Hello People:
It's been a few weeks. I apologize for that. Blogging is not something I am used to and I'm growing into it while managing the reality of my life which involves seeking employment. Ugh.
With this said, I have made a list of "things" that I want to say in 2011 via video messages, but before that can happen, I want to close 2010 with some words for the people of Darfur and Sudan, specifically Southern Sudan.
It is with such a heavy heart that I say that I don't have much hope that the "international community" will take significant enough actions between now and January 9th - when Southern Sudan is scheduled to have an election to become independent from the North.
Why does this matter?
Well, I could write a lot. But a good source for information on who did and said what and when in Sudan is www.enoughproject.org
Though the news is about Southern Sudan right now, and not Darfur, the region in Northern Sudan where hundreds of thousands of people where driven from their homes, murdered, and raped over the last few years in what was called a "genocide" by the "international community for a while." So, basically, if the country splits and a civil war or worse starts up, that is not going to help stabilize the future for Darfuris which is how I got involved in the country of Sudan in the first place.
So, this New Year's Eve blog entry has me remembering that the world called the situation in Darfur a "genocide" (actually President George W. Bush was the first to use the word). I think that was in 2005/06?
And... "Genocide" is a "BIG" word for me.
If I am going to use that word, let me tell you something my friends, you are going to see a whole lotta action.
And, I have taken lots of action since 2006. I had never been to a rally, written a government official. Nothing aside from a few Salvation Army and save the planet donations. So, to make my point about what Darfur made me do - I somehow got invited and ended up at a human rights panel discussion organized by the United Nations and I got 20 seconds with a man who turned out to be a key peace negotiator for Darfur at the U.N. The thing is, I had no idea who he was, but that he was involved with human rights at the U.N. and I was holding my Darfur information kits, and so I talked about Darfur and I told him they needed to let George Clooney be George Clooney and that Ann Curry deserved an exclusive. He knew who George was, not Ann Curry. I explained, she's the only Western journalist to have interviewed the President al-Bashir for two hours, and she waited 2.5 years to get a permit to enter the country.
See? What am I pitching? ... it just came pouring out of me. Then he told me he was the lead negotiator, and I wonder how he's doing right now.
Anyhow, I give this example (and there were more -- including a SuperBowl ad idea... not kidding) because Darfur has had me dig deep, and then deeper, think outside of the box, throw the box away, and then give up for a while, and then start it all over again with the digging and the unboxing ...
So - here's my big lesson from Darfur, ready????
The genocide is Darfur was a violent form of extreme racism in my opinion. Where black Muslim tribes were targeted and identified by the color of their skin.
So, my lesson is in realizing that I have taken action to bring justice to victims of racism far, far, away - but what have I done for victims of racism in my community, in my country? Not much, if anything. And there are varying degrees of "racism" - suffering can occur in ways that do not mean that someone is holding a machete to your head or burning down your house.
Anyhow - So, going forward, as I organize Actionshops that are tied to a "them" or "over there" issue, I will find a way to tie the same issue back to "us" to "over here." It will be double the work. But,the work needs to get done :)
If you want more information or to join large advocacy groups for Sudan check out www.sudannow.org or www.savedarfur.org and if you would like to connect to the organization that actor and U.N. ambassador for peace, George Clooney started with others, go to www.notonourwatchproject.org to sponsor a woman in Southern Sudan (I think they are still active in this region) www.womenforwomeninternational.org.
And to follow via satellite the (sadly anticipated) violence on the border between Northern and Southern Sudan, connect to the Satelitte Sentinel Project at www.satsentinel.org.
So. Voila. I say a prayer for Sudan, and actually the Ivory Coast, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...oh al right -- all of Africa! :)
Me and We is all We'll Ever Be.
See you in 2011!
Veronique
