Darfur and activism in the news

Three million Darfuris are displaced in camps, and time is running out to fulfill the terms of the CPA for South Sudan. 

The warning signs are clear:
- "Millions could miss Sudan elections" - Reuters, December 1, 2009
- "Abyei: Bashir wants it all" - Roger Winter, November 27, 2009
- "Sudan at the flash point" - Eric Reeves, November 24, 2009
- "What to do about Sudan now" - John Prendergast, November 20, 2009

Thursday, October 15, 2009
Darfur/Darfur: The Crisis - Online video of panel at MIT: Robert Rotberg, Susannah Sirkin, Marcus Bleasdale

Wednesday, April 1, 2009
The Only Way to Prevent a Genocide
Tod Lindberg, a member of the Genocide Prevention Task Force assembled by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former Secretary of Defense William Cohen, writes about "The only way to prevent a genocide" in this month's Commentary Magazine.

Monday, March 30, 2009
Darfur Advocates Meet with President Obama and Special Envoy Gration
After the meeting, which took place at the White House, Darfur advocates expressed their optimism at the administration's stated commitment to bring peace to Sudan and reiterated the need for urgent U.S. action to reopen humanitarian access to Darfur. Read the statement from the Save Darfur Coaliton. Read the statement from President Obama.

Obama Names Special Envoy to Sudan
In a show that our activism is working, President Obama announced Wednesday that Major General J. Scott Gration will serve as a the Special Envoy to Darfur.

16 Aid Groups Expelled from Darfur
In response to last week's arrest warrant from the ICC, President Bashir has closed or expelled a total of 16 aid organizations - 13 foreign humanitarian groups and three local NGOs.  According to the UN, the expulsion will affect roughly 50 percent of aid in a region where 4.7 million people rely on foreign assistance. 

Vanguard Adopts "Substantially Identical" Policy as Genocide-Free Investing
Investment company Vanguard Group has formalized a process to monitor its mutual funds for investments in companies that may be linked to human-rights abuses and urged shareholders to resist an activist group's pressure to drop holdings that the group says are linked to China and genocide in Sudan.  Read more from the International Herald Tribune.  Read the analysis from Investors Against Genocide.

ICC issues arrest warrant for Bashir
On Wednesday, March 4, the The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for President Omar Hassan al-Bashir of Sudan for war crimes and crimes against humanity.  The court did not include genocide among the charges.

Read the full story from the New York Times.
Read John Prendergast and Omer Ismail's Op-Ed about the warrant.

Darfur Destroyed Video
Watch Darfur Destroyed: Sudan's perpetrators break silence. This powerful, 21 minute online video from Aegis Trust features testimony from Janjaweed.


New Online Form to Contact the White House
In addition to Calling the White House comment line (9 AM - 5 PM EST weekdays) at 202-456-1111, you may now submit comments via the online form at  www.whitehouse.gov/contact

Click here to watch the February 12, 2009 session of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the topic of U.S. Relations With Sudan, The Ongoing Crisis in Darfur, and the Status of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

Click here to watch the film and panel discussion One Night, One Voice: Ending violence against women in Darfur.

Click here to read "UN confirms deaths in Darfur bombing raid," Reuters, from January 25.

Click here to read "Sudan ruling party warns against indicting president," Boston Herald, from January 23.

Click here to read "President Obama's immediate Sudan challenge," by John Prendergast, John Norris, Jerry Fowler, from January 22.

Click here to read "Lives of the Saints," on Darfuri refugees and the UNHCR in Chad, in The New Yorker, from January 5, 2009.

The Genocide Prevention Taskforce published its recommendations on December 8. This groundbreaking report may fundamentally change US policy and the world's response to genocide and the risks of genocide.
- Read the executive summary
- Read the full report

Click here to read "Saving Darfur: A Plan for the Obama Administration," by SDC from November 13.

Click here to read "A Peace Surge for Sudan," by John Prendergast, John Norris, Jerry Fowler, from November 6.

Click here to read "Obama, Darfur, and ICC Justice, We must stand up to Sudan's shocking threats," by Eric Reeves from November 24.

Click here to read the latest policy papers from ENOUGH at EnoughProject.org.

Massachusetts had a large contingent at the Gathering of the Tents of Hope

Over 300 Tents of Hope were arrayed on the National Mall in Washington DC on November 7-9
  • DPDO has facilitated the shipment of tents plus clothing, school supplies, computers to Darfur. The container departed the US in early January and will arrive in Darfur approximately mid-February for distribution. Keep updated on delivery and distribution at DPDO's blog.
  • Visit TentsOfHope.org to see pictures and links to photo albums.