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?
Sunday, February 25, 2007
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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