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| What's your take on the Sudan Crisis?
Posted: 2/2/2005 8:51:25 AM | Yes, although there is a peace treaty the humanitarian crisis continues, unabated.
This appears on CBC online and gives a brief indication of how horrible the situation is -
The United Nations calls the conflict in Darfur, Sudan "the world’s worst humanitarian crisis." Even the Asian tsunami has not changed that. Consider the numbers:
Over 300,000 have died in the violence and the hunger and disease that has followed.
2 million refugees have fled their homes since the crisis in Darfur began in early 2003. That's about 1/3 of the area's population.
200,000 of Darfur's refugees have fled to neighbouring Chad.
Humanitarian aid is urgently needed, peacekeepers are needed. | |
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| What's your take on the Sudan Crisis?
Posted: 2/2/2005 11:22:04 AM | Best thing we could do for the people in the Sudan is to withdraw our foreign investment.
Take for example, the fine Canadian company Talisman Energy.. Starting in the early 90's, they negotiated the first partnership with the current fundamentalist regime in Khartoum. Talisman would provide equipment and expertise to drill oil in southern Sudan and the Sudanese government would collect royalties.
Human rights experts urged Talisman to wait several years.. For decades a bloody civil war had been on-going between the Islamic northern government, and the Christian and tribal factions in the south. A peace agreement was on the verge of being signed as both sides had literally been fought to their limit and had no more resources to throw at the fight.
Until, that is, Talisman Energy supplied the northern government with a sudden influx of cash. Using these new funds, the Sudanese government was able to refit and re-equip its army.
The rest of the story is pretty tragic. Oil would be discovered in an area, and the government would bomb it and send in troops to drive any people living there away. Talisman would drive in, afterwards, remark as to how empty of people the terrain was and proceed to drill for oil.
I met a Sudanese tribal chief in Calgary who commented to me "Oil has brought us death."
It got worse.. Other Internationals used Talisman as an example and flocked to Sudan. Their rational was always "The Canadians are there, so it can't be that bad...
Now it seems the practice of devastation used in the south is being repeated in Western Sudan.. Only now the government seems more sophisticated about hiding it from the rest of the world. Instead of using government troops, covertly sponsered militias are doing the dirty work.
This is a death fueled directly by the Internationals feeding oil royalties to the Sudanese government. It's not going to end until the money stops flowing, and the government realizes that its in their best interest to stop the killing.
We can make all the sounds of protest that we want, but until our Western companies stop doing business with the brutal folks in power in Sudan right now, nothing is going to change. | |
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| What's your take on the Sudan Crisis?
Posted: 2/2/2005 12:05:15 PM | Thanks for the info. I hadn't known about Talisman Energy.
What I wonder is considering the enormity of this crisis, why does so little happen? The U.N. has now said the killings do not fit the strict definition of genocide. Wrangling goes on an on, and people keep dying. | |
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| What's your take on the Sudan Crisis?
Posted: 2/2/2005 1:19:01 PM |
why does so little happen?
One simple word. Profit.
The lives of the innocents in Sudan means nothing to the bottom line of these huge multinationals raking in the dough from Sudanese oil.
The fact that it was a Canadian company that started the chain of events is such a black eye for us...
... I guess there's also the fact that its hard to realize that we're part of the problem. Its easy to label the Sudanese, and all conflicted areas in Africa, as "ethnic tribes" that keep killing each other. I think a lot of people subconsciously avoid thinking about the consequences our investments have in these nations. | |
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| What's your take on the Sudan Crisis?
Posted: 2/2/2005 1:35:04 PM | Coati:
Yes, I agree with you. Did you happen to see or hear Romeo D'Allaire talking abou the Sudan. He also pointed out that there is a great tendency to ignore what is happening in Africa - and the underlying racism of regarding atrocities as only wars between tribes. | |
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| What's your take on the Sudan Crisis?
Posted: 2/2/2005 2:15:52 PM | Shaking Hands with the Devil was an awesome book - and I watched the documentary on Monday night on CBC.. Some really chilling stuff, eh?
I can't even imagine what it must have been like for General D'Allaire, on the ground in Rwanda as things started to go down.. The guy is a true Canadian hero. Even more so because he admits responsibility for failing the people he was sent to protect...
I think that one of the biggest points they tried to make was that what happened in Rwanda could happen again.. And I totally agree. Despite what the UN says, you can totally view what is happening in Sudan as genocide...
We in the West talk a big game.. And when it doesn't affect the bottom line we can do wonders. (Case in point, the Tsunami assitance..) But in cases like Sudan, well... There you go. | |
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| What's your take on the Sudan Crisis?
