Well it's the week before presentations and I feel like I should inform you all of my progress with the distributing of the bracelets and my presentation.
So far I have raised $190 by selling the bracelets to teachers, students, friends, and family. I was running low on wristbands to make, so I ordered another pack of 25 bands and I received them on Tuesday for the third of the school's staff that I am presenting to. I expect to have all of them ready for the arts festival and presentation on Wednesday.
For the actual presentation, I will give background on the genocide in Darfur, the death toll, and ways of giving. That will be followed up by a power point presentation, which will show some of the many different people who bought my bracelets and I will also talk about my reasons for creating the fund, and how I plan on continuing to sell bracelets and give money to support the people of Darfur. At the end of the presentation I will talk about the fund I am giving the money to, and how I believe they are reliable.
If anyone has any suggestions for my presentation, feel free to leave a comment.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Perpetrators, Bystanders, Victims, and Heroes
Today in class, we discussed "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas," and how the people from the short story are either perpetrators, bystanders, or heroes. We came to the conclusion that all of the people, other than the one child, is a perpetrator, in that, they all benefit from the child's suffering.
I was wondering how I could relate the three positions to Darfur. Obviously the militia known as the Janjaweed and the Sudanese government would be the people perpetrating the genocide, and the people native Darfur, or the non-Baggara people would be the victims of hundreds of thousands of senseless murders. But my question is, what is our societies role in this conflict? Are we perpetrators by letting the genocide continue? Are we the bystanders? Or can we become heroes?
I would like to think that we are not the perpetrators. But I feel that there are nations, like China and Russia, that are supporting Sudan by supporting there economy by buying natural resources that are available in Sudan, and in effect supporting the genocide.
I do believe, that this nation's current position is being the bystander. A bystander is defined as being someone that is present at an event but does not take part. Since we are neither adding nor subtracting from the situation we can be labeled as bystanders.
Right now, I think no specific nation is a hero, other than Chad and the United Nations. For one to be a hero in this situation , one can give money to give aid and support, raise awareness, and even right letters to the president.
Feel free to answer any of the posed questions from before.
I was wondering how I could relate the three positions to Darfur. Obviously the militia known as the Janjaweed and the Sudanese government would be the people perpetrating the genocide, and the people native Darfur, or the non-Baggara people would be the victims of hundreds of thousands of senseless murders. But my question is, what is our societies role in this conflict? Are we perpetrators by letting the genocide continue? Are we the bystanders? Or can we become heroes?
I would like to think that we are not the perpetrators. But I feel that there are nations, like China and Russia, that are supporting Sudan by supporting there economy by buying natural resources that are available in Sudan, and in effect supporting the genocide.
I do believe, that this nation's current position is being the bystander. A bystander is defined as being someone that is present at an event but does not take part. Since we are neither adding nor subtracting from the situation we can be labeled as bystanders.
Right now, I think no specific nation is a hero, other than Chad and the United Nations. For one to be a hero in this situation , one can give money to give aid and support, raise awareness, and even right letters to the president.
Feel free to answer any of the posed questions from before.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Viewers Experience Description
It was nine o'clock in the morning on a Saturday, and Alan was going to Starbucks, on 67th and Columbus Avenue, for his morning cup of Joe. While he was crossing Broadway and 67th street he noticed that in front of the Gap there was a small stand with a board saying "Save Two Million," and by its side was a teenager looking to be about fourteen or fifteen, with what looked to be leather wristbands. Alan, being the curious fellow he wondered, Save two million what? Dollars? Kittens? When Alan had the green light, he crossed still questioning himself about the subject of the board. At first, he thought that it was some sort of cheap way of making money, and walked passed the teenager.
He walked down the block to the packed Starbucks. While waiting in line he noticed that the woman in front of him was wearing what looked to be like what the teenager around the corner was selling. Alan tapped the woman in front of him and asked,
"Excuse me, may I ask you where you got that leather bracelet from?"
"Sure, I bought it from the teenager in front of the Gap, it's for an amazing cause and it really helps people. You should talk to him about it."
"Thanks, I'll do that," Alan said.
Once he got his tall sized cup of iced caramel macchiato he walked back around the corner and saw that the teenager was still there. Alan walked up to him and said "Someone told me a little bit about what your selling and recommended that I should talk to you." The teen smiled and introduced himself as Chris with a firm handshake.
