In his blog, he states that the United States, Britain, and other countries are shaping their actions around avoiding war in South Sudan, which could slide back into conflict if the referendum on secession, scheduled for January 2011, goes awry.  As the previous civil war between the north and the south lasted two decades and led to some 2 million deaths, preventing renewed violence is certainly crucial. However, while it is necessary to focus attention on the referendum to ensure violence between the north and south does not break out, Darfur cannot be put aside. Kristof specifically illustrates this challenge, explaining that “the problem is that Darfur and southern Sudan are related problems, and ignoring Darfur doesn’t diminish the risks in southern Sudan. On the contrary, it increases them.”

Kristof characterizes the Obama administration’s handling of the situation as appeasing the Sudanese government, which he argues is not the same as constructively engaging it. He concludes with the analysis that this strategy will not help and, on the contrary, could be profoundly dangerous for Sudan.

The Save Darfur Coalition invites you to read his full blog piece.

The joint UN-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur recently reported that “the security situation in Darfur is tense following reports of fighting between Sudanese armed forces and the Justice and Equality Movement”.  Clashes in Darfur have cost almost 600 lives in May 2010, 440 of which were lost in fighting last month between Darfur rebels and government forces, 126 in tribal violence, and 31 in other violence, including murder. This increase in violence comes after the collapse of peace talks between the Government of Sudan and the Justice and Equality Movement. In the past several days, violence between Arab tribes in Darfur has killed 41 people. The spokesperson for the joint UN-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur stated that in the last couple of months there have been lower numbers of fatalities in Darfur, but in May, there have been an increasing number of clashes. Despite the surge in violent deaths in Darfur, the international community and Sudanese government is planting much of its focus in the upcoming referendum and the rebellions in South Sudan.

The increasing number of clashes is partially due to lack of progress in peace talks between the JEM and the government of Sudan. President Omar Hassan al-Bashir announced on Saturday that the current round of Darfur peace talks would be the final negotiations with any armed group. He claims after this round there will be no legitimacy through guns, only through the ballot box. Amongst others, rebel divisions and fighting have been two of the biggest obstacles to peace talks which started in 2003 and have continued in Chad, Nigeria, Libya and currently in Doha. Since April, Bashir’s security forces have cracked down on what little political freedom opened up during the electoral process, arresting opposition leaders, and cracking down on press and civil society liberties.

While the upcoming southern referendum and the rebellions in South Sudan are understandable distractions for the international community, Darfur continues to face a humanitarian crisis. Darfur’s humanitarian operation is the largest in the world with more than 4 million people requiring aid and costing nearly $1 billion a year, but the fighting and kidnapping of humanitarian workers and UNAMID personnel has forced some agencies to scale down operations and withdraw from certain regions. While it is important for the United States and international community to prepare for the upcoming referendum, this must not overshadow addressing the humanitarian crisis and violence that continue in Darfur.

New York Times' Columnist Nicholas Kristof

As part of my internship at the Save Darfur Coalition, I was asked to listen to the Voices on Genocide Prevention podcast by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. To my surprise, the interview for this particular session was with my activist idol, Nicholas Kristof. His articles have been a consistent source of information about the unrest in Darfur and have, in many ways, been a beacon of hope. Having attended many of his lectures, I expected this podcast to be similar; however, this interview took an unusual twist.

Rather than discussing the importance of individual voices in the fight against genocide, he spoke mainly about Darfur’s media attention. He admits that the media absolutely oversimplified the issue and perhaps created unrealistic expectations for the Sudanese about Western intervention. Kristof explains that though the media is responsible for the simplification of the issue, the attention that this crisis received saved many lives in both Darfur and Chad. Though Kristof has interacted with the victims of the most brutal crimes, particularly against women, his message seems neither jaded nor pessimistic. Though he can’t deny the Western media’s mistakes, he sees the Darfur movement as a huge milestone in human rights activism.

It is undeniable that the international community has far from mastered its reaction to genocide. The devastating loss that Darfur, Sudan has experienced cannot be undone and, as an activist community, we must critique our own response to genocidal regimes. But, to me, Kristof’s responses in this podcast were extremely encouraging. For someone so revered in the human rights world, it is reassuring to hear him acknowledge that strides have been made. Kristof’s travels to the Congo and Darfur have put him in contact with both perpetrators and victims. His insights and understanding of this situation are immeasurable. To hear him say that the Darfur movement has actually saved lives affirms my own motivation to continue to work for a free and fair Sudan. Listen to the podcast here.

Rebels from SLA-AW stand guard in Nertiti, Jebel Marra (Photo: Reuters, 2008)

Darfur’s troubled region of Jebel Marra remains under the radar of international concern, despite ongoing hostilities taking a serious toll on the local population. Significant numbers of civilians continue to flee their homes into IDP and refugee camps as the situation deteriorates, with neither humanitarian relief nor peacekeeping protection available.

