Economic Crisis is Global... and decades old.

It is times like this that should cause us not to sit and sulk but to get up and get active. Now is the time that we can make a difference even if that difference is a simple conversation, a small donation or a helping hand to a brother or sister in need. While we watch our world seemingly crumble around us from the current economic crisis we must remember that a crisis a hundred fold greater has been pounding millions of people of this world for decades.

Global issues like poverty are extremely complex. There is no simple, clear answer. I've railed on and against American Politics, the Political system, the Financial Collapse of the Markets and a myriad of other things but sometimes there comes a time where we, the people, need to turn our attention away from our world and focus on THE World.

Once again we need to unite our voices and speak volumes about the world, our true world and her children. It is through raising our voices, united, that we can be heard and the world will listen.

A few facts and tidbits about 2008:

Poverty and Hunger run rampant in our world while we witnessed a monumental 1.8 TRILLION Dollar single day loss in the Stock market. Our government has bailed out the banking industry with hundreds if not Thousands of BILLIONs of Tax Dollars and seeks more while the executives of AIG and their "top sellers" partied on the posh, enjoyed undeserved bonuses and are now suing the IRS for some BS claim on their tax returns.

World governments now own portions of the banking industry, effectively Nationalizing the financial system, and taxpayers around the world have allowed their governments to use BILLIONS of dollars, Pounds, Euro's and other currencies to fight a war in the Middle East.

My point? We still live in a world where almost half of her population, over three billion people, live on less than $2.50 a day and over 26,500 children die each day. Every day. Year round. The killers of our children, the children of our world, are poverty, hunger and easily preventable diseases and illnesses. What will you do today to help prevent this?

Mister, can you spare a dime? Don't answer with the standard "you can't fix the problem by throwing money at it..." okay, we know that it's complex and the problems have very deep roots. But maybe that dime isn't in hard currency, maybe it's ten cents of your time. A moments worth of you talking to someone else about the problem. What if the whole world was talking about this at exactly the same time? Maybe your ten cents would be worth millions. Take a moment. Talk to someone. You were given a voice for a reason, use it.

Poverty Facts: These are not debate points, not opinions, FACTS. Plain, hard, cold and oh so real facts. When you read my opening and we look at all of the money that we've chased around in less than 2 months the FACT is that we are a wasteful money-centric global society that preys on those with less and forgets those who can not speak with the same volume and intensity that we can. We want our BMW's, Mercedes and our 4,000+ square foot Homes. We want gratification and satisfaction now and we don't care what it cost. We like to think that what we do does not impact anyone else. Continue with this approach to our world and we just might end up paying with more than our money.

26,500 children die each day at an astounding rate of one Child every three seconds, over 10 Million children die each year. One of those children could have been the scientist that cures cancer, saves a nation, makes the impossible possible. One of those children could have been a friend. Each of those children were fellow humans trying to inhabit the planet the we have been given stewardship over. Ask yourself: Am I a good steward for the children. Take a moment. Talk to someone. You were given a voice for a reason, use it. Statistics: At least 80% of humanity lives on less than $10 a day.

Worldwide. 2.2 million children die each year because they are not immunized while the United States spends 8 BILLION Dollars a year on Cosmetics, blush, lipstick, eyeliner, etc. every year. European countries and the United States combined spend 12 Billion Dollars a year on Perfumes. It would take 9 Billion to provide Water and Sanitation for ALL.

The list goes on. The world; US, Europe, Japan, and the rest spend enough on Perfume 4, Pet Food 4, Cigarettes 4, and Cosmetics 4 to provide Basic Education, Water and Sanitation and Basic health and nutrition to the WORLD and still have 3 BILLION left over. Speak up, speak out! Talk to someone. You have been given a voice for a reason, use it today.

You can help by contacting UNICEF, the International Red Cross Red Crescent, Your local Red Cross Chapter, OXFAM and other global organizations dedicated to eliminating poverty and providing basic human needs to the worlds populations. Play Robin Hood - donate, let your voice be heard.

You have been given a voice, use it. Go out and SCREAM! about something you care about.

Politics, Humanitarian, Society


portions of this article have been previously published at http://screaming-at-the-tv.blogspot.com

Arrest Warrant Issued for Bashir

The following is an excerpt from The Invisible Children website. I could have gathered this clip from any news source on the net or print. I thought it important to give anyone visiting SCREAMING at the TV! an opportunity to visit the Invisible Children site and maybe, hopefully, get a new feel for this story. My thanks to the Invisible Children Network and all that they do.

The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for his role in the death of 300,000 people in Darfur since 2003. Bashir has been indicted on seven counts of war crimes including crimes against humanity, murder, rape and torture. The Sudanese government responded by expelling ten of the largest western aid agencies operating in Sudan, including Medicines Sans Frontieres and Save the Children. Out of the 76 aid agencies operating in Sudan, these ten are estimated to contribute most of the aid to the Sudanese.