"Well Chris, first things first, what does the 'Save Two Million,' mean?"
"It is a request to save the lives of the remaining two million Darfurian people."
"Darfur? I apologize if I am not completely understanding what this is for."
Chris went on to describe the senseless murders that are taking place and explain what is happening in the region in Sudan known as Darfur. Alan, with his newfound knowledge, was shocked and disgusted that a genocide could occur without any government response. Chris mentioned that his goals were to raise awareness and raise money to give to a fund that gives aid and support to the innocent people of Darfur.
"I have a couple questions. For one, how did you make them?"
"I hand made each one."
"Well Chris, what you're doing is very admirable and I applaud it."
"Thank you, what did you say your name was?"
"Alan."
"Well Thank you Alan, I appreciate it."
"So how much?"
"Five dollars."
"I don't think I could have spent five dollars any better."
"Have a good one."
"You too, Chris."
He walked down the block to the packed Starbucks. While waiting in line he noticed that the woman in front of him was wearing what looked to be like what the teenager around the corner was selling. Alan tapped the woman in front of him and asked,
"Excuse me, may I ask you where you got that leather bracelet from?"
"Sure, I bought it from the teenager in front of the Gap, it's for an amazing cause and it really helps people. You should talk to him about it."
"Thanks, I'll do that," Alan said.
Once he got his tall sized cup of iced caramel macchiato he walked back around the corner and saw that the teenager was still there. Alan walked up to him and said "Someone told me a little bit about what your selling and recommended that I should talk to you." The teen smiled and introduced himself as Chris with a firm handshake.
"Well Chris, first things first, what does the 'Save Two Million,' mean?"
"It is a request to save the lives of the remaining two million Darfurian people."
"Darfur? I apologize if I am not completely understanding what this is for."
Chris went on to describe the senseless murders that are taking place and explain what is happening in the region in Sudan known as Darfur. Alan, with his newfound knowledge, was shocked and disgusted that a genocide could occur without any government response. Chris mentioned that his goals were to raise awareness and raise money to give to a fund that gives aid and support to the innocent people of Darfur.
"I have a couple questions. For one, how did you make them?"
"I hand made each one."
"Well Chris, what you're doing is very admirable and I applaud it."
"Thank you, what did you say your name was?"
"Alan."
"Well Thank you Alan, I appreciate it."
"So how much?"
"Five dollars."
"I don't think I could have spent five dollars any better."
"Have a good one."
"You too, Chris."
Friday, April 27, 2007
Update on Darfur Statistics
Recently, I found out that the death toll in Darfur has grown dramatically. It has reached 400,000 as of April 20th . I was shocked to see this newly discovered information. Analysis of the combined CIJ and WHO surveys reveals that about 15,000 deaths are occurring per month, or about 500 deaths per day.
On Wednesday, I watched Charlie Rose, who had a French philosopher on who recently visited Darfur with a rebel group.He said that what he saw was so far beyond what he imagined, in that the destruction and terror brought on these people was terrifying. He visited destroyed villages where he saw homes destroyed, crops burned, and belongings of natives shattered and strewn along the ground. He said that he could only describe it as "terre rasée" or "terre brulée" which, in english, means scorched or burned earth. It changed his perpective on humankind, in that, he asked himself, "How could one human being do such destruction to another?"
How do you feel about what this philosopher has asked?
On Wednesday, I watched Charlie Rose, who had a French philosopher on who recently visited Darfur with a rebel group.He said that what he saw was so far beyond what he imagined, in that the destruction and terror brought on these people was terrifying. He visited destroyed villages where he saw homes destroyed, crops burned, and belongings of natives shattered and strewn along the ground. He said that he could only describe it as "terre rasée" or "terre brulée" which, in english, means scorched or burned earth. It changed his perpective on humankind, in that, he asked himself, "How could one human being do such destruction to another?"
How do you feel about what this philosopher has asked?
Art Piece
For my art piece of the course, I plan on raising awareness by making, selling and distributing, leather bracelets. The bracelets will have the phrase, "Save Two Million," which represents the current amount of surviving Darfurian people. Each bracelet will be sold for five U.S. Dollars. The money I raise by selling each bracelet will be given to a fund supporting the people of Darfur. I have yet to find an exact fund, so if anyone has any suggestions, it would be greatly appreciated, thank you.
