What African country are you most concerned about?

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

[mia]

1. Sudan

Out of time in Darfur

..."Janjaweed" militias, Arabs backed by the Sudanese government, are continuing to conduct mop-up operations against non-Arab villagers in a massive ethnic-cleansing campaign in the region. The current conflict flared early last year when two rebel groups in Darfur attacked government forces. The swelling crisis could leave hundreds of thousands dead in the coming months....

The fighting in southern Sudan, Darfur and northern Uganda is part and parcel of the same problem: an autocratic regime in Khartoum that would rather foster divide-and-rule conflict than share power. Peace in Sudan and the region requires a major international investment focusing on finalizing peace in these three interrelated conflicts. Such a move would save hundreds of thousands of lives and hundreds of millions of dollars in relief assistance. If all three aren't addressed, a peace deal for any one of them won't be sustainable.

Although each situation requires major humanitarian responses, Darfur remains the most pressing emergency in the world today. Breaking the back of this famine will require a surge in airlift and logistical capacity. Huge quantities of food, medical, sanitation and shelter supplies are needed. African Union cease-fire observers and U.N. human-rights monitors must be deployed to stop militia attacks. The European Union and the U.S. are the only entities capable of handling such a massive operation....

The situation in Sudan poses an acid test for the aspirations of the African Union to be a regional force for peace, and for the ability of the U.N. to respond to such horrific crimes. A forceful diplomatic initiative combined with a robust famine-prevention effort would save hundreds of thousands of lives and bring peace to the region. This is the kind of international engagement that could begin to restore credibility to the Bush administration's efforts abroad and have a salutary impact far beyond this war-torn corner of the Horn of Africa.

[gottaB]

2. Sudan, but the situation in the DRC could get real ugly real soon

Even worse than last time.

[havocmom]

3. My daughter works with a young man from the Sudan. He is in D.C. for

a bit now, working with AZ Congressman Kolbe. He and a bunch of others walked out when they were very young; one of the 'Lost Boys'. He is an inspiration to just about everyone who meets him. He is working and going to school at U of A. He wants to learn and go home to rebuild his country. He works so hard, has seen so much terror and tragedy and yet remains positive and loving. My sister says he will be the next Mandela.

We must help his people NOW so he has a country to return to and rebuild. He WILL make the world better, but he needs friends to save what is left of his people.

Please, make noise about this issue and do it soon. These people need help fast or they will be gone. Write your reps. Write LTTE to your local papers. Find out if there is any group in your area which has organized to support the people of the Sudan.

Please help this kid save his people. He has the vision and strength to make a difference and the people who made him the fine person he is deserve to survive.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

4. How can we help him?

[havocmom]

9. Do whatever you can to get the issue before the American public

and the world. Write letters. Find out if there are any groups in your area working to educate, pressure media and governments to get in there NOW with food, medicine and peacekeeping forces to stop the genocide.

Kolbe decided to take a trip and see for himself. My guess is John Majok helped inspire him. We need to inspire more in Congress to learn, see and use the might and resources of the US to stop the killing and starving of these people. We need to get the UN to go in NOW! People have been dying for years but it seems the genocide has really been stepped up recently. Get the message to churches. Get as many involved as you can. Love the people. Save the people.

This is a win-win situation, people. We can make our reps get off their duffs and stop this madness to save these people. IF we do, we also start down the path of restoring America's good name on the international stage.

After all the damage we have done in Iraq because of the hate and greed of those in the WH, we need to redeem our nation's honor and purpose. We can demand the OUR government act immediately to stop the ethnic cleansing going on in the Sudan. We can show the world that the American people still have values and the bogus policies of the current junta in the WH is a criminal element which does NOT speak for our people. Our people are mostly caring and want justice in the world.

[VelmaD]

5. Pretty much all of them

:(

[Yupster]

6. Other

I voted other because Chad wasn't on the list.

Much of Southern Sudan has been wiped out by now.

The reason I voted for Chad was because it looks like the next target. Moslem militias are crossing the northern and eastern borders, and the Chadian armed forces, though they're fighting are not close to capable of defending themselves. I'm afraid Chad will be the next unhappy place to be ripped apart.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

7. Got 3 votes for "don't care" - why?

Why wouldn't you care?

