What some have called the "slow motion genocide" in Darfur Sudan appears to continue, despite some diplomatic progress.
Those of us who are working on the issue continue to ask, what more can we do? One idea would be to bring individuals and groups together to press the UN, US and UK to declare the situation a genocide. Declaring a genocide, more than any other single action, seems likely to bring the military protection that the local people--and now the aid workers, as well--so sorely need.
We might sign a very simple statement of concern, ending in the request to call the situation what it is. One helpful model is a letter issued jointly last year by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International on human rights abuses in the Congo. To a letter on Sudan there could be many many more signers.
I'm not sure this is quite the right action, but something more must be done. The world system--whatever that is--continues to be relatively inactive, now waiting to see whether the government of Sudan will reign in its murderous militias in Darfur.
In any shared action we would have the opportunity for the full range of individuals and organizations who are concerned to show their collective colors. The Sudan crisis is quietly bringing people together from an almost unprecidented range of backgrounds and perspectives. If there is any silver lining in this tragic cloud, perhaps this is it. Those who are becoming involved come from both ends of the political spectrum, from Christian, Muslim and Jewish and other faith communities, and from the ranks of hawks and doves. We may be more effective in convincing those who hold power to take action if we can more vividly demostrate our shared communion on Darfur.
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