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.

Amnesty International Olympic Ads

This series of ads is floating around in cyberspace. The ads have not been confirmed as actual ads by Amnesty but may have been created for them and not been approved yet. We shall see as the Olympics get closer what else will be in store. It is an exciting time to witness all that is occurring with human rights awareness and these are one of many examples that are popping up in reaction to China being host to the Olympics.

International Development Week

I wanted to just briefly mention that this coming week is International Development Week all around the world. Check it out online and see what events are being held in your area to commemorate the occasion. At Humber we are holding a different event every day of the week to highlight different areas of need. Monday is Feast for Famine, Tuesday is refugee awareness day which includes the screening of a movie, Wednesday is HIV/AIDS day which includes a guest speaker, Thursday is Fair Trade Day where Ten Thousand Villages will be on hand to sell some of their products, and Friday will be Environment/Conservation day which includes some carbon footprint games and activities. Now would be the perfect time to learn more about an issue around the world that you have an interest in.

Shall We Wake Up?

I have largely avoided speaking out about some recent global events, not because I am afraid to, but because I have trouble gathering my thoughts into a coherent paragraph not laced with profanity. Why you might ask? Because I just can't get over how lackadaisical we have been in addressing them.
My frustration grows daily about the crisis in Darfur. This area in Sudan has been labeled a genocide, crimes against humanity, the worlds worst current crisis, and many other horrible descriptors. What I find frustrating, however, is that I have not seen nor heard a single moment of news on the issue in mainstream media. What I know of the crisis is what I have gone looking for. This to me is absolutely despicable. This isn't an event that we are far removed from, and in fact we could be considered a catalyst for the problems. It is our ignorance that allows the conflict to continue. While there are many factors involved in this complex crisis, a large factor is about securing natural resources which bring in a great deal of money to those who control it. These same natural resources are the ones we pine for here in the Western world, and will allow anything to happen in order to receive them at a cost effective rate.
The conflict has been occurring for many years now and we have turned the blind cheek too long. These women, children and innocent people are forced to flea their homes, to bury their loved ones, or watch them needlessly whither away due to the lack of nutrition, all because we wish to remain ignorant. We deny any wrong doing in order to make ourselves feel better and comfortable with ourselves and what is happening, and we deny any part in perpetuating it.
This is why I am not only angry with the media, but also myself. I have not spoken up about the problems and have allowed my incoherent thoughts to fester in the back of my mind.
I remain positive that we can do something and that that something is not difficult, nor out of the realm of our abilities. It simply requires that we no longer claim ignorance and begin asking questions. It means we mail our local/provincial/regional politicians asking that we do something to stop this conflict from continuing. These are not difficult things, they are just things that up until now most, including myself, have been unwilling to attempt.
I urge each and every person, whether you feel apart of the crisis or not, to speak up, because it is a life or death matter. You speak up means saving lives - its as simple as that. I know that in every persons heart they care about life, whether it is their own or someone else, so prove you cherish life and use your own to make a difference for someone else.