Genocide in Africa and Groups working against it

There has been human rights issues in Africa since the beginning. Unfortunately, though times have progressed, the international government is still doing little to provide relief to the victims of such hate. Recently, there has been some outrage of genocide occuring in Darfur and Sudan areas of Africa. Though the US has stepped up to label these crimes as "Genocide", the world sits and watches as this group of people are being close to exterminated. The good news: there are groups working to stop the violence, enlighten the world of what is occuring, and educating others on prevention of this type of violence from reoccuring.



I would like to highlight a group that is located in the U.S. (Washington D.C.) called: Africa Action. http://www.africaaction.org/index.html. This group is a part of 3 groups that has origins dating back to 1953. The 3 groups with similar goals merged in 2001 and was renamed "Africa Action". Africa Action is working for political, economic, and social justice in Africa by reshaping U.S. policies toward African countries. Their primary tools are through 1): educating by showing analysis of Africa and changing how people view Africa and Africans. 2) By organized groups to provide public pressure to change U.S. policies and foreign institutions policies towards Africa to promote human rights, democracy, and development. This groups work goes far beyond just working to prevent genocide from occuring....however, this is what they are doing for the victims in Darfur/Sudan: http://www.africaaction.org/peace--justice-in-darfur--all-sudan.html. In June of 2008 - Barack Obama and John McCain signed a pledge to end genocide in Darfur. Africa Action started a campaign to raise awareness of the crisis that sitll continues in Darfur and to place public pressure on the U.S.'s president to lead the international community in this resolve. The campaign "JUST L.E.A.D" challenges all of us, including the government to meet our responsibility to learn, educate, and act daily on this moral issue. The goals of this campaign are:

"1) Protection of civilians from violence, starvation and disease; 2) Sustainable peace for all Sudan, including upholding the Comprehensive Peace Agreement; and 3) Justice for victims and accountability for perpetrators."

To join in their effort, they are trying to collect 1 million post cards urging the President of the United States to make peace and justice in Darfur and Sudan a priority.


As an individual that feels like my life is busy and full of things that have to get done, there are a couple things in which I can do to make a small difference. 1) I found out that their are companies in which we unknowingly (or knowingly) have been investing our money that actually goes to perpetuating these crimes against people. CRAZY as it may seem, it takes littel to know effort to ask the companies which you entrust your monies to be invested on your behalf, to inquire where they put your money. If it contradicts your morals and values, opt to go to a place in which doesn't fund genocide or other atrocities in which you may be against.
2) No matter how busy we may be, a fundamental part of being alive is living. To be conscious and aware of your actions and how they may impact your view/acceptance of an action. For example, though we may not want to get "involved" but you see someone being dehumanized in your presence, to stand up or voice your disapproval of the action, allows others to see that the behavior/action is not condoned. However, by ignoring the situation as if it is not occuring, allows you to blissfully continue on in your little uninterrupted world, that is.....until, it is our turn to experience this behavior/action....your omittance of the problem, perpetuates the acceptance of these ill actions and in turn may allow others to believe the behavior action is excused by our society/culture. To allow the genocide of a people, whether within our line of vision or not, is just not adequate. We need to educate people about events that are happening in our world today. We need to tell people that these actions will not be tolerated and that there will be consequences for treating others in this manner.....and jointly, we can make a difference.