Does this worry you? It should. What would you suppose that Bashir will do? I've waited on writing anything about the warrant for Bashir because I knew that, while the intention was good the outcome could be tragic. I could feel it in my bones that Bashir would begin kicking out the aid agencies and doing what he could to minimize any UN presence in the region. I wonder how many will lose their homes, families, lives because of this? Don't get me wrong, something needed to be done. A warrant... okay, so we are the civilized world and we follow the rules of such a world - but for those who do not it only means that they will escalate their hate filled behaviors to new levels.

There's this small thing call a strategic surgical strike - maybe the age of everyone knowing everything is not good - maybe, just maybe a couple of heads of state should have sat down and decided that this fish is rotting from the head down and the head needed to be silently removed.

Maybe.

Peace.

You have been given a voice, use it. Go out and SCREAM! about something you care about.

Politics, Humanitarian, Society

Nadya Suleman... Your 15 Minutes are Up

All the talking heads of the world are bitching and complaining about the OctaMom, Nadya Suleman, they can't believe that her story is still alive. The mainstream media is outraged (the best they can be) that Nadya is still getting attention. Not from them, of course, but from the producers of reality TV, the tabloids and all the other rag mags out there.

Today, on the today show Anne Curry made a comment when NBC was running a story about the new supposed million dollar deal that Nadya has made; the comment was something along the lines of "this is a long 15 minutes..." no shit Sherlock but it's long because you clowns keep running her damned story. It doesn't matter if it's about the discussion between her and her mother or the nose job or some of the litter coming home from the hospital... you keep running the story - give it up already. OH! and get this... the lead in question... Is Nadya addicted to pregnancy? WTF!! Who the hell cares! That crap just chaps my backside...

Question for everyone; when was the last time that NBC or any station ran a story on the global issue of clean water, Somalian poverty crisis, Darfur, economic impacts to Mexico's border towns and the rise in violence because of it? When? When was the last time that any station ran a story on how unemployment benefits haven't increased in 20 years in some parts of our own country? When? We all hear about the poor rich SOB's but when have we heard about the real issues?

and finally, just a tidbit to chew on: I was talking to a friend of mine that was recently laid off directly because of the economy. He told me that he had received his first unemployment benefit deposit... the amount... 240.00 before taxes - 214.00 after!!! WTF!!! are you serious... Look..., not for nothing but 24 years ago when I was discharged from the service I decided to take a month or two off before I went in to the "real" world and I filed for unemployment benefits; guess what my benefit was..... yep $240.00!! I was pissed then, my God, I can't imagine what I would do now trying to live off of a total of 960.00 a month (before taxes) and feed my family, pay my mortgage or even rent for that matter, electric... good God - this is the help that we are given from our Department of Economic Security!! What I really want to know is who's economic security is it anyway...

Nadya... I hope you get your deal - not for your sake but for the sake of your children. I hope that whoever draws up your contract has stipulations dictating that a percentage of your deal goes into a trust fund for your children.

Okay, I'm done... Have a great day!

You have been given a voice, use it. Go out and SCREAM! about something you care about.

Politics, Humanitarian, Society

Hacked to Death

A new year is upon us and with it comes an old way of celebrating for those in the Congo. Celebrating Christmas and the new year by fleeing to the mountains. Celebrating by seeking shelter, not from the elements of nature but from the atrocities of man.

Celebrating by hacking Catholics to death and forcing them in to fire. Celebrating by cutting off the lips of their victims as a warning not to speak ill of the LRA rebels. Celebrating by massacring 400 or more people doing nothing more than attending Mass and going about daily life.

News of the attacks in north-eastern DR Congo began to come out after the weekend when the Ugandan army accused the LRA of hacking to death 45 civilians in a Catholic church near Doruma. Bruno Mitewo, head of the Catholic aid agency, says that from information they have collated from their parishes on the ground, more than 400 civilians have died in the attacks. "All villages were burned by rebels... we don't know where exactly the population is because all the villages are empty," he told the BBC.

There are 6,500 people displaced who are refugees in the parishes of the Catholic Church around the city of Dungu, more than 20,000 are running and hiding in the mountains.

Countries from Uganda to the Central African Republic have suffered 20 years of terror inflicted by the LRA, 20 years, what's one more.

So, can someone explain to me how that "Global Attack On Terror" is coming along? That forceful -- we will not allow it to be, we will hunt the darkest corners of the world to eliminate terrorist... What's the problem? Not enough Oil Reserves in the Congo? Or maybe, collectively, we just don't care...

You have been given a voice, use it. Go out and SCREAM! about something you care about.

