 |
Photographs seldom reflect the total misery of the camps. The World Health Organization says between 6,000 and 10,000 people die each month from disease and violence in the camps. |
If you haven鈥檛 heard about the crisis in Darfur, a region of the African country of Sudan, chances are that you鈥檙e not alone.聽 However, it鈥檚 likely that you鈥檝e heard of Rwanda and of promises like 鈥淣ever again will the world watch idly as genocide is committed on innocent people.鈥� In Darfur, genocide is happening again, and it鈥檚 been happening for more than five years while the world has done little but watch.
After five years, the situation in Darfur is getting worse; in fact, the conflict has now spread to the neighbouring countries of Chad and the Central African Republic. By the numbers, the situation is sickening: an estimated 200,000 to 400,000 are dead and upwards of 3.5 million people are displaced and living in refugee camps where they are threatened daily by starvation, violence and rape. Every month, 6000 more innocents are killed simply because of their ethnicity. The perpetrators are groups of militia called the Janjaweed, which literally means "Devils on Horseback." They are funded, armed and directly aided by the Sudanese government, which claims to be protecting their people.
|
A group of AV俱乐部 students is trying to do something about Canada鈥檚 involvement and is pushing our leaders to find a resolution for the people of Darfur. STAND (Students Taking Action Now: Darfur) is a national organization dedicated to raising awareness and promoting action from fellow students, community members and representatives at all levels of government.
The group believes that Canada has an important and necessary role to play in stopping the genocide and focuses on taking action to bring about the necessary change in social attitude and government policy. For example, they recently launched a toll-free phone line that is the first of its kind in Canada. The idea is simple yet effective: by dialing 1-800-GEN-OCID(E), callers can be connected directly to the offices of influential members of parliament, including the Prime Minister, Stephane Dion, Maxime Bernier and Alexa McDonough. Students are encouraged to call the easy-to-use system and let our leaders know how important this issue is to us!
AV俱乐部鈥檚 chapter of STAND is busy organizing their biggest event yet聽鈥� a night with three local MPs discussing current policy, what action Canada has taken, what still needs to be done and how we, as students, can affect change half way around the world.聽聽
On Tuesday, March 18, Alexa McDonough, Mike Savage and Geoff Regan will join STAND and AV俱乐部 students for 鈥淪TAND with an MP for Darfur鈥�.聽 The idea is to engage in real discussion with our representatives and to show them how much this issues means to us.聽
The event takes place at 7 p.m. in the McMechan Auditorium of the Killam Library. Come out and show your support for the people of Darfur. The more concerned people that attend, the greater the impact will be.聽
Kate Varsava is a member of STAND AV俱乐部 (Students Taking Action Now: Darfur)
WATCH VIDEO: at CBC Doc Zone聽
READ: