Zeinab Eyega: A Symbol of Advancement

Zeinab Eyega was courageous. The word itself is weak and overdone by now. Zeinab Eyega has advanced herself by advancing the cause of women refugees in and from Sudan, Darfur and all over Africa. A former refugee herself, she escaped the terrible life and immigrated to the U.S. where she founded the Sauti Yetu Center for African women in NYC., serving African immigrant women with programs such as “family violence prevention, education, reproductive health and women’s rights*.”

*As the terms "Reproductive health" and "women's rights" cover birth control and contraception education and
provision, and frequently abortion assistance, the author of this blog, while supporting Eyega and her cause,
does not personally advocate those particular services of Sauti Yetu

Stop the flow of weapons to Sudan!

Encourage U.S. senators to help stop the flow of weapons to Sudan by sending this electronic letter here. This is hosted by Save Darfur.

According to Save Darfur:

Nearly two years after United Nations peacekeepers were deployed to Darfur, the Government of Sudan works at every turn to block their efforts to protect civilians.

Recently, the United Nations Panel of Experts responsible for monitoring the warring parties in Sudan issued a report confirming what we all already know: Bashir’s regime continues to defy the United Nations arms embargo as well as international humanitarian and human rights law.

In response, Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and John McCain (R-AZ) drafted a letter to Ambassador Susan Rice, the Obama administration’s representative to the United Nations. Their letter asks her to speak out publicly about these violations and ensure that troops and arms movements and additional sanctions are carefully reviewed by the Security Council.

Nearly two years after United Nations peacekeepers were deployed to Darfur, the Government of Sudan works at every turn to block their efforts to protect civilians.

Recently, the United Nations Panel of Experts responsible for monitoring the warring parties in Sudan issued a report confirming what we all already know: Bashir’s regime continues to defy the United Nations arms embargo as well as international humanitarian and human rights law.

In response, Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and John McCain (R-AZ) drafted a letter to Ambassador Susan Rice, the Obama administration’s representative to the United Nations. Their letter asks her to speak out publicly about these violations and ensure that troops and arms movements and additional sanctions are carefully reviewed by the Security Council.

*

The author of the blog is not affiliated with the mentioned organization and has only mentioned it for the
humanitarian purposes of her blog.

16 Days of Activism presents a powerful video

SaveDarfur’s 16 Days of Activism for Darfur campaign recently released a powerful video from and about Darfuri women refugees, with testimony, evidence of their hardship, and up-close-and-personal looks into their lives. It’s short but riveting. Watch it. Please.

Be informed: Gender violence

Gender violence is one of the greatest threats in the horrible Darfur saga–women are raped and mistreated as they try to go about their normal, daily lives. Fortunately, “16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence” , a campaign created by Save Darfur, features a page full of personal testimonies and information about gender violence against women in Sudan/Darfur. There’s even a link so you can stay informed.

I pray for all women who have gone through the trauma of rape, for their healing—but I pray, because Darfur is my mission and passion–especially that this may end.

The author is not affiliated with the featured charity and receives no personal or financial benefit. The
charity and its associated campaigns and interests are mentioned for personal education only.

Where I’ve been

My life has been full of:

• College classes, especially–oddly enough:
• Ceramics class
• My brother’s wedding
• General procrastination
• Planning my sister’s wedding

I’m back to post updates (about Darfur) as needed, though!

Trouble starting again? [news only]

Note: this news was referred to me by my aunt. Thanks!

Sudanese Military Mobilizes

Bishop Asks, Will 2011 Bring Peace?

AL-UBAYYID, Sudan, OCT. 22, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The bishop of Al-Ubayyid is warning that war may soon be returning to his country, as he observes the mobilizing of military forces faced to an upcoming national referendum.

Bishop Macram Gassis stated this to Aid to the Church in Need, the agency reported today.

The prelate warned that “just one single shot” is needed “to explode and we will go back to the bush” where many people were forced to live under rough conditions for some 21 years during the country’s civil war.

He reported that both the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Army, a rebel movement, and the military in Khartoum, the nation’s capital, are arming themselves.

The bishop asserted: “To see arms being amassed, to see military preparations being made — is this an indication of a peaceful mind?

“It indicates that something is in the air.”

He expressed concern over the coming 2010 election and the 2011 referendum on independence for Southern Sudan. For one thing, the prelate noted, the census conducted for the registration of voters and the division of power between the regions was not conducted properly.