Catholic, LRA, Congo, Christmas, Mitewo, Catholic Aid Agency, Catholic Aid, Politics, Humanitarian, Society

Petition for Darfur

As we draw nearer to President Obama's inauguration day it becomes more and more important that we push to keep the issue of Darfur in front of him. Take a moment and sign the petition and add your voice today.

Time Marches Forward... and the Headlines Keep Coming

December 7, 2008 (NYALA) — Militiamen attacked a camp of displaced in a remote area of Darfur near the border with Chad, a displaced persons’ spokesperson said today, adding that four were seriously injured.

December 6, 2008 (EL-FASHER) — The government backed janjaweed militia killed a local chief at Hassa Hissa camp, near Zanlingei in West Darfur state where a militiaman dead last week following a quarrel with residents from the camps.

Musa Abakr Posh was killed on Saturday in his house inside the camp, his son Al-Fadil told Sudan Tribune. He further said they had fears for the safety of his father because he was targeted by the pro-government militia.

source: Sudan Tribune

You have been given a voice, use it. Go out and SCREAM! about something you care about - SCREAM for those who's voice has been silenced.

Politics, Humanitarian, Society

Political Rape: "It was against my will..."

"It was against my will and he did not use any protection"

"I was taken hostage by Zanu-PF youths who are being led by a major and war veteran, one of them said I had to renounce my allegiance to opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)."

Barack Obama was freely elected in the United States. We griped about voter oppression, we watched with our cell phones ready for polling booth irregularities, we never worried about what opposition to the ruling party would mean to us physically - it's not part of what or who we are. While we worry that elections are held on the up-and-up. That all play by the rules. That elections are truly free - we do not worry that the political party we affiliate with will get us raped or beaten or... killed.

"I had to give in to his demands as he said I could be beaten. It was against my will and he did not use any protection." Before the first round of the election in March, Maidei, like many other young people fed up with Zimbabwe's economic crisis, was not afraid to make her support for the opposition known.

We drive, take a cab and walk to our polling places. We cast our ballots and we return to our homes, safe, secure and we never think twice about the freedom we have just exercised. The freedom that so many in this country have given their lives for and so many in other countries continue to fight to obtain.

A local Zanu-PF official explained that the pungwes, used during the war of independence, were still necessary as "political re-orientation" exercises to warn people "against the opposition which is backed by the West".

Asked about the allegations that men were raping women and girls forcibly at the meetings, he replied matter-of-factly: "We have to share in comradeship as we have the same aim to get rid of the opposition here." His reply glossed over the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV/Aids which has wreaked havoc in Zimbabwe.

Life expectancy is down to 37 years from a life span of 60 years back in 1990. This is largely due to the HIV/Aids pandemic.

You have been given a voice, use it. Go out and SCREAM! about something you care about.

Politics, Humanitarian, Society

Bloggers Unite for World Aids Day: Statistics are like bikinis

Today Bloggers Unite for World AIDS Day and so I join my voice along with thousands of others to bring to the surface the topic of HIV/AIDS.

Screaming at the TV tries to cast a light and have a voice for those who can not and for those who suffer in Africa. It is for the people of Africa that suffer from HIV/AIDS that I will dedicate my post:

Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital. ~Aaron Levenstein

Bear with me here I tend to like to look at bikini's and here's what I found when I started looking into what Africa is wearing:

• 22 million people in Africa were living with HIV at the end of 2007 that is more people than the entire populations of:
  
  
  • Arizona (6.5m)
  • Nevada (2.5m)
  • Utah (2.5m)
  • New Mexico (1.9m)
  • Colorado (4.7m)
  • Wyoming (.5m)
  • Idaho (1.5m)
  • and Montana (.9m) combined.

Think about that for a moment. Conceiveably the mid section of the Western United States infected with HIV/AIDS.

• An additional 1.9 million (est.) were infected with HIV during that year.
• 1.5 million people lost their lives due to AIDS, in Africa, in 2007.

Think about those two statistics. 1.9 million, the entire population of New Mexico infected annually. Not eye opening? What about the 1.5 million people who die annually?, everyone in Idaho - dead.

It's sad, but it's just the adults who get HIV/AIDS, right? People who are sharing drugs or engaging in unsafe sex or unprotected sex? Right? It's people who are undereducated and just don't get the message, right? It's their own fault.

No, it's not. In fact the children are one of the greatest at risk groups in Africa:

• Nearly 2 million children in sub-Saharan Africa were living with HIV at the end of 2007.
• Representing more than 85% of all children living with HIV worldwide.
• The vast majority of these children will have become infected with HIV during pregnancy or through breastfeeding when they are babies

In many parts of Africa, as elsewhere in the world, the AIDS epidemic is aggravated by social and economic inequalities between men and women. Females commonly face discrimination in terms of access to education, employment, credit, health care, land and inheritance. These factors can all put women in a position where they are particularly vulnerable to HIV infection. In sub-Saharan Africa, around 59% of those living with HIV are female.