Identity of a Darfurian

This is a nine-year-old boy, native to Darfur. He has bruises and cuts from a beating that he received while trying to escape the Janjaweed. His parents were murdered by the Janjaweed, leaving him and his three young sisters to care for themselves alone. He must watch over, feed, and care for his baby sister, whom he holds close to her. He is thrown into an insomniatic state, fueled by fear. And everynight he prays to God, that he and his sister will survive the night. Through the morning he forages for water, being forced to walk miles to provide his siblings with what he can find. He must give his sisters all the food that he scavenged from an abandoned refugee camp, leaving him starving. His cuts become infected and he is in an immense amount of pain, as he slowly dies. He must live in fear, that the Janjaweed will find him and kill him.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Identity of the People of Darfur
The people of Darfur may view themselves as innocent, helpless, defeated, and victimized. Whereas, the Janjaweed people and the government of Sudan, may view them as inferior, subhuman, guilty, and going against God. These two perspectives show that two different groups' perspectives can vary, from being similar to be completely opposite.
How do you view these two groups?
How do you view these two groups?
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
An Outside View
The Government of Sudan had closed Darfur to investigators and aid workers at the beginning of 2003. But at the beginning of 2004 London-based filmaker Philip Cox entered the violence-torn region by crossing the Chad border. The UN estimates the amount of conflict-affected persons in Darfur and eastern Chad now approach 4 million (3.6 million in Darfur; over 350,000 in eastern Chad). This documentary expresses what is happening to the people of Darfur.
Denial of Genocide
Sudan and its allies -- Syria, Saudi Arabia, China -- deny the atrocities in Darfur, and attack the members of the mission on Darfur as headed by Jody Williams. UN Watch confronts Sudan and its allies.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Darfur Proposal
I am choosing the Darfur conflict, specifically the world’s and U.N.’s response to the Darfur Conflict. I have chosen this topic because I have a great interest on why the people of Darfur are being killed and why the world has not done anything to prevent the genocide from continuing. I would also like to raise awareness of the genocide to people in my community and abroad. I believe that people should become mindful about the conflict and spread awareness, and try to put a halt to the genocide.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Raising Awareness
There are so many ways to raise awareness about Darfur. It may not be the traditional methods of communication, that get this message across. There are new and modern techniques which can reach out to a wide and diverse audience. Celebrities, advertisements, billboards, newspaper and magazine articles, charities, blogs, and even games are being used to raise insight on the conflict in Darfur.
The most interesting method of raising awareness that I have seen is the “Darfur is Dying” game. It is not a game for fun or for amusement, which is confused me at first, it actually allows you to “experience” what is happening to the people of Darfur. For every one of your actions in the game there is a consequence. In those consequences it describes what will happen to your people. The amount of people that have become mindful of the genocide because of the game is phenomenal.
In the beginning of the year I wasn’t exactly sure on what was happening in Darfur. As I looked and researched, I saw many different sources of information. I now have a better understanding of the conflict.
The question is, are all the techniques and methods enough to educate the world on the inhumanity in Darfur?
The most interesting method of raising awareness that I have seen is the “Darfur is Dying” game. It is not a game for fun or for amusement, which is confused me at first, it actually allows you to “experience” what is happening to the people of Darfur. For every one of your actions in the game there is a consequence. In those consequences it describes what will happen to your people. The amount of people that have become mindful of the genocide because of the game is phenomenal.
In the beginning of the year I wasn’t exactly sure on what was happening in Darfur. As I looked and researched, I saw many different sources of information. I now have a better understanding of the conflict.
The question is, are all the techniques and methods enough to educate the world on the inhumanity in Darfur?
World Response
How have the leading powers of the world contributed to the devastation of Darfur? Although the United Nations recognizes the war in Darfur to be the “world’s worst humanitarian crisis.” The resources of supplies and people are depleted. The World Food Program has no where near the resources to handle this problem. It has cut in half the quantity of food and supplies it is able to deliver to Darfur. There are many nations who have pledged money and resources, but they have not fulfilled these promises. The United States is currently carrying 85% of the food being supplied to Darfur.
While China has encouraged the leaders of Sudan to welcome a United Nations peacekeeping force into Darfur, they have not used any meaningful force to effect any change in the atrocities taking place in Sudan. China is a trading partner with Sudan for oil. This influence of oil explains, perhaps why Russia has not acted in Darfur’s defense. Russia has been a partner with Sudan, buying oil and has also sold weapons to the government of Sudan.