Jebel Marra is a mountainous area in central Darfur (see map below), and is allegedly the rebel faction SLA-AW’s last stronghold. With talk of a (now faltering) peace agreement in Doha involving Darfur’s most viable rebel group (the JEM) and another with the new rebel alliance (the LJM), and amid reports of divisions among the SLA-AW, Khartoum seems determined to gain control of Jebel Marra once and for all. While there’s no independent way to confirm the extent of civilian deaths (estimates are well into the hundreds) and human rights abuses committed during the fighting, it is clear that all parties to this latest outbreak of violence have been responsible for obstructionist measures that have prevented the local population from receiving the assistance it desperately needs.

Darfur's Jebel Marra region, southwest of UNAMID Force Headquarters in El Fasher. Image based on a UN Planning Map. The boundaries and names shown are for reference only and do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by any party.

The most significant attacks have occurred in Kidingeer, Leiba and Fugoli, Feina and Deribat, which has severely affected the 300,000 people living in Jebel Marra, many of whom are currently displaced and are deprived of access to international humanitarian aid since the NGOs and UN have forced out of the region. In a recent article, Julie Flint stated that the amount of civilians killed in Jebel Marra is the highest since UNAMID began its deployment with over 35,000 regular troops and 12,000 militiamen in Jebel Marra. An assessment completed by the UN and several NGOs in mid-February estimated that around 2,000 families had recently arrived in Nertiti (site of a Rwandan UNAMID company) with over 5,000 new arrivals in Thur and Guldo after the fighting in Eastern Jebel Marra forced civilians to flee their homes. Since the violence in Jebel Marra continued to escalate after the assessment, the amount of displaced is bound to have increased significantly.

With resounding claims that the war in Darfur is over, the crisis in Jebel Marra cannot be ignored. The current loss of lives and livelihoods demand both international outrage and attention. So “where are the cries of “Never again” now that they are needed?” Help the Save Darfur Coalition and others raise the alarm about the devastation in Jebel Marra.

It is our mandate both to act and to demand action – and the time to do so is now.

Contact Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at 202-647-4000 today and ask her to condemn this violence and work with the international community to mobilize support for Darfuri civilians.

As someone who has dealt with the invisible wounds of war, both personally and with comrades, I cannot even begin to imagine the difficulties faced by untreated victims of the genocide in Darfur and Sudan.

In today’s Washington Post, Michael Gerson pens an article that tells some of these very troubling tales:

On May 15, a woman near the Al Hamadiya camp in Zalingei was collecting firewood. Three armed men in khaki uniforms raped her, stabbed her in the leg, inflicted genital injuries and left her bleeding. She spent 45 days in the hospital. In 2003, the same woman was raped and shot while fleeing her village.

Her story is in a recent, exhaustive, chilling report on Sudan written by a panel of experts at the United Nations. A U.N. official told me, “We have not talked to a single woman [in Darfur] who has not stated that sexual violence is their first concern.” The panel documented sexual assaults against pregnant women and 12-year-old girls. Prosecutions are nonexistent. Local officials are indifferent.

The crisis in Darfur is anything but over. If anything, aid from the world is needed now more than ever.

We must not allow war criminal Omar al-Bashir and his deadly regime to outlast our resolve. We must not allow our care to fade; our spirit to be broken; or our commitment to be anything but stalwart. We must, in chorus-as fellow humans, demand from our leaders a new day in Sudan.

We have to demand that our leaders deal with the invisible wounds.

From DeftMag.com:

From Ryan Riley:

If you took photos at this event, or any Act Now for Darfur event across the country, please add them to our Flickr group!  And if you have video, please add it to our YouTube group.

One of the most rousing moments of Sunday’s Honor the Past – Act Now for Darfur Genocide Prevention Month event was a short speech by Rev. Gloria White-Hammond, the chair of the board of Save Darfur.  Rev. Gloria inspired the crowd to continue the long fight against genocide by recounting the story of Dr. Martin Luther King’s encounter with a civil rights activist in the 1960’s.

“Dr. King told the story of Mother Pollard.  Mother Pollard was a 70 year-old woman who lived in Montgomery during the bus boycott.  And like many of the older women, Mother Pollard was offered a ride but Mother Pollard refused to take a ride.  And when Martin King asked her why don’t you just get in the car so you can rest a little bit, she responded:

‘My feets are tired, but my soul is rested.’”

Rev. Gloria reminded us how, like Mother Pollard, we have to continue the struggle for peace, justice and equality.  “300,000 have died and that’s the bad news, our feets are tired.  But 5 million are still alive, and our souls are rested.”  We have made a difference.  And with continued advocacy, we can continue to do so.

