Relay for Darfur met the China Ambassador to the United States last Friday. China proved to be cognizant of this endeavor. We have their attention. It is important that we have their attention. And more.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gabriel Starring, who is and has been on the Chad/Darfur border for two weeks, was also on the conference call today and told us that the people in the "refugee" camps just "want to go home" and that they are in "survivor mode" in these camps. He said:

there is "no rule of law", life is "unpredictable", there is "no security", "humanitarian aid is hit and miss"

that when he was there in 2005, camps were relatively stable and things have deteriorated drastically

the people want to find hope and that they want to connect with us

the people are resilient, beautiful and strong and that he feels at one with them.

Gabriel stated that the people are no different than us and that we would want them to do for us if it was us.

Gabriel told us that videos that they have been taking there are uploaded daily and can be seen at www.stopgenocidenow.org Gabriel's group is going to leave video equipment with the people when they leave, so that the people can feel a connection to the rest of the world, which they so desperately need.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Then, Mia Farrow spoke to us about her trip there. She said that more than the needed water and food, the people's plea is for protection, safety . . . that the UN is hopelessly paralyzed, that China sits on the Security Council and has rendered the UN toothless regarding Darfur, that Beijing pours billions of dollars into the Sudanese government's coffers and in effect are underwriting the first genocide of the 21st century, that China's oil companies' air strips in Sudan are being used for planes bombing the Darfuri families and communities, that 76% of China in a poll stated that they believe that China has the responsibility to step up and do the right thing.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Scott Warren, for Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island, who is the new executive director of www.standnow.org that the United States Olympic Torch Relays goals are to:

1. Influence China regarding their responsibility to use their leverage to end the Sudanese government's perpetrating the genocide on their own people

1. That the 2008 Chinese Olympics are China's "Coming Out Party" and that by shaming

them - they will do the correct thing

b. To gain media coverage of this issue of our complicity and living out our stated values of

human rights is something we also must be pressured to do as a nation

2. Make an impact on the world, the USA populace and the Presidential candidates

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

I plan to organize an Olympic Torch Relay for Darfur in the state of Rhode Island

Once my plans materialize, I will post it on Link

I also will post here about the plans as we go along.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

I CALLED PRESIDENT BUSH TODAY AT

202 - 456 - 1111, as I ask you to do every day.

I was only asked what state that I am from.

Today, my message was:

"I am calling about the Darfur genocide. I believe we are standing idly by and I'd like us to stop that and take action."

When the automated message came on I just waited as if I have a rotary dial phone in order to talk to the person live. This is the President's Comment Line and she says that she will pass on the message to the President. If you and I call every day until this genocide is over, it is a small step for humankind and toward peace. It's really up to us to shine a light on our responsibility to stop genocide. Evidentally, our leaders need us to lead them in times of genocide.
The President's Comment Phone Line is open Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
202 - 456 - 1111

email: president@whitehouse.gov

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Call your US Senators & Representatives at

1 - 800 - GENOCIDE

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Genocide flourishes when there is no accountability.

WE CAN'T SAY THAT WE CARE ABOUT JUSTICE

WHEN WE DO NOTHING TO STOP THE INJUSTICE

We each have a voice.

We each have a presence.

We have been called to be human

in the most basic way

on this subject.



Where there is a will - there is always a way.

And where there is no will - there is no way.



Silence is necessary for genocide to go on.

Our collective silence is a weapon used by the genocidaires.

Silence kills.

And we are responsible for our personal silence.

Let us not be silent.

If Peace never begins, Genocide will never end.

One World.

One humanity.

One Human Race.

One.

• http://www.Savedarfur.org
• http://www.ajws.org/
• www.sudandivestment.org/
• Link
• http://www.standnow.org/

What Legacy Will You Leave?

So far I have been inviting people to attend our meeting to make sure they'll come for sure. I have been inviting people to visit the savedarfur.org so they could get more informations about the campaign and what's exactly going on in Sudan. There are flyers in downtown Somalian and Sudanese stores.. Today I'll go and try to bring more people into campain as possible and passing out more flyers.

Sudan: The Cost of Silence

Photographic Documentary Exhibit by Ryan Spencer Reed


"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to stand by and do nothing."

