Darfur (My Afterschool Special)
Things are really getting out of hand in Darfur. For those who don't know anything about the situation in Darfur here is some background.
Darfur is located in the Sudan which borders the Central African Republic, Libya, and Chad. It has some forested areas in the south and in the north it is more desert like. A civil war broke out in 2003 between Arab people and the non-Arab people and has resulted in continued conflict that has lead to the deaths of thousands. The Janjaweed, an Sudanese government-backed Arab militia, have been accused of mass murder and repeated rapes. Human rights organizations are trying to do something about it but nothing seems to be happening. Things are getting worse and more and more people are being raped, murdered, and forced out of their homes into neighboring regions. Genocide is taking place and it seems no one wants to help these people. Genocide is one of the worst crimes ever committed.
This has been seen in Africa time and again. In Somalia years ago something similar happened and to this day is still happening. You don't hear about it much anymore and things might have quieted a little but its boiling under the surface. Throughout history civil wars have been taking place and until people figure out war isn't the answer, they will continue to take place. Something should be done to help these people but what can be done? I don't think given the current situation involving the U.S. that it would be a good idea to send troops in. That could be a major mistake. Maybe the U.N. should step in and do something about it. I think that would be a good idea but I have little faith in the U.N. I think that sometimes they have the right idea but there are times, now being one of them, when I feel that they don't want to do anything unless it does something for them. So meanwhile, thousands are being killed and raped and displaced.
There has to be something that we can do to help those people. I don't want to see what happened in Somalia and Rwanda happen again although I fear it has and things aren't going to get any better. We can't let it happen. They are people too and if we turn our backs on them they won't have a chance.
So what to do:
1. Learn about whats going on. Education is the key.
2. Contact human rights groups like Amnesty International and get involved
3. Get the word out. Tell people about what is going on and what they can do to help
4. Write the government and tell them why you feel this needs their attention.
Yeah I know this sounded like a little Afterschool Special. That wasn't my intention at all but thats how it turned out. I was just hoping that if I put it out there people would find some interest in the subject and learn more about it. Its something that should not be happening in the world today. We should be acting more civily to each other instead of fighting. I thought that maybe after thousands of years of war that we would finally learn that violence is never the answer. Its a temporary solution that never lasts. Just look through a history books at how many wars have been fought and for what reason and how long the winning side lasted. Its alarming but humans still haven't learned their lessons.
Darfur is located in the Sudan which borders the Central African Republic, Libya, and Chad. It has some forested areas in the south and in the north it is more desert like. A civil war broke out in 2003 between Arab people and the non-Arab people and has resulted in continued conflict that has lead to the deaths of thousands. The Janjaweed, an Sudanese government-backed Arab militia, have been accused of mass murder and repeated rapes. Human rights organizations are trying to do something about it but nothing seems to be happening. Things are getting worse and more and more people are being raped, murdered, and forced out of their homes into neighboring regions. Genocide is taking place and it seems no one wants to help these people. Genocide is one of the worst crimes ever committed.
This has been seen in Africa time and again. In Somalia years ago something similar happened and to this day is still happening. You don't hear about it much anymore and things might have quieted a little but its boiling under the surface. Throughout history civil wars have been taking place and until people figure out war isn't the answer, they will continue to take place. Something should be done to help these people but what can be done? I don't think given the current situation involving the U.S. that it would be a good idea to send troops in. That could be a major mistake. Maybe the U.N. should step in and do something about it. I think that would be a good idea but I have little faith in the U.N. I think that sometimes they have the right idea but there are times, now being one of them, when I feel that they don't want to do anything unless it does something for them. So meanwhile, thousands are being killed and raped and displaced.
There has to be something that we can do to help those people. I don't want to see what happened in Somalia and Rwanda happen again although I fear it has and things aren't going to get any better. We can't let it happen. They are people too and if we turn our backs on them they won't have a chance.
So what to do:
1. Learn about whats going on. Education is the key.
2. Contact human rights groups like Amnesty International and get involved
3. Get the word out. Tell people about what is going on and what they can do to help
4. Write the government and tell them why you feel this needs their attention.
Yeah I know this sounded like a little Afterschool Special. That wasn't my intention at all but thats how it turned out. I was just hoping that if I put it out there people would find some interest in the subject and learn more about it. Its something that should not be happening in the world today. We should be acting more civily to each other instead of fighting. I thought that maybe after thousands of years of war that we would finally learn that violence is never the answer. Its a temporary solution that never lasts. Just look through a history books at how many wars have been fought and for what reason and how long the winning side lasted. Its alarming but humans still haven't learned their lessons.
posted by Kyleen at 4:52 AM
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