She reminded us of the terrible violence against women in Darfur and raised our spirits that something can be done to stop this violence.  A cheer rose up among the women who had traveled hundreds of miles to raise their voices in front of the White House as they heard Rev. Gloria:

“We will not shut-up until the raping stops.  We will stop the murder, yes we can! We will stop the burning, yes we can! And we won’t shut up until we stop the genocide once and for all, YES WE CAN!”

In DC, the Save Darfur Coalition is hosting a memorial ceremony, featuring survivors of past genocides, followed by a short speaking program featuring “upstanders” who acted in the face of previous genocides, Darfuri activists and prominent leaders from the Darfur movement in America.  Join us from 2:00-3:00 pm in Obama’s front yard, Lafayette Square, for this exciting event. 

Throughout the country activists are hosting events ranging from rallies in Chicago, to Congregations of Conscience praying for the people of Darfur, to citizens uniting to lobby their representatives.  Find more information about some of the events happening this weekend below.

Rallies and Ceremonies

Youth United for Darfur Rally (Chicago, IL)  

3rd Annual Rally for Darfur (Sarasota, FL)

Holocaust Remembrance Day and Genocide Prevention Ceremony (Terre Haute, IN)

Faith

An Evening of Prayer for Africa (Imperial, PA)

Temple Israel of Long Beach (Long Beach, CA)

Honoring the Past with A Gathering of Hope (Raleigh, NC)

Film screenings
  
Chandler (Chandler, AZ)  
  
Irvine United Congregational Church – Plumer Hall (Irvine, CA)

Saddleback College (Mission Viejo, CA)

South Side Coffee Co. (Lompoc, CA)

Concerts
  
Dobson High School (Mesa, AZ)

A Song for Darfur Benefit Concert (Manhasset, NY)

Gatherings – education, awareness, action (and some fun)
  
McGeorge School of Law (Sacramento, CA)

BC Forum at Santa Barbara City College (Santa Barbara, CA) 
  
Rio Theatre (Santa Cruz, CA)

Cropsey residence (Redding, CA)  
  
Reilly’s apt: Shandoka G37 (Telluride, CO)

Lobbying

District Offices throughout Los Angeles (Sherman Oaks, CA)  
  
US Congressional District Offices (Decatur, GA) 

Week of awareness
  
USC – McCarthy Quad, and other locations tba (Los Angeles, CA) 

There are dozens of events that I could not fit here, so if there is not one highlighted here, find an event near you!

This post was drafted by Amanda Tyson

Idaho: Act Now for Darfur Global Day
We will walk from the Boise Depot (please meet in the parking lot) to the Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial with our signs. There will be musicians and several speakers, mainly Boise Darfuri residents. Fidel Nshombo (Congo) will also read his poetry. For those who do not wish to join us in our walk down the hill, please meet us at the Memorial at 11:30am.

Time: Saturday, April 11 from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: Boise Depot – Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial – 777 S. 8th Street, Boise, ID 83702

Kansas: Save Darfur Prayer Vigil
A time to gather and be advocates for Darfur before the Lord Jesus Christ, the God-man who suffered so that our suffering may be healed. Monetary funds will also be collected on a voluntary basis for the advocacy efforts of the Save Darfur Coalition.

Time: Saturday, April 11 from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: Mid America College Church of the Nazarene – 2020 E. Sheridan, Olathe, KS 66062

Massachusetts: North Shore Freestyle Dance for Darfur
Enjoy DJ Rav’s mixed genre music, dance, network, and learn about the latest actions to help bring peace, health and justice to Darfur. $5 to $15/person suggested donation at the door. April is Genocide Prevention Month, do what you can to prevent the genocide in Darfur.

Time: Saturday, April 11 from 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Location: Ipswich Moving Co., Dance Studio – 62 East Street on Cogswell St. Ipswich, MA 01938

Lot of events happening in California!

Exhibit Darfur – San Francisco
Exhibit Darfur is an artistic representation of the personal experiences of genocide and slavery in Sudan. This multi-media experience takes visitors on a photographic journey through the lens of six astonishing artists: Mia Farrow, Brian Steidle, Izabela Lundberg, Aaron Cohen, Heidi McGuiness, and Carol Rinehart.
Exhibit Darfur will provide opportunities for participants to learn more about Sudan and how they can be involved in ending genocide and promoting peace through organizations working to improve conditions in Sudan.
Exhibit Opens April 1 and runs through April 30.
For more information, visit www.exhibitdarfur.com or www.darfursf.org.

Time: M-F: 9am – 8pm, Sat: 9am-4pm, Sunday: Closed
Location: San Francisco State University Downtown Campus – 835 Market St, 6th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103

Darfur Awareness Week
A week focused on the plight of the individuals in the Darfur region of Sudan. Will be focused on awareness, cultivating knowledge, and encouraging students to become actively involved in promoting human rights.