These two very powerful nations have chosen to turn a blind-eye toward the plight of the people of Darfur. Is it again the United States who has the responsibility on the world stage to stop this injustice?
To read more on this read January’s issue of New York Times’ Upfront Magazine.
While China has encouraged the leaders of Sudan to welcome a United Nations peacekeeping force into Darfur, they have not used any meaningful force to effect any change in the atrocities taking place in Sudan. China is a trading partner with Sudan for oil. This influence of oil explains, perhaps why Russia has not acted in Darfur’s defense. Russia has been a partner with Sudan, buying oil and has also sold weapons to the government of Sudan.
These two very powerful nations have chosen to turn a blind-eye toward the plight of the people of Darfur. Is it again the United States who has the responsibility on the world stage to stop this injustice?
To read more on this read January’s issue of New York Times’ Upfront Magazine.
U.N. Debate
The conflict in Darfur effects more than just Sudan. Leaders from Chad are crying out to the United Nations for a peacekeeping force to be placed along Chad's border with Sudan. They want to fortify their borders, save the refugees, put a halt to the violence that is overflowing into their nation from Sudan.
Although Chad is sympathetic to the Darfur rebellion, the leaders of Chad are concerned about the spreading famine and violence that is now affecting their own region. While Chad supports the people of Darfur against the Janjaweed and Sudanese government they are nevertheless concerned about their own people. There is scarce food, water, and shelter existing in Chad, and the strain on these resources make life difficult for all.
Chad’s President Idriss Deby supports the concept of a United Nations peacekeeping presence on his border with Sudan. He is nevertheless, constantly worried about inflaming his Sudanese neighbors. He feels that it is imperative that any United Nations mission be civilian, not a military action.
The United Nations is considering this action, with an estimated commitment of up to 10,000 soldiers.
For more on this topic visit this article at http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20070225-1047-chad-darfurspillover.html
Although Chad is sympathetic to the Darfur rebellion, the leaders of Chad are concerned about the spreading famine and violence that is now affecting their own region. While Chad supports the people of Darfur against the Janjaweed and Sudanese government they are nevertheless concerned about their own people. There is scarce food, water, and shelter existing in Chad, and the strain on these resources make life difficult for all.
Chad’s President Idriss Deby supports the concept of a United Nations peacekeeping presence on his border with Sudan. He is nevertheless, constantly worried about inflaming his Sudanese neighbors. He feels that it is imperative that any United Nations mission be civilian, not a military action.
The United Nations is considering this action, with an estimated commitment of up to 10,000 soldiers.
For more on this topic visit this article at http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20070225-1047-chad-darfurspillover.html
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
The Darfur Conflict
Thousands of people have died in Darfur, but what is the source of the conflict?
People have referred to the conflict as an “ethnic cleansing” and a “genocide”. Although the United Nations has not done so, the United States government has labeled the conflict as a genocide.
The Darfur conflict is a constant religious conflict in the Darfur region of western Sudan, between the Janjaweed (Arab) and the non-Baggara (African) people of the region. Sudan’s government, while denying that it supports the Janjaweed, has provided money and assistance and has participated in joint attacks systematically targeting ethnic groups, such as, the Fur, Zaghawa, and Massaleit, in Darfur. The conflict began in July 2003. Unlike in the Second Sudanese Civil War, which was fought between the primarily Muslim Christian and Animist, in Darfur most of the residents are Muslim.
Estimated number of deaths in the conflict have ranged from 50,000 (2004) to 500,000 (February 6, 2007). As many as 2.5 million people have been displaced.
People have referred to the conflict as an “ethnic cleansing” and a “genocide”. Although the United Nations has not done so, the United States government has labeled the conflict as a genocide.
The Darfur conflict is a constant religious conflict in the Darfur region of western Sudan, between the Janjaweed (Arab) and the non-Baggara (African) people of the region. Sudan’s government, while denying that it supports the Janjaweed, has provided money and assistance and has participated in joint attacks systematically targeting ethnic groups, such as, the Fur, Zaghawa, and Massaleit, in Darfur. The conflict began in July 2003. Unlike in the Second Sudanese Civil War, which was fought between the primarily Muslim Christian and Animist, in Darfur most of the residents are Muslim.
Estimated number of deaths in the conflict have ranged from 50,000 (2004) to 500,000 (February 6, 2007). As many as 2.5 million people have been displaced.
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