Tag Archives: Darfur

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Dear Avaaz friends,

10/10/2013 Nativegrl77

In just 2 days’ time, African leaders could kill off a great institution, leaving the world a more dangerous place.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is the world’s first and only global court to adjudicate crimes against humanity. But leaders of Sudan and Kenya, who have inflicted terror and fear across their countries, are trying to drag Africa out of the ICC, allowing them the freedom to kill, rape, and inspire hatred without consequences.

I know that together we can change this. But we have to join hands and call on the voices of reason at the African Union (AU) – Nigeria and South Africa – to speak out and ensure that the persecuted are protected by the ICC. Join me by adding your name to the petition now and share it with everyone — when we have hit 1 million our petition will be delivered straight into the AU conference hall where Africa’s leaders are meeting in Addis Ababa.

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/justice_for_africa_icc/?biEWLbb&v=30043

In my years of work, life and travel, the fight for justice has been a long and arduous one. I have seen the very worst in Darfur and Rwanda, but also the very best with the reconciliation in South Africa. During this journey, I have seen great gains made that protect the weak from the strong and give us all hope. The ICC is one of these beacons of hope.

This threat to the ICC started precisely because the court was doing its job. It charged Kenya’s Deputy President for killing people who rallied against him during an election and Sudan’s President for murdering women and children in Darfur. Now Kenya and Sudan are lobbying all of Africa to pull out of the court and destroy its chance of success.

But in Darfur, Congo, Cote D’Ivoire and Kenya, the ICC has played a key role in bringing hope to those terrified by the armies, militias and madmen that have waged war against the innocent. It’s a light in the darkness that cannot be allowed to go out.

The main argument by some leaders with a guilty conscience is that the ICC is a Western witch-hunt as most of the investigations have happened in Africa. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. This was an institution that was created by 20 African countries, 5 of the court’s 18 judges are African and the chief prosecutor is African.

Friday is a key judgement day. Will our African leaders stand on the side of justice or injustice? With survivors and fallen victims or with tyrants and oppressors? This is the moment to choose. Join me in calling on African leaders to stand on the side of justice and support the International Criminal Court:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/justice_for_africa_icc/?biEWLbb&v=30043

I’ve seen some of the brightest moments in human history, moments where we together brought hope to so many. This is our chance to do that again, together.

With hope and appreciation for this community,

In 2 days, African leaders could vote to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, crippling one of the world’s best hopes for confronting genocide and crimes against humanity. I know together we can stop this. Join me in urging the voices of reason within the African Union to stand up for justice and accountability — let’s protect this great institution:

Desmond Tutu

More information:

Botswana Supports International Criminal Court (Voice of America)
http://www.voanews.com/content/botswana-supports-international-criminal-court/1764960.html

130 Groups Across Africa Call for Countries to Back ICC (Human Rights Watch)
http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/10/07/130-groups-across-africa-call-countries-back-icc

Kenya pushing for African split from International Criminal Court (Irish Times)
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/africa/kenya-pushing-for-african-split-from-international-criminal-court-1.1549427

Annan defends International Criminal Court (News 24)
http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Annan-defends-International-Criminal-Court-20131007

Africa to debate ICC role amid growing opposition (Yahoo News)
http://news.yahoo.com/africa-debate-icc-role-amid-growing-opposition-103053710.html

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Sudan: enough is enough

07/11/2011 Nativegrl77

Sudan‘s President al-Bashir is the world’s worst mass murderer. Indicted by the International Criminal Court for genocide, he has for 20 years repeatedly butchered whole communities that challenged his rule. And it’s happening again — unless we stop him for good.

Right now he’s bombing women and children in the Nuba mountains, while his militias go door to door slitting the throats of whole families. For decades, world leaders have shamefully allowed al-Bashir’s unspeakable brutality so they could maintain access to his regime’s large oil reserves. But this week things are changing — Sudan is splitting apart, inflation and food prices are sky-rocketing, and Bashir’s grip on power is at its weakest ever.