Time: Sunday, April 12 12:00 PM – April 19 12:00 PM
Location: Occidental College – 1600 Campus Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90041

Compassion & Action: Teaching and Discussion
Join us for a teaching and discussion with Gabriel Stauring and Khen Rinpoche on Compassion & Action. Light lunch will be served and there will be time for question and answers. There is no charge for the event; donations will be accepted if you feel moved to offer. This event is open the public so please feel free to invite your friends!

Khen Rinpoche Geshe Kachen Lobzang Tsetan is a Tibetan Buddhist monk, from Ladakh, India. He began his monastic life at age seven in Stok, his family village. In 1952, when he was sixteen years old, he walked with his father from Ladakh to Shigatse, Tibet, to enter the famous Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. The 800-mile trek took them over two months to complete. His dream was to receive the Geshe degree in Buddhist philosophy, similar in level to that of the Western Ph.D. This dream was deferred for him when the Chinese government intensified their policy of cultural genocide on occupied Tibet in 1959. In July 2005 at the request of HH the 14th Dalai Lama, Geshe Tsetan was installed as Khenchen, or head Abbot, of the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Bylakuppe, in southern India.
This event is co-hosted by Stop Genocide Now and Tashi Lhunpo Monastery (in exile).

Time: Saturday, April 11 from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: Community Church, Mertz Hall – 611 Heliotrope Avenue, Corona del Mar, CA 92625
And if you’re in Canada…

Shine a Light on Darfur
Shine a Light on Darfur will be an evening rally and candlelight vigil on April 12th, 2009 to raise awareness about the current crisis in Darfur and encourage the Canadian federal government to take action to stop the genocide. The rally will feature speakers to educate attendees on all aspects of the crisis (perpetrators, relief & protection) as well as a performance by musician Dylan Murray.

Time: Sunday, April 12 from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Host: Toronto Darfur Coalition
Location: Queen’s Park – Toronto, m7a1a2

This Esther Circle hosted event is to raise awareness of the situation in Darfur, to help end the genocide. A summary of region’s history will be discussed, along a presentation of the video “Darfur: A Call to Action”. Postcards will be available to add your voice for Darfur. At the end of the event, an optional viewing of the video “Violence Against Women” will be available for those interested. Childcare will be available, please RSVP.

Time: Wednesday, April 8 from 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: Westminster Presbyterian Church – 2000 Oakwood Drive, Medford, OR 97504

Utah: Westminster College Die-In for Darfur

In Westminster College’s student center, concerned individuals will “die” for an hour to raise awareness for the plight of the people of Darfur. Then they will tye-dye a t-shirt to continue to expose people to the cause.

Time: Wednesday, April 8 from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Location: Westminster College – 1840 South 1300 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84105

Arizona: Coronal del Sol High School Strut4STAND Fashion Show

On Thursday, April 9th, Corona Del Sol High School is hosting “Strut4STAND Fashion Show” at 7:00pm in the Coronal Del Sol Auditorium. Corona is located at 1001 East Knox Road, Tempe, Arizona 85284. The event is open to the public, with tickets being sold in advance at the school bookstore for $4, and at the door for $5 at the door. Proceeds will go to the Jewish World Watch Solar Cooker Project. The AZ Lost Boys will be featured guests, and will be selling their ceramic cows.

Time: Thursday, April 9 from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Corona del Sol High School – 1001E. Knox Road, Tempe, AZ 85284

Kentucky: Transylvania University Film Viewing/Discussion Night

On Thursday April 9th Transylvania University will be hosting a film viewing of Darfur Now as well as the Save Darfur documentary. The film viewing will be held in the Cowgill building on campus in room 102 at 6 p.m. We are asking for anyone and everyone to join us as we try to spread awareness to our campus and our community. We will be setting up a table that people can write to President Obama on the issue with the postcards we will have available. We intend on the event lasting two or three hours. After the film viewing we will hold discussion.

Time: Thursday, April 9 from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Transylvania University – 300 N. Broadway, Lexington, KY 40508

Massachusetts: Emerson College Art Not War

This event will be a performance/visual art fundraiser, where students can showcase their talents, while raising money for this great cause. There will be all different types of performances, as well as many photo and painting submissions done by students, that portray either a sense of oppression or hope.

Time: Friday, April 10 from 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: Emerson College – 80 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116

Arizona: University of Arizona Darfur Now Screening

Documentary film entitled Darfur Now will be screened for free in the Gallagher Theater at the University of Arizona on April 10th at 7pm.

Time: Friday, April 10 from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Gallagher Theater – Tucson, AZ 85721
Directions:     Speedway and Mountain within the Student Union