Countering genocide: the growth of the movement to protect Darfur.AS THE GENOCIDE in the western region of Sudan persists, now in its third year, the voices of concerned Americans have been raised, reflecting a movement that is both expansive and diverse. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Since this genocide began in 2003, targeted offensives by the Sudanese government have resulted in the deaths of over 400,000 people and the displacement of millions more. Civilians have been systematically targeted in attacks by the Sudanese government and their proxy militias. In recent months, humanitarian conditions on the ground have deteriorated drastically, reversing many of the moderate gains of 2005. In addition, the Sudanese government's obstruction and harassment of aid workers, combined with continual shortfalls in international donor funding, has exacerbated an already untenable situation and left millions at risk. The recent signing of a peace deal between the government and one of the main rebel groups in Darfur marks a small step forward in the crisis, but without a strong international force to provide security and enforce the peace deal, little will change for the people of Darfur. The unfolding genocide in Darfur has mobilized communities across the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , coming from a great variety of backgrounds. Included among those inspired to act have been student organizations and religious groups, forming alliances united around the principle of protection for the people of Darfur. There is broad consensus on the need for a multinational peacekeeping force peacekeeping force n → fuerza de pacificación peacekeeping force n → forces fpl qui assurent le maintien de la paix in Darfur. Many groups believe that the United Nations is the appropriate body to deploy such a force, while some others advocate a NATO NATO: see North Atlantic Treaty Organization. NATO in full North Atlantic Treaty Organization International military alliance created to defend western Europe against a possible Soviet invasion. operation, but the universe of people concerned about Darfur has been united in the demand for U.S. leadership in galvanizing galvanizing, process of coating a metal, usually iron or steel, with a protective covering of zinc. Galvanized iron is prepared either by dipping iron, from which rust has been removed by the action of sulfuric acid, into molten zinc so that a thin layer of the zinc international support for a multinational operation to be deployed to the region. This demand has been communicated through such actions as local events and protests, letters to the editor, messages to Congress and the Bush administration and a huge rally on the National Mall National Mall: see National Parks and Monuments (table). in Washington, D.C. on April 30. Leadership on this issue has emerged particularly in the African-American community, through networks of church groups and others, as well as civic leaders. In the summer of 2004, the Congressional Black Caucus Congressional Black Caucus, organization of African-American members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Founded in 1970, it addresses legislative concerns of African Americans and other minority citizens, such as employment, welfare reform, minority business (CBC (1) (Cell Broadcast Center) See cell broadcast. (2) (Cipher Block Chaining) In cryptography, a mode of operation that combines the ciphertext of one block with the plaintext of the next block. ) was instrumental in pushing the Bush administration to acknowledge that genocide was in progress in Sudan. To date, the Bush administration remains the only government to have publicly acknowledged that genocide is taking place in Darfur, but it has failed to take the necessary actions to stop this crime against humanity In international law a crime against humanity is an act of persecution or any large scale atrocities against a body of people, and is the highest level of criminal offense. . Increasingly, activists insist that the Bush administration be accountable to the concerns of its constituents, to its own pledges and responsibilities and to the moral imperative A moral imperative is a principle originating inside a person's mind that compels that person to act. It is a kind of categorical imperative, as defined by Immanuel Kant. Kant took the imperative to be a dictate of pure reason, in its practical aspect. to react to genocide by leading the international community to take action and deploy a peacekeeping force to Darfur. Nothing short of an international intervention can stop the genocide in Darfur, and this continues to be the rallying cry for millions. --Ann-Louise Colgan and Diana Duarte www.africaaction.org |
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