One Global Conscience: We Can Do More

This week I have once again explored the blogosphere in search of others who are interested in bringing a better tomorrow to many of the third world countries in Africa. I chose a great day for this type of hunting because today was specifically set aside for global recognition of the crisis in Darfur. While it is unfortunate that we should even have to have such a day, it is hopefully a sign that there are great changes to be made in the future. The world is finally going to recognize that they have yet again been a witness to another genocide. As an international community and as human beings, we have let this go on too long; we have let too many people be victims. In light of today, I have done an exorbitant amount of reading and have learned even more about the devastation from first hand accounts. I have also left comments on two blogs that both discussed the global crisis that is ensuing in Sudan. The first blog where I responded, entitled The Unapologetic Mexican, looked into different tactics we can take as individuals to make a difference in this war; his post was entitled "In Solidarity: Global Day for Darfur." This blogger responded very insightfully to me almost instantaneously which was extremely rewarding to see both as a student and as a human rights activist. On the second blog, Dallas South, I found another globally conscious-minded individual who has taken a stance very similar to my own; in today's post entitled "Darfur Day of Action," there is in-depth discussion of the sexual plight faced by the women and children while the politicians have "washed their hands" of the matter as this blogger says. The comments I have written in can be found on their respective pages and are also provided below.

Comment 1:
First of all, I would like to thank you for being a conscious, informed person because by just writing about the genocide in Darfur, you are helping to educate so many people around the world who have let this crisis go unseen. As an international relations student, I have read so many articles and studied so many books about what is going on in Sudan, yet I have also increasingly come in contact with dozens of people who are wholly unaware of the magnitude of the situation. Outside of Darfur, few people are willing to recognize that such brutalities are still going on; many believed after Hitler massacred six million Jews that the world would never have to endure and be a witness to another genocide. However, as you believe too, we have let this go on far too long. I have written a few papers about how to stop this atrocity, but it never occurred to me to boycott the Coca-Cola Company in light of the Olympics in Beijing this summer. While this may be effective for hurting their revenues short-term, after the games are over in August the company's name will no longer be as synonymous with China, let alone the Chinese policy towards Sudan. Thus I have to wonder if you have other ideas that are just as direct in addressing Chinese policy but that also incorporate a longer time dimension. You briefly mentioned letter writing in petition to the Internal Olympics Committee, do you legitimately think this is something that will make a difference in changing Chinese policy? I have always been of the mindset that there are actions more powerful than stacks of papers and emails. With all this being said, it is heart rendering that any country, especially a permanent member of the UN Security Council, would help a government that is executing a genocide. However, perhaps the silver lining to this cloud is that in light of the Olympics this summer, massive global attention is now being directed towards Darfur, forcing China among others to reconcile with their current policies.

Comment 2:
I acknowledge just as you do, that this is not an easy topic to "broach," but I am so glad to see that there are other Americans just like me who are as concerned for the Sudanese people who have been victims of an alleged "tribal clash." You are right in saying that this is more than just a clash because the death toll does not even begin to describe the atrocities these individuals have been through. You would have thought that after Rwanda when President Clinton disregarded the genocide that the American public and our government would not have flagrantly ignored what has been happening in Sudan. However here we are again confronted with another horrific war that we have watched idly for too long. While I am thankful that Tibet may come out of this summer in a better situation than when this year began, I also hope like you that international attention is turned towards Darfur and beginning to see a difference there. You could not have been more right in saying that countries pointing their fingers at China is "akin to washing their hands of the matter." I believe that in the United States we have so many resources, including a massive population and much esteemed international clout, that we do not utilize to our full potential. While you suggested writing letters to presidential candidates, have you ever looked in to organizing a group to physically travel to Darfur as medical aid or to help build semi-permanent shelters for those living in the camps for internally displaced people? You sound extremely well versed in terms of what is actually going on, between the political fiasco and the brutal rapings of women, so have you considered actually trying to get in direct contact with your congressmen? Personally I think the more powerful people who have this shoved in their face, the more likely we are to see a drastic change in the United States' actions in Darfur. Perhaps mobilizing voters to include human rights issues in their eyes of what makes a good leader would help to bring more international activists into power. While these are just my own suggestions on effectively making sure we see a difference in Darfur, I am extremely grateful to you for helping raise awareness to a topic that has gone ignored for too long.