Enough

This is a great resource for those of you who want to learn more about how to end genocide and crimes against humanity. It is called Enough Project and this is what it it has to say:

"ENOUGH was born out of frustration and hope.
We ran out of patience with the world's shameful lack of progress in combating terrible horrors. We knew there were many examples of successful conflict resolution processes throughout Africa, but the lessons weren’t widely known. We found confidence in the growing number of Americans who are demanding more aggressive, more successful solutions. And we have faith that we can end genocide and crimes against humanity once and for all.

We know that people care, but many assume that the crises in Africa and elsewhere are intractable. This inaccurate perception of futility sustains the killing of thousands and destroys the hopes of a safe and secure future for millions more. With every passing minute, the slaughter continues.

ENOUGH is a project of the Center for American Progress which aims to answer questions about what is really happening and offer a clear path to sustainable solutions. We were co-founded by CAP and the International Crisis Group in early 2007, setting out to establish a new paradigm for action.

We use in-depth knowledge to create clear, viable policy recommendations, and engage activists to apply pressure on the perpetrators and well-meaning governments whose own inertia prevents them from taking the steps necessary to stop genocide and crimes against humanity.

We shine a spotlight on policies that work. We aim to change the international conversation by demonstrating that progress is possible, and that rhetoric is meaningless without resolute, committed action. We are focusing currently on the situations in Congo, northern Uganda, Darfur, southern Sudan and the spillover violence in Chad.

We aim for real change to close the book on these horrible recurring chapters of human history."

Check it out. With the Olympics approaching there is going to be a lot of talk about human rights and if you want to be informed before the conversation starts this website is a great place to start and learn what is going on.

Global Day For Darfur

Today, April 13, is Global Day for Darfur. All around the world events will be held to bring to focus what is happening in Darfur. To learn more about the day and to see if there is an event in your area visit www.savedarfur.org

Here in Toronto at Nathan Philips Square, there will be a gathering with a few bands and a couple of notable speakers. Check it out here at Day 4 Darfur. It should be an enlightening experience.

If you don't have the chance to attend I still urge you to show your support by logging onto SaveDarfur.org and signing the petition. Every little bit helps. After attending the Rwandan Genocide Memorial on Friday it saddens me to think that 10 years from now I will also be attending one for Darfur. We said "Never Again" and I think it is about time we stand by our words.

Rwandan Genocide Memorial

Yesterday I had the privilege of attending a special event coordinated by one of my classmates. Herself a survivor of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, she wanted to create a venue for other survivors to come and mourn and express themselves to help one another heal. This period of time 14 years ago was when the violence and systematic killing of the Tutsi population of Rwanda began.

The entire commemoration was a surreal experience. Several survivors gave testimonies of their ordeal and it was absolutely heart wrenching. Songs were sung in the remembrance of friends and family lost, poems were read which were a reaction to the world and its failure, and silence was given to all those who are no longer with us. Through it all there were prayers of hope.

The Rwandan Ambassador to Canada was in attendance and gave a brief speech about the importance of remembering and about healing. The Communications and PR advisor to the President Of Rwanda was also in attendance and he spoke about some of the controversy that surrounds some of the more Hollywood aspects of the genocide. It was a welcome show of support for both my classmate and the rest of the Rwandan community in attendance that they were able to join us.

After having attended I am more confused than ever about how we remain so distant from the front lines. The face of genocide is an ugly one, and I realize it is far easier to turn away then to stand up and look it in the eyes. However, we can't. We may have the ability but we should not have the option. "Never Again" are words that have been associated with the end of the Rwandan Genocide. What I didn't know until last night was that those same words were the spokes-words for after the Holocaust. They are also the words we are trying to inject into the Darfur dialogue. These words are only words until we give them meaning. They represent our inaction until we choose to make them about action.

The memorial was about never forgetting Rwanda and its lost mothers, fathers, children, grandchildren, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. Never Forget. Never Again. That is a conscious decision you have to make. I hope you make it because the stories I heard are not stories you would wish to hear from your friends or family. It hasn't been on your front lines, but it doesn't mean it won't be. If we fail to stand up for others they either wont be there to stand up for you or they will turn away just as you did. Never Forget.

Meeting Paul Rusesabagina

I had the privilege of meeting Paul Rusesabagina today when he made a speech for my college. As an added bonus I was asked to say a few words to thank him for coming and for this I was given a seat beside him before he went on stage so that I could ask him a few questions. Afterwards, a few students and myself got to have lunch with him. The whole occasion was an amazing experience.

I wanted to post the few words I said in my thanks. So here they are:

"On behalf of the students here, as well as Humber College, we would like to thank you very much for joining us today and sharing your story Mr. Rusesabagina. Despite the title of your autobiography you are more than an ‘ordinary man’. You may be uncomfortable with being labeled a hero but what you did was beyond heroic.

In your autobiography you discuss the power of words and their role in the genocide. You say, “words are the most effective weapons of death in man’s arsenal. But they can also be powerful tools of life.” You used your words to save 1,268 people, but maybe just as importantly your sharing your words here today, and the many other speeches you do, will continue to impact the way we live our lives. Your words do have power and I am very honored that you shared them with us here today. Maybe WE can begin to reclaim those two words, “Never” , and, “Again”.

Paul, we here at Humber thank you once again, and might I add that there will always be a metaphorical banana beer here for you if and when you choose to return."

When I get a copy of the question and answer transcripts from the lunch I will post that as well. He was a very interesting man with a story that needs to be heard. "We have not yet learned from our past," he said, "and because of this we can not hope to change our future." It is on us, the people who wish to see a better future, to learn from the mistakes that have been made and do our best to rectify them for the sake of our collective future. Too much is at stake.