To say that the devastation in Darfur has been all over the news is a bit of an understatement. But for those of you who have never heard of Darfur, or the terrible things that are going on there, here is a brief explanation of what is going on.
The government of Sudan has been escalating its relentless assault on the people of Darfur. On May 4, Sudanese bombs rained on a Darfuri school, killing at least 13 people, including seven children. The international community didn’t respond for more than 48 hours.
The attack - and the miserable response - is yet another example of the world’s failure to protect the people of Darfur. The U.N. approved a peacekeeping force for Darfur ten months ago. Less than a third of that force has reached Darfur.
And the situation continues to devolve, with recent rebel attacks and government retaliation against Darfuri civilians
We have the opportunity to make sure the world lives up to its promise to Darfur.
The U.S. assumes the presidency of the U.N. Security Council for one month in June. As president, the U.S. will have the opportunity to set the agenda for the Security Council and help protect the people of Darfur.
We must seize this opportunity. The Save Darfur Coalition and our partners are launching a major campaign to hold our leaders to their word and do all they can to help protect the people of Darfur.
From http://www.savedarfur.org/
Canadians can click the banner above or go to http://standcanada.org to email Canadian officials (Prime Minister Steven Harper, Foreign Affairs Minister, Maxime Bernier, and Opposition Leader Stephane Dion), to encourage them to send aid to refugees from Darfur.
Unfortunately Darfur isn’t the only place in Africa torn by corruption and war. HARC Inc is a Saskatoon based charitable organization, ran by a great man with a huge heart for Africa, that is working to build orphanages in Uganda.
Invisible Children is a movement to raise awareness for “Invisible Children,” children that do everything that they can to survive, and stay away from the violence erupting around them. Below is the teaser for the Invisible Children Video. Some clips may be inappropriate for younger viewers.
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Darfur is an indelible stain on the name of humanity. Thanks for your thoughts on this important human rights issue. As the Preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights reminds us, “…recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.”
Dave Donelson, author of Heart of Diamonds
With just weeks left before the Olympic Games, a major Chinese government crackdown is taking place in Tibet, and a climate of fear grips the region.
This spring, Tibetans began escalating protests against the repressive policies of the Chinese government and its harsh campaign against the Dalai Lama. These demonstrations have been met with brutality.
Thousands of Tibetans, including Buddhist monks and nuns, have been detained, interrogated and tortured. More than one hundred have been killed. Of special concern are the untold number of Tibetans who have disappeared since the crackdown began.
Now is the time to sign the petition urging world leaders not to commit to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics!
Click Here to Sign the Petition:
http://support.savetibet.org/site/R?i=GKUsaEuiLHa87M4SBGat4A
Your signature will be delivered to world leaders through their embassies and consulates. Already, we have received almost 20,000 signatures from all around the world. Help us reach our goal of 50,000!
The International Campaign for Tibet is calling for:
* A full accounting of Tibetans currently detained, and due process of law.
* Real progress in the Sino-Tibetan dialogue.
* Open access for the media in Tibet, as promised in China’s Olympic bid.
World leaders should carefully weigh these concerns before they commit to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.
The Olympic Games is an international sporting event. The Olympic torch is a symbol of peace. Neither the torch nor the Games belong to Beijing, but to the citizens of the world, including the Tibetan people.
Let’s send a clear message to the Chinese government to stop the crackdown in Tibet and engage in genuine dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Thank you for your support of the Tibetan people!
Please Forward This Message:
http://support.savetibet.org/site/R?i=iwjlvZwvfDYi8VeS1kEtlA
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[...] Campaign for Human Rights: Save Darfur… To say that the devastation in Darfur has been all over the news is a bit of an understatement. But for those of you who have never heard of Darfur, or the terrible things that are going on there, here is a brief explanation of what is going on. The government of Sudan has been escalating its relentless assault on the people of Darfur. On May 4, Sudanese bombs rained on a Darfuri school, killing at least 13 people, including seven children. The international community didn’t respond for more [...]