The much needed peace in Darfur will not be enough. The WFP is experiencing huge shortages of funds for their program in Sudan. They only have 32% of the required amount right now, so even if there is peace in Darfur, the people there will end up being malnurished and some might even starve to death. It’s a sad situation really but it doesn’t have to be if the awareness is raised and something is done. My dear readers go out, club like crazy, go to a rave, head bang at a heavy metal concert, enjoy some expensive caviar and Cuban cigars, buy that Prada shirt you were drooling all over on, go to an expensive spa, enjoy a holiday in the Bahamas, have your dream wedding and live your life to the fullest but please oh I beg you please… At the end of the day don’t forget those ones who need our help the most. “Those” doesn’t only refer to Darfur victims but also the tsunami, Pakistan earthquake, Hurricane Katrina victims and others everywhere.
Some people I know sometimes get surprised when I mention Katrina. They’ll be like “why the hell should we donate to those infidels?!!?? Plus if their government can afford to bomb Iraq they can defintely take care of their own victims”. I want to remind such people to lay aside their “political” beliefs and contribute in a spirit of humanity.
Don’t trade your humanity for your patriotism / “religiosity”
(To my American readers who live in DC, there will be a rally this 30th April. Check out www.savedarfur.org to get more info. I would love to join you but I’m stuck in Malaysia. I’ll be there in spirit though. Much love and appreciation to those involved)
SudaneseThinker
SudaneseThinker
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Drima,
There is no need to trade our patriotism for humanity. I don’t know why you attempt to contrast the two.
Nevertheless, the situation is serious. We cannot do it by ourselves, so who should we contact to urge more aid? Who pulls the strings in this relief effort? The President? The Congress? Somebody at the UN? Somebody else? Who are the appropriate parties in a matter like this?
Tommy,
there is a need to make a contrast especially where I come from. For example many of my people believe that supporting America in anyway is “unpatriotic” and “blasmphemous”.
Who do we contact to urge more aid?
The top people who command the most power… Bush & Kofi Anan so that the pressure can flow downwards after that.
but at the end of the day it’s us the major population that will be donating. So it has to start amongst us first. We have to do more charity
btw Tommy, don’t u have a blog?
If supporting America in any way is unpatriotic and blasphemous, wouldn’t accepting our help be disingenuous?
First of all, it was the government of Sudan that stopped UN humanitarian officials from entering the Dafur area to evaluate the situation and secondly, you, yourself, even said, the aid is not getting to the people it is being sent to help.
It’s time for some responsibility within the governments of these countries. You want our help, you have to comply with certain conditions. UN humanitarian officials to oversee the distribution of aid. AU peace keeping forces to ensure the peace and accountability and responsibility within the government.
t
“If supporting America in any way is unpatriotic and blasphemous, wouldn’t accepting our help be disingenuous?”
I know it’s funny and hypocritical right.
“even you, yourself, even said, the aid is not getting to the people it is being sent to help.”
Even with the corruption existing, some aid does thankfully reach the victims. That’s better than nothing reaching.
“UN humanitarian officials to oversee the distribution of aid. AU peace keeping forces to ensure the peace and accountability and responsibility within the government.”
Yes I know that’s why I said charitable efforts must be stepped up AFTER there is peace and not now with the current messy situation.
So we are in agreement, right?
Let’s roll!
:::sigh:::
If only things were that easy. Politics always seems to take bad situations and make them worse.
t
The UN is saying they may get money from private sources but that governments are going to have to put up the bulk of the money. We are talking over $700 million here. This isn’t chump change.
I think we need to contact the power brokers and urge them to act. Fuck, if they can spend around a $1 billion a day on the war in Iraq, they should be able to afford this. Even though I despise the United Nations.
The US is already putting up the bulk of the aid money. Shame on Europe for not pitching in more. Even more shame on the Arab nations for spending tens of millions on Hamas but not addressing the more dire situation in Darfur at all.
Anyway, I’m going to find out what we can do to contact people in power today and try and urge that everyone contact them. A single person contacting them isn’t going to suffice but if they get enough emails, etc. they may feel compelled to act. Who knows? I have a feeling that the US won’t simply let Darfur go down the drain, so they may already be looking at ways to intervene and provide more aid. Well fuck, I hope….
I was at the rally and it was quite a rally! Lots of repetitive platitudes, but there were a couple speakers who outlined important steps to take. I think it’ll help to make a difference.
-Matthew
http://www.xanga.com/foolishyetwise
Please sign this petition:
http://www.savedarfur.org/
“Even more shame on the Arab nations”
Hell ya.
Speaking of good causes…
Several walks around the globe have been arranged to raise awareness about child hunger. A recent report by the UNICEF has shown that 25% of the world’s children are underweight.
Click on the link to find a walk near you:
http://www.fighthunger.org/wtw06
Walks are all over the globe from America to Egypt. Taking place on May the 21st.
Spread the message.
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