Earlier today President Bush made a long-anticipated announcement of new sanctions against Sudan in an effort to staunch the slow death of Darfur. He declared "For too long the people of Darfur have suffered at the hands of a government that is complicit in the bombing, murder and rape of innocent civilians." He added, "We're targeting sanctions against individuals responsible for violence."
This is a step in the right direction. This is Bush's "Plan B".
But we are not there yet. "There" being the end of the four-year conflict that this administration and many others have rightly termed genocide. At least 400, 000 people have died and 2.5 million people are displaced as a result of this conflict, widely touted as the "worst humanitarian crisis in the world today". In addition, as many as 1.5 million people are beyond the reach of humanitarian aid and are now facing what authors and activists Don Cheadle and John Prendergast have termed "Phase Two" of this genocide - slow but relentless death from disease and starvation.
There is hope in today's move from the President, but there is much more we can do as individuals to take up our personal responsibility to end the first genocide of the 21st century. The 10,000 or more who face death this month need our help. Here are a few easy steps towards this goal:
-call 1-800-GENOCIDE (you will learn about the status of divestment legislation in your state, be connected to your Governor, your Representative, Senator and the White House).
-write a letter to any and all of the above letting your elected officials know that genocide is not something you will tolerate.
-write to the UN and say the same.
-educate yourself about China's role in supporting this genocide and the blood they will have on their hands at the 2008 Olympics if they continue to support the government of Sudan.
-send money for humanitarian aid to organizations that are helping victims and survivors of this genocide. Money always helps.
-see the film The Devil Came on Horseback and learn what really happened in Darfur after foreign journalists were denied access and were not able to send footage back to our TV screens.
-ask Oprah, your local TV stations and press cover genocide in preference to celebrity gossip, feuds and love stories.
Let's all add our support to the President's step in the right direction. Genocide is the greatest crime against humanity and we all can help stop it.