In Solidarity: A Day For Darfur

Well surprise, late again, but here we are. While we're not expert on the situation in Sudan by any stretch of the imagination, we are lending our collective voice here at There... Already to the Afrosphere campaign, In Solidarity: A Day For Darfur.

They say that those who can, do, and those who can't, teach. I'm not 100% in agreement with that statement, but today, I fall in the latter category, so my goal is to teach you about some of the other great bloggers out there participating in this campaign.

Our first stop is Modern Musings, who in collaboration with Dream For Darfur is the catalyst for this effort. Here you will find a comprehensive list of resources and organizations that can help you get educated and activated towards participating.

Usually very good information and perspective regarding a particular situation can be found by finding those closest to it. In the case of the Afrosphere, that person is Kizzie, a Sudanese national who has lived in Darfur, and still lives in the country. Thus Kizzie's perspective is very important to me. Kizzie today let's us know that after:

Decades of war, a psychotic president, and an unendurable climate, I believe that the Sudanese should go to heaven.

Kizzie believes that while the international effort is important, it is up to the Sudanese to save the Sudanese. I've taken the liberty of posting some semiprivate comments on how Kizzie feels that can be accomplished.

1) Pressure our government to sign a peace process (as long as they are in power, they are not staying for long)
2) Encourage the deployment of the UNAMID
3) Invest in Darfur, develop Darfur. There are already many local aid workers in Darfur. We need more aid workers from different parts to go there and since this government Divided to Rule we need to unite to help ourselves help others.

And you should go and visit the rest of the blog.

The Electronic Village is, on it's worst day a great learning community, and today is no exception. Villager is running a series of posts today dealing with Sudan and Darfur, beginning with the video, Living Darfur. Check back with Villager through the day for the rest of his series of Darfur related posts.

No campaign is complete without Gina and What About Our Daughters. She puts the situation in perspective via comparision to the Hurricane Katrina episode here in the U.S. Witness:

Most Americans will never know what it feels like to have to flee their homes. To run for their lives. To have to take what you can carry with you turn the key in the lock and drive away knowing that everything could be gone when you get back. To wonder if you will ever see your family again. Everyday in Darfur people are running . They're fleeing their homes and everything they know and they are doing it while experiencing violence and terror.

Jose Vilson seemed to be in almost the same state I was regarding this day, but came through with an excellent post focused on what he could do himself. He states

I personally want to take the time answer the question: What as an individual can I do to contribute? Besides signing petitions, becoming informed, and voting for government officials who address those situations, it starts becoming more difficult and daunting to think of ourselves as change-makers. But if you start thinking of your own voice as an agent for change, then there’s nothing that’s impossible.

It's worth the read.

Yobachi over at Black Perspective, in addition to an action list, concentrates on the Chinese role in the situation, which

...in short, as stated on this Save Darfur page is that “China’s responsibility and leverage stem from its intricate economic, military, and diplomatic relationship with Sudan. China is Sudan’s largest trade partner, major military provider, and consistent defender of Sudan’s interests in the United Nations.” The ideal is to take advantage of the Olympics and the attention it brings to leverage China and others to act on Darfur.

Well, that's just a start folks as there are plenty of others participating in the effort. You can find the ever expanding list at Modern Musings. I hope you find this helpful, and will spread the word among your networks too. Not to put you on the spot, but thanks in advance.