Let’s send a massive message to our leaders that enough is enough and demand they end their shocking inaction now: by arresting this monster, levying powerful sanctions on his cabal, and committing to protect the people of Sudan from genocide. Click below to sign and tell everyone — we’ll deliver the petition to UN Security Council members when we reach 300,000 signatures:

http://www.avaaz.org

The Nuba mountains are under siege. Al-Bashir killed an entire generation of men, women and children there in the 1990s, and now he’s back to brutalize the survivors. But in just days, long-suffering South Sudan will finally become independent, taking with it much of the oil that al-Bashir uses to buy international complicity with his crimes. Bashir is also facing pro-democracy protests, a worsening economy, and tense relations with long-time patron, China. This is our best chance in decades to organize the international action we need to end al-Bashir’s brutal rule.

Strong international sanctions, a concerted global plan to arrest al-Bashir and others indicted by the International Criminal Court, and a commitment to protect the Sudanese people from further crimes against humanity would send al-Bashir a signal that the game is up, weaken his position in his own regime, and show the Sudanese people that he no longer has impunity for his crimes. The Sudanese – in the South, in Darfur, in Nuba, and many other places – have waited far too long for the world to stand up for humanity and justice, let’s stand with them now:

http://www.avaaz.org

It’s almost impossible to imagine the desperation and terror of women and children in Nuba right now, or Darfur before them. It’s a great stain on the conscience of the entire world, that we have not done what was necessary to stop al-Bashir’s reign of terror. Let’s end that reign now, with a massive outcry to governments to act.

With hope,

Ricken, Stephanie, Nicola, Alice, Morgan, Rewan and the rest of the Avaaz team

SOURCES

Ethnic Killings by Army Reported in Sudanese Mountains
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/21/world/africa/21refugees.html

Sudan seen massing troops in oil state, U.N. staff blocked
http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCATRE7651FB20110706

Ex-rebels accuse Sudan’s Bashir of blocking ceasefire
http://avaaz.org/afp_sudan

The struggle for South Sudan
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jul/04/south-sudan-hope-aid-policy

How will southern independence affect Sudan?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14019051

~ Recent Post

Breaking: Unrest in Southern Sudan

01/11/2011 Nativegrl77

IRC

Recent elections in Sudan could lead to a new outbreak of violence once the results are made public. I urge you to support the International Rescue Committee’s life-saving work today as they prepare to assist victims of the renewed strife. The IRC has been working in the area for over 20 years providing health care and emergency aid.

Don Hazen
Executive Editor, AlterNet.org

Unrest in Southern Sudan

Dear AlterNet Reader,

Another potential war is looming in Sudan — a country widely known for the brutal conflict in its Darfur region.

On January 9, voters in Southern Sudan went to the polls to cast their votes to decide whether they would secede from the north. While results won’t be known for a week, the outcome may heighten tensions in a decades-old conflict between the regions.

The International Rescue Committee is preparing to help innocent families, should violence and tribal strife suddenly escalate in the aftermath of the vote. We are preparing for an influx of people crossing the border from the north and those fleeing violence within Southern Sudan itself.

We have readied emergency supplies, including clean water, food and shelter materials and are distributing them across the region.

Right now, your donation to the IRC will enable us to deliver practical support and aid to people — like those in Southern Sudan — who are struggling to survive.

The IRC has worked in Southern Sudan for more than 20 years. In addition to emergency aid, our staff there — a majority of whom are Sudanese nationals — currently provide essential services like health care and education to more than 600,000 people.

While the political tensions between the north and south are vastly complex, one thing is simple. We must do everything in our power to protect innocent lives. That is why the IRC is providing critical aid to families in Sudan and in 40 other countries and 22 U.S. cities.

With your support, we can continue this important work.

Sincerely,

All of us at the International Rescue Committee

P.S. Ninety cents of every dollar we spend is used to support IRC programs all over the world. And we are proud to have earned four stars from Charity Navigator for four straight years.