Today I've been thinking of the genocide that is currently going on in Darfur, Sudan. Yes, it's a million miles away and it's easy for us to hear about it on the news and then go right on eating our dinner. But I cant help thinking that if nothing else, we can acknowledge and pray for the millions of innocent people suffering and dying right now, today, in Darfur. 500 people are dying every day. Women and children are being raped. Men are being castrated. Those who aren't murdered are led like cattle into the desert where they have no food, shelter, or water!
September 17th is the Global Day for Action for Darfur. There is a big rally in New York. September 7-17th are the 10 Days of Action for Darfur, beginning with "Shine a light for Darfur", which is a candlelight vigil on September 7th. I want to "host" a candlelight vigil, in an effort to educate ourselves about what is going on and what we can do to help. I simply want to light a candle, say a prayer, and acknowledge that it's happening. I know it's a long drive for some of you. If you dont want to drive out here, host a vigil in your own neighborhood. But please take a few minutes out of your comfortable, safe, free life to understand what is going on in Darfur. Go to http://www.savedarfur.org/home and read the history of the conflict as well as what is being done and what else needs to be done.
So September 7th: Candlelight vigil on Sunset Drive in Queen Creek (or in your own neighborhood) at 8pm.
On September 13th, ask President Bush to use his address to the UN General Assembly to advocate for the immediate deployment of a UN peacekeeping force with a Chapter 7 mandate to protect civilians. All you have to do is make a quick and painless call to the White House, which is a free call on all of your cell phones. The number is (202) 456-1414 or (202) 456-1111.
September 15th, is Postcard Day. At the Save Darfur website you can fill out an electronic postcard asking President Bush and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to make peacekeeping in Darfur top priority.
Proverbs 24:11-12
Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?
1 comment:
Unfortunatly, "stopping" this genocide would demand military force on par with the Iraq conflict. The permanant results would also be in question as this violence is an effect of deep seeded bigotry, hatred and greed. These attrocities are horible indeed and ilistrate the true evil that the natural man is capable of.
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