Posted: 2/2/2005 3:23:54 PM | Coati:
D'Allaire certainly is a true Canadian hero, he is honest down to his bones and I can hardly imagine what his time in Rwanda was like. He tried everything to get the world to pay attention, to get his orders changed, to make a difference. He still feels he failed. I don't fault him for his actions - for I don't know what I would have done. He suffers from PTSD which began before his tour ended. I am on a waiting list for his book.
I hope he will continue to speak out about the situation in the Sudan, because maybe, just maybe more people will listen, will understand, and will act. | |
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| What's your take on the Sudan Crisis?
Posted: 2/2/2005 3:44:31 PM |
I am on a waiting list for his book.
You won't regret reading it.. Its sad and horrifying, but at the same time very revealing. D'Allaire did the right thing by getting his account out and published.
It's tragic that True people get steam-rollered by their efforts to help those in need.. And those that criticize stay on the sidelines and thrive. | |
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| What's your take on the Sudan Crisis?
Posted: 2/2/2005 3:59:41 PM | Coati:
I guess I believe that if many many people would get involved in letting other know what the situation in Sudan really is then more people would be moved to help.
When I look at the amount of money raised by ordinary people for the Tsunami victims (a very small example - I was able to get people to donate about $3,000 just through e-mails to friends etc.) I think that if the Sudan could achieve the same status in the eyes of the public more would and could be done.
I'm researching grass roots campaigns.
lyrical | |
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| What's your take on the Sudan Crisis?
Posted: 2/2/2005 4:39:08 PM | Lyrical, aid and help definitely wouldn't hurt - as long as it doesn't go to the Sudanese government. Aid organizations are definitely the way to go..
But we've got to get these corporate hacks out of that country... | |
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| What's your take on the Sudan Crisis?
Posted: 2/3/2005 2:27:36 AM | | I think evrybody should send troups. Not just to Sudan, but many other African countries. Slavery and ethnic cleansing is unacceptable. Our grandparents didn't allow it to happen (though they couldn't get there in time for many millions) in WWII, and neither should we now. And many millions are dying today - I heard an estimate on tv today stating 27 million in slavery. If evrybody wrote the same letters a day, one to their government and one to the United Nations, they would evntually respond not to you , but to the world. | |
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| What's your take on the Sudan Crisis?
Posted: 2/3/2005 5:28:47 AM | | Concerted and sustained pressure is needed. What's also needed is a person who is known world wide or can become known world-wide to publicize the true extent of the human tragedy and promote action. | |
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| What's your take on the Sudan Crisis?
Posted: 4/29/2006 10:24:12 PM | I resurrected this thread to call attention to a shame.
Here it is, more than a year after this thread was first created (and it didn't even get more than a page of replies at that time), and three years after the genocide in Darfur started, and the crisis has only gotten worse, especially in the last couple of weeks. Humanitarian groups are being expelled or are being forced to retreat or pack up. Aid cannot be delivered, and when it can be delivered again, money that committed to the UN for Darfur aid is uncollectable and running out. Millions have no safe haven, no peace of mind, no hope, no food and no water, while their own country's air force is swooping down on their villages and even on their barren refugee camps in both Darfur and Chad, to strafe them with air raids before the militias and janjaweed raid them on camelback and horseback to murder them or drive them out yet again. The slain are stuffed into wells to poison them and keep the refugees from being able to return.
There are potentially 3+ million MORE that could be killed while the African Union is overwhelmed and unable to combat it. It's time the WORLD stopped being passive and did more. Anyone who didn't see the Charlie Rose show on Wednesday night missed hearing about the sensible steps needed by the world to deal with it.
If you agree that the world can't be passive any longer, contact your US Rep and your two US Senators to tell them this issue is important to you and that you want it elevated to the top of the agenda.
The story below makes me proud of these congresspersons. I just wish my US Rep had been the sixth.
~ Panda
US representatives arrested at Sudan protest
Fri Apr 28, 2006 2:34 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Five members of the U.S. Congress were arrested at the Sudanese Embassy on Friday to protest violence in that country's Darfur region.
The lawmakers, all Democrats, were Reps. Tom Lantos of California, James McGovern and John Olver of Massachusetts, James Moran of Virginia, and Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas.
A few members of the Save Darfur Coalition also were arrested from the gathering of about 50 demonstrators, a spokeswoman for the coalition said.
Those arrested were taken to a police station and released about two hours later after paying $50 fines.
The lawmakers intended their arrests to draw attention to the Darfur conflict that the United States calls a genocide, McGovern said.
The protest came before a planned Sunday rally on the National Mall sponsored by the coalition, which comprises about 160 faith-based, advocacy and humanitarian organizations. Sunday is the deadline for talks aimed at settling the three-year conflict in Darfur.
U.N. and U.S. officials have accused the Sudanese government of arming marauding Arab militias, who have raped, pillaged, and killed tens of thousands in Darfur, and driven into squalid camps some 2 million villagers. Sudan has denied the charge.
