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November 26, 2004
Sudan? Not Much Oil? Black People? *world yawns*
This is all too sad.
The World Food Program said Thursday that renewed fighting in Sudan's Darfur region has forced the U.N. agency to suspend a large part of its relief operations there, leaving 300,000 refugees without aid. The suspension comes as demand for emergency food in the region increases because no crops were planted in the last season.
This is Zubeida, living in a refuge camp in Chad's border with Sudan. Does she have a chance to grow up? Is she still alive?
What needs to happen is that the world should pressure the government of Sudan, and the rebels as necessary. All the money in the world to buy food will not do good if aid agencies cannot operate -- not that there is enough money for that but we're not even there yet. Pressuring the Sudanese government requires political will, not just donations. And political will requires a public willing to exert pressure, even if just a bit.
I'm sorry, I know I should have talked about the great bargains at the mall. This is the biggest shopping day of the year, after all. All those leftovers to eat, all those gifts to buy. Didn't mean to add to the stress of the holidays.
Posted by zeynep at November 26, 2004 12:10 PM
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A friend of mine organized fundraising events to send aid to people in Darfur (I think via MSF). He was (and continues to be) scolded by other leftists for his efforts, which allegedly reinforced anti-Arab stereotypes and the efforts of Christians and Zionists to demonize the Muslim government of Sudan. I think this is preposterous, frankly, but I write this only to point out that shopping is not the only reason people do nothing for Sudan.
Posted by: graft at November 26, 2004 02:47 PM
Chris, it is great to hear that you plan on joining a relief agency. However, why you are attackiong someone you don't know for not doing work that you do not they are not doing is beyond me.
Z -- or Chris for that matter -- I would find it helpful if you would post a list of relief agencies or organizations that are doing work for the people in Sudan. Also a list of organizations that are working to raise awareness on this issue with various governments.
This website is great because it puts a human face (and heart) to the news articles. What it lacks, however, is a call to action.
Posted by: Another Ted at November 26, 2004 06:28 PM
chris, how do you know what zeynep (or anyone else, for that matter) is or is not doing outside of what you see them actually doing?
Posted by: liz at November 27, 2004 07:28 AM
It's not fair to demand that a random internet blog be all things to all activists. And the damning nature of this last indictment of Western indifference to African suffering doesn't depend on the activity of its author. Let's assume that the writer does nothing (which I highly doubt); that makes them a hypocrite, but doesn't make what they say about everyone else who does nothing any less true.
Posted by: mike at November 27, 2004 09:30 AM
Better not to judge anyone else, or worry about what they are doing or not doing. First of all, it's none of our business. Second, who are we to assume that lofty position? Lastly, it's likely to change nothing--an indulgence we can't afford.
Posted by: JRB at November 27, 2004 02:27 PM
Two articles with much needed context by writers who can resist being sucked into yet another "moral panic":
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foreignaffairs/comment/0,11538,1285443,00.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sudan/story/0,14658,1274182,00.html
Posted by: sk at November 28, 2004 01:25 PM