18th century parliamentarian, Edmund Burke

In the wake of nearly twenty-three years of brutal civil war, the population of Southern Sudan lies shattered and strewn across the Central and East African landscape. More than two and half million people have been killed and another five million have been internally and externally displaced by the conflict. Since January of 2003, a new exodus has flooded the western border region of Darfur in Sudan with displaced persons fleeing the same regime responsible for the Southern tragedy. Despite the fact that the United States has formally labeled this Diaspora genocide, the killing continues unchecked, threatening to shed blood on every grain of sand. In the words of former U.S. President Clinton, "If the horrors of the Holocaust taught us anything, it is the high cost of remaining silent and paralyzed in the face of Genocide."

Notwithstanding pleas from the victims and bystanders around the world for cessation, systematic scorched earth campaigns continue. As a documentary photographer, I have covered displacement in the aftermath of this aggression wielded by the ruthless Sudanese Government. After graduating from Calvin College in May of 2002 I sold my car to pay my way to East Africa to document critical social issues. I am now in the final stages of completing, what has been, four years of documentation - a sustained effort to describe the two genocidal civil wars unfolding in modern-day Sudan.

Images are powerful statements by witnesses who were present as these events unfolded; indeed, they have become the primary sources in the documentation of our recent history. Yet an image becomes powerful only after it is given an audience. The collapse of news magazine networks for the distribution of in-depth reporting of historical events has required those who cover subjects such as the Sudanese condition to move to other venues. As part of a grass-roots level awareness campaign, this evolving narrative and compelling indictment, is now an exhibit and an appeal against the conflicts of Sudan while advocating for the people they are displacing. To date, this project, although in need of final form, travels universities in the United States with many including the work as part of a curriculum and as the impetus for further conversation within the educational disciplines of foreign policy, economics, communications, sociology, history, third world development, and art. To complete the photographic component of this is to mark the beginning of a journey that will include a book and exhibition designed and distributed with a focus on raising the level of debate.

The importance of the exposure of this work cannot be overstated. It sheds light on global issues by capturing them on a human level in a way that simple statistics never can. The testimony must be seen. Ultimately, my goal is to create a document which will give a human face to what was once unimaginable but nowadays shockingly familiar - a genocide unfolding before the eyes of an impotent, dithering world. The cost of doing nothing is one humanity can never afford.

Below is Arch Bishop Tutu's statement on Darfur, Sudan and genocide:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

"God has a plan and we are all part of this plan.
There is hope in all things as we all work together.
As children of God we must stand together against the killing of any brother or sister.
To make changes we must be educated.
As we become educated about Darfur it will become clear from where the money stems that allows this war to continue.
By learning the truth, by using our voice then pairing the two with action, we see results.
When the money stops the greed of money will stop.
When investments in companies supporting the government stop
so does corruption.
Achieve this through divesting and support of divestment.
Contact you government officials.
Make your rights known.

Reach out to help.

Give comfort to those that hurt.
Give shelter to those exposed.
Give nourishment to those that thirst.
Share knowledge with those that look.
Give the tools needed to do for themselves.

Teach by example.

Share what you have to give,
a smile,
hope,
a book.
There is always someone who would be blessed by what you have to give.

And... always give thanks
and always love,
for God is love
and love is God."
words of Arch Bishop Tutu

This is from Arch Bishop Tutu in reference to my [rhonda varsane's] request for statement about Darfur, Sudan and genocide during April, a month of awareness.

###



Money is often times more of a problem then a solution.

contact information:
rhonda varsane
972.948.7498

The Darfur Wall has reached a remarkable milestone: 10 percent of the Wall is lit. This means that in just four months, you have lit 40,000 numbers and raised $40,000 for Darfur.

We have already disbursed $32,000 Doctors Without Borders, Save Darfur Coalition, Save the Children, and the Sudan Aid Fund. Over $8,000 more is on the way. As Eric Reeves recently told me, your contributions are "making a tangible difference" in Darfur.

When we started this project last November, we didn't know whether we'd raise even $1,000. We have been surprised and amazed by your generosity. Thank you.

Dan, Jonah, and Matt Burke
Directors
The Darfur Foundation