"I don't think any human being can listen to the testimony of the people who have fled, and see the savagery that is going on there and not feel compelled to do something," McGovern said in a telephone interview after his release.
The lawmakers had been told they could not trespass on the embassy property. They made their statements off the property, then stood on the embassy steps.
The lawmakers did not heed police warnings, and "were arrested one by one," Lantos' spokeswoman Lynne Weil said.
"After the Holocaust, the world declared that never again would we stand by and let genocide take place. And yet the slaughter in Darfur continues," Lantos, a survivor of the Holocaust, said in a statement. | |
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rks58
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Joined: 1/28/2006
Msg: 15 | |
| What's your take on the Sudan Crisis?
Posted: 4/29/2006 11:12:17 PM | | I imagine that this thread will die yet again. Insularity is the problem. It has no impact on the general populace of the nations that could help. To the majority of the west it is viewed in terms of "They're just a bunch of backwards tribesman, it doesn't impact me so why should I care when I have my own interests to worry about". Not really any different a situation than Rwanda. If the Sudanese tribes had the money or wherewithall to carry the fight into our backyards that might change things and even then most western gov'ts would take action only if it became an issue to gain votes on. Sad really, that so many will care only when they feel personally threatened. | |
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| What's your take on the Sudan Crisis?
Posted: 4/29/2006 11:28:19 PM | Strange that the loudest voice in the world regarding this mess is Bin Laden, and the man we have to depend on for human rights assistance in Kadafy
The do-nothing Congress will do-nothing about this.
No one cares? No threat...no $$$$$ | |
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| What's your take on the Sudan Crisis?
Posted: 4/30/2006 12:53:11 AM | Since George Clooney has been on the news talking about the situation there, perhaps something will be done.
Or at least get some much needed attention it deserves. | |
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Hezron
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Joined: 12/15/2005
Msg: 18 | |
| What's your take on the Sudan Crisis?
Posted: 5/1/2006 7:11:14 AM | | There is no crisis in Africa as long as Us interests are not involved...we will invade other nations when we see the dollars but aside from that...millions can kill each other with sticks and the great protector of human rights will be nowhere to be seen. It would not surprise me if at some point the first world just created a virus to wipe out africa so we could move in after and pave it :) oh....wait..perhaps we already did that but it turned around and bit us in our own asses | |
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| What's your take on the Sudan Crisis?
Posted: 5/4/2007 3:43:31 PM |
The U.N. has now said the killings do not fit the strict definition of genocide. Wrangling goes on an on, and people keep dying.
Yes, of course they take that stance, because the rules of the UN would require them to take action if "genocide" is occurring.
Ipso facto, "quick fix" is to claim that it is "not" really genocide, despite all evidence to the contrary.
Also not sufficient oil/profits there; who gives a dayum about rights or the people ? | |
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| What's your take on the Sudan Crisis?
Posted: 5/4/2007 4:44:26 PM | | OP - how about none of the above. The sudanese government is doing a fine job of feeding its LOYAL citizens, if some separatists happen to have some problems, well - I guess they shouldn't have started a civil war then should they? | |
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| What's your take on the Sudan Crisis?
Posted: 5/5/2007 12:38:37 PM | ^^
deep.
.Probably good to say the same should apply to "loyal" Americans,
(i.e. those who voted for Bush) or "loyal" Cdns. (who voted for Harper)
Let all others fend for themselves. | |
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| What's your take on the Sudan Crisis?
Posted: 5/6/2007 1:32:01 PM | | I think you misunderstand.....the darfur issue was caused by separtists fighting a civil war against the government. They obviously thought that they could win, but failed. Thus, this is far beyond one political party vs another....these people actually started the war and therefore would be considered the warmongers and the government the victim. | |
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| What's your take on the Sudan Crisis?
Posted: 7/9/2009 7:28:02 PM | It's more than a civil war against the government. It's resources, tribes, and a corrupt government. UNAMID (a United Nations peacekeeping force) was implemented in 2007 and charged with 26,000 troops to go in on the ground in Darfur. It's implementation was less than stellar. In practice the force remains chronically undermanned, badly resourced and with little to no military hardware (i.e. helicopters) required to deploy in such a remote and challenging region.
While the peacekeepers fail to take hold on the ground, the humanitarian crises has continued unabated. Some 300,000 newly displaced people flood in to already chronically overcrowded refugee camps bringing the total to ~2.6million Internationally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees.
If you're truly interested in understanding the climate, culture, tribes, militia, etc. I recommend a few books. They are all memoirs:
*Tears of the Desert by Halima Bashir
*Say you're one of them by Uwem Akpan
*They poured Fire on us From the Sky by Benson Deng/Alephonsion Deng and Benjamin Ajak | |
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