“How can you say we have a fair assessment when I haven’t seen the census being done?” he asked. “So if this hasn’t been carried out professionally and faithfully how are we going to carry out the referendum?”

Complicated decision

Bishop Gassis, who serves in a diocese in the Nuba Mountains, stated that his region is partially occupied by the state military, after being evacuated by the government forces from Khartoum.

He stated that in his region the idea of secession is popular, and in Nuba people say, “We don’t want anything to do with the north.” However, he added, “it’s going to be hard because the oil is going to play an important role.”

The prelate explained that people from the south claim that the Khartoum authorities are not giving them a “fair share” of the oil. He reiterated, “It isn’t going to be easy if the south want secession.”

He expressed concerned about how the society’s most vulnerable will be affected by what is coming. “I don’t know how our people will face another armed struggle. It is always the elderly, women and children who suffer,” the bishop stated.

He explained that he himself had experience three aerial raids during the civil war: “It is terrible to be at the mercy of the planes flying above you — the only thing to do is lie down as flat as a pancake and hope that the bomb does not hit you — you’re completely helpless.”

“We thank God for the fact that aerial bombing has stopped — but at the back of our minds is the question will 2011 bring a peaceful solution for the people of Sudan?” Bishop Gassis affirmed.

He continued: “We are in the hands of God. We ask God to save us from breaking down and going back to the gun — the gun will not solve the problem.

“We do not know what the solution will be, but we keep on praying, we are in his hands, we are his children.”

==============================

=============
ZE09102201
2009-10-22
===================================================
This article is from the ZENIT news agency.

If you are interested in receiving news from ZENIT, you can subscribe for FREE at this link
http://www.zenit.org/spanish/subscribe.html

First Darfur case to be heard

The first case, regarding a Sudanese rebel leader accused of disrupting African Union peacekeepers’ duties and killing 12 peacekeepers, was held today to determine if the trial will continue. This case is associated with the Darfur conflict; the rebel leader. Bahr Idriss Abu Garda, lead the attack against the peacekeepers in Darfur.

All information has been gathered from this Associated Press article.

Nobel Peace LIES

I’m no expert on war-efforts. All that I could argue about Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan war-efforts by the Obama administration would only be based on basic news heard by me. I’ve never paid more attention than the “average” American. I don’t see even a plan for the “pull-out” that Obama promised…but I may not have all the facts.

But I do know that Obama promised to begin a serious campaign to secure Darfur, putting Air Force General Scott Gration at the helm of an envoy (the exact definition of this envoy–diplomatic? military? was unclear) for peace negotiations.

And where did it go? Nowhere. The envoy was supposed to be launched; it was announced March 19, 2009 and the members were named also…we were introduced to Gen. Gration. And what happened? Virtually nothing. All promises. If you think this is all some crazy campaign against Obama? No. It’s a campaign against an idea, too. Awarding a Nobel Peace Prize to someone who avoided one of the greatest chances to “bring peace”, or at least suppress oppression and violent, widespread extermination of a large number of a race, as well as taking the dignity of the race.

Shame. Pure shame.

The opinions expressed are author opinions and may not be held by the parties or persons mentioned in the post.

Fidelity’s Sudan Philosophy: Straight from the Company’s Mouth

Several weeks ago, I got a form-letter reply to my letter to Fidelity Investments protesting its involvement in companies linked to countries which support the Darfur genocide. The form letter has the usual ‘we appreciate your concern….’ and directed me to the webpage on its company website, where it states its “philosophy”, or view, on Darfur. I get the basic “knack” of what they are saying, but I feel they are skirting the issue. I’ll break it down later in another post and see if I can put it in more understandable terms. :}

[Is] the war over [?]

In this VOA News article [and other news sources] it has been declared–but of course, not really officially confirmed–that the WAR IN DARFUR IS OVER.

A top commander of peacekeepers in Darfur (I’ve never heard of him before…) Martin Luther Agwai, reports that that the “phase of the full-scale war in the region has passed”. But 300,000 people still died and Sudan officials still claim only 10,000 died. The chief of the U.N.-African Union Rudolphe Adada, has said it is now a “low-intensity conflict”.

So what should we think? When is a war be declared over? The refugees are still out, but the death toll has greatly decreased. I don’t know this time.

But I know we need to bring the refugees back and help them. Not hand them everything, but enable them to get back up. How? We’ll need to work on it.

Opinions expressed are that of the author.