Am I Not Human? Genocide Prevention Month

We support the Am I Not Human? blogging campaign that takes place on the 27th of each month. It is our effort to raise awareness of human rights abuse taking place around the globe. My hope is that all villagers will support this effort in some manner via your blog, Twitter or discussions at home or work.


Remarkably, six genocides have major anniversaries in the month of April - a tragic testament to the international community's inexcusable failure to stop inhuman and barbarous acts.

Genocide Prevention Project created a venue for survivors of genocide and mass atrocities, their descendents, and anti-genocide advocates to honor those who were lost and those who survived. Perhaps our collective voices will remind the international community to make its commitment to mass atrocity prevention absolute. Until we do, we are destined to repeat the most shameful chapters in human history.

Villagers are invited to the online premiere of an excerpt from the film 'The Last Survivor' on April 2, 2009 at 8 pm. You can see the premiere on a computer near you.

The Last Survivor, a new documentary by Righteous Pictures, tells the story of four survivors - of the Holocaust, Rwanda, Darfur and Congo - who have become anti-genocide advocates. The film will be followed by a podcast of a discussion among survivors and experts about how to end the genocide in Darfur and how to prevent future atrocities.



The Last Survivor extended trailer from The Last Survivor on Vimeo.

You can also connect with Genocide Prevention Month on Facebook or Twitter.

Justice For Darfur, Sudan President Bashir Accused of Genocide

There is so much going on in the world today. It is difficult to keep up. Did you see that the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) accused Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes and requested his indictment. I was glad to see someone being held accountable for the atrocities taking place in Darfur.

The prosecutor's request for an indictment sent shockwaves throughout the world. The Sudanese government stated that the ICC prosecutor's request for indictment on genocide charges was a "declaration of war". The UN responded by pulling non-essential staff from the joint UN-African Union peacekeeping mission.

The ICC's prosecutor's request for the indictment of Bashir is a major development in the international process seeking accountability for the horrific crimes in Darfur. Of course, the process is more difficult for the ICC because Bashir doesn't recognize their authority ... a position that is in harmony with George Bush.

Is it too much to hope that Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. representative to the United Nations, would lead UN Security Council efforts to enforce the arrest warrants issued by the ICC for Sudanese government minister, Ahmad Harun, and Janjawid militia leader, Ali Kushayb? Both men were charged with war crimes similar to those brought against Bashir and continue to remain at large.

This past April, Amnesty International ramped up efforts to achieve accountability by co-founding the global “Justice for Darfur” coalition. The coalition has sent tens of thousands of messages to world leaders, asking them to pressure Sudan to hand over suspected war criminals to the ICC for prosecution.

We need these world leaders, including Secretary Condie Rice, to get more peacekeepers on the ground in Darfur to protect the citizens from a government accused of systematic genecide.

What say u?

Darfur: Nationwide Day of Action on June 20

I encourage all villagers to join the Nationwide Day of Action on June 20. Please join Dream for Darfur and Save Darfur Coalition for a nationwide protest against the silence of Olympic corporate sponsors on the Darfur crisis.

To mark United Nations World Refugee Day on June 20, students, activists, and community leaders in cities across the country are gathering at the stores and headquarters of sponsors that have failed to address the Darfur genocide - despite their responsibility as stakeholders of the Olympics. Click here to attend an event in your community.

Traveling in Darfur: Six-Week Travelogue

Many Villagers simply don't know very much about Darfur. As such, we may think that we cannot make a difference in stopping the genocide taking place in that part of the world. One way we can move forward in a positive manner is to simply learn more about the conflict. The Res Publica Team that runs Darfurgenocide.org conducted a six-week trip to Darfur and the surrounding areas. This travelogue describes their encounters with the Darfuri people, political leaders as well as the Sudanese Liberation Army.

I encourage all Villager to take a moment to download the report and recommendations being made by the Res Publica Team. More importantly, I hope you will take some time to click on the links below to follow the summary and photos of their six week journey:

• Introduction
• Context and Purpose of Trip
• Traveling in Darfur - Life Continuing Amidst the Scars of War
• Fatima's Story - A Window onto the Tragedy
• Getting to Know the Sudan Liberation Army
• Eritrea, Ethiopia, Chad - Meeting Political Leaders, African Union Staff and the Conflict in the East
• The Justice and Equality Movement
• Key Conclusions - Messages for Activists and the International Community
• General Map of Darfur - More Detailed Maps of Darfur, including Towns and Refugee Camps

---

Villagers, this post is part of In Solidarity: Global Day for Darfur called by Modern Musings and supported by A Political Season, Black and Missing But Not Forgotten, BlackPerspective.net, Black Women Vote, CEO Mum, Darfur: An Unforgivable Hell on Earth, Eddie G. Griffin, Electronic Village, Musings of the Night, My African Diaspora, Regina's Family Seasons, Slant Truth, Take Political Action, The Jose Vilson, Trav’s Thoughts, UltraViolet Underground, Vanessa Unplugged, What About Our Daughters and others.

---

Villagers, what is your take on the situation in Darfur? More importantly, what steps do you advocate for us to end the genocide in that part of the world?