[havocmom]

11. Some people just can't care. Most care a lot, but just don't know.

That is why I beg you to write your Congressmen, editors to newspapers, TV news departments, radio people. Help get the word out so media will get the story out so the US and the UN will get the lead out!

Thirty to ninety seconds of International News on a broadcast does not make it likely the majority of Americans have any idea what terrible things are going on. I really believe most of us are good, decent people who want to walk the walk. But thru ignorance, we just don't see where actions need to be taken. Do not let the media talk and talk while they say nothing. It is the public's airways! You are all part of that public. Make noise, get their attention and help get the story out.

Peace and strength

[TeacherCreature]

8. isn't it the Congo where people are eating each other?

That seems to be the extreme in human degredation. From the stories I have read they force people to watch their loved ones being eaten often while they are still alive.

[porphyrian]

10. Other

I have a hard time singling any single nation of Africa out at the moment. Which one doesn't have war, famine, rampant disease (AIDS, for example), growing desertification and/or corrupt governments? I also believe that we should fix ourselves before we intervene on behalf of others, except in cases like Sudan where there is genocide occurring. We should definitely work with the UN to stop this immediately.

[havocmom]

12. A kick for the evening crowd

cuz this is important and we have a chance to make a real difference on this one.

Call/write/email your congressional reps and tell them we need to call genocide in the Sudan what it is.

Special thanks to flpoljunkie for this post earlier today
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=581869
and please check out The Nation article on the genocide
http://www.thenation.com/actnow/index.mhtml?bid=4

My daughter sent the link to this page to her friend from the Sudan. He is currently working as an intern for AZ Congressman Kolbe. I hope she and John forgive my passing along his reply to her:

Thank yu so much ****** for the website and say hello to your mom. I appreciate both your input.

Let your mom know that I work day and night to see a way to STOP atrocities in my country. Currently, the attention of the Congress is drawn to this issue and they are working on a bill that will declare genocide on Sudan.

With your pressure and prayers, anything good will come out soon and I mean SOON.

Thanks
John

John is a student at the U of A in Tucson. He works for my sister and with my daughter. He is an inspiration because with all the horror he has endured, he remains loving and hopeful. Please show him we stand with him in the fight to save his people. Please lend him a bit of your time and energy. You reap what you sow. John sows love and hope.
Show him that America is not the bad policies of the bush* administration. Show him what America really means.

The Nation has a page you can go to and send a message to
Sec. of State Powell: http://capwiz.com/thenation/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=6074336

If you have little time, it is about 60 seconds of work and could save a lot of lives. If you have a bit more time, the page lets you alter the letter and make it your own, more personal plea. I prefaced my letter with a bit of personal perspective. My daughter works with one of the 'Lost Boys' who ended up here and is fighting for his people's survival.

<my preface to The Nation's Letter>
Dear Secretary Powell,

My daughter works with a young man from the Sudan. She says he is the
most inspiring person she has ever met. His name is John Majok and he is presently in Washington, D.C., serving as an intern to Congressman Kolbe of Arizona. Please, take the time to hear this lad's story. Your will have much restored in your heart when you hear him.

Please, take the time to save his people. He was a "Lost Boy" and he intends to learn all he can then return to rebuild his nation. Please take action to assure he still has people to return to.

We can restore some of America's tarnished honor if we act swiftly to get food, medical supplies to these people and pressure the UN to send
Peacekeepers.

Secretary Powell, I beg of you to make sure America uses its resources to save the people of the Sudan. I beg you to take action to show the world what America really stands for!

I beg you as a mother lucky enough to raise a daughter in America and to see that child grow to be a responsible, caring woman. I beg you to help her friend, John Majok, save his people. Please help the mothers of the Sudan who still have children to raise.

Thank you, Sir. Thank you for having the courage to stand up for what is good about America and showing the world we are a noble, caring people. . </end my preface to letter>

It only takes a moment to let DC know the story is out about the atrocities in the Sudan. It only takes a moment to let DC know you want America to do the right thing. It only takes a moment for another child or grandmother to die of starvation. It only takes a moment for the Islamic regime to put a bullet in the head of another Sudanese man.

You decide how the next moment will turn out.

I know John Majok prays his efforts will keep many alive. I know he prays for the help of the many, many friends he has made in America.

You decide how the next moment will turn out. Please take action. and Please keep this kicked