AIDS is erasing decades of progress made in extending life expectancy. Millions of adults are dying from AIDS while they are still young.

One last Statistical Fact to look at under the Bikini of Africa:

• Life expectancy in Sub-Saharan Africa is 47
• Life expectancy in the United States is 77.8 years.

Think about it, just think. Then use the voice you have been given, go out and SCREAM! about something you care about, scream for those who need your voice.

statistics, Aaron Levenstein, Africa, HIV, AIDS, Invfected, Unsafe Sex, Unprotected Sex, Children, Pregnancy, Breastfeeding, Discrimination, Education, sub-Saharan Africa, Life Expectancy, Team SCREAM!

Ambassador Alberto Fernandez on Darfur

The top United States diplomat posted to Khartoum, Alberto Fernandez, has emphasized the U.S. commitment to guarding the peace agreement and the need for a solution to Sudan’s civil war in Darfur. Fernandez warned against “phantom agreements” that do not address the needs of “three million people living and suffering miserable lives in internally displaced persons (IDP's) camps in Darfur.” He noted that the U.S. had not yet seen evidence of the ceasefire declared unilaterally by Sudanese President Omer Al-Bashir on Nov. 12.

“There is still a need for action to be taken to correct this horrific historic record. That’s the way I see it. Something needs to change which hasn’t changed yet.”

I could not agree more. Something has to change for the “three million people living and suffering miserable lives in internally displaced persons camps in Darfur” the opportunity to live without fear, in their homes, to tend their farms, businesses and communities. The people of Darfur ask for nothing less than the what most of us take for granite.

You have been given a voice, use it. Go out and SCREAM! about something you care about.


Alberto Fernandez, Sudan, Darfur, Internally Displaced Persons, President Omer Al-Bashir, Politics, Humanitarian, Society

Captain Jack Sparrow is Alive and Well, Just ask the Fool on the Hill

A fellow blogger over at Fool on the Hill Recently posted his take on the new age of Piracy I thought the piece so clever that I had to ask if I could use part of it here at Screaming, he kindly allowed me to do so.

So without further adieu;

Fool on the Hill

Original Post: November 20, 2008: I blame Johnny Depp

"The current surge in piracy off the coast of Africa is surely partly the fault of Johnny Depp making pirates appear sexy. With his pursed feminine mouth and saucy good looks, Depp has changed the image of the pirate from a bloodthirsty, murderous rogue, often with a leg [Long John Silver] or arm [Captain Hook] missing, in other words, a bad guy, into a cheeky scamp and a good guy, making it a more attractive career choice for anyone, including Somalians looking for a way to make a living, with their country a failed state without a government. Having apparently got away with capturing a cargo vessel, The Faina, packed with guns and ammunition a few weeks ago [and still not released], they went on to take an oil tanker, the Sirius Star in the Gulf of Aden, the 9th ship captured in 12 days, and have demanded $25M. They even thought they'd grab an Indian Navy warship wanting to search them, but warships tend to have guns unlike cargo vessels, and they were blown out of the water and sunk."

SCREAMING Update: Naval forces in the Horn of Africa Region are growing all the time. There is already a small flotilla of warships from the US, UK, Canada, France, Turkey, Germany, Russia and India, among others. The warships have established a safe shipping lane and escort food aid ships into Somalia. Now isn't that ironic? Warships are protecting the shipping lanes leading in to Somalia... from Somalian Pirates.

The British Navy recently shot and killed two pirates, the French have captured pirates who had taken over a yacht, the Indian navy has thwarted two attempted hijacks and has sunk a pirate ship which refused to stop.

In 1815 the American Commander Stephen Decatur was deployed to stop the pirates in the Mediterranean. He simply captured the flagship of the Algerian Dey. When the Dey later repudiated the agreement, the British and Dutch bombarded Algiers. Guess what may be about to happen...

There is UN Resolution 1838 that passed in October and authorizes the use of "necessary means" to stop piracy in international waters and UN Resolution (1816) which allows anti-pirate operations within Somali waters. UN Res. 1816 may be a bit trickier to enact as it requires the agreement of the Somali transitional government.

And with this, I will close with a few more words from the "Fool on the Hill":

"I say call in Steven Segal and Bruce Willis, that's bound to scare the shit out of them. All in all, Hollywood's got a lot to answer for."

You have been given a voice, use it. Go out and SCREAM! about something you care about.

Piracy, Johnny Depp, Depp, Africa, Pirate, Pirates, Long John Silver, Somalians, Gulf of Aden, Horn of Africa, Somalia, UN Resolution, Politics, Humanitarian, Society

Congo 250,000 Displaced People; New Rebel Activity

In The World Around Us it looks like there is no rest in the DR Congo. It is reported today that Heavy fighting has broken out in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo between government forces and rebels.

In my post Screaming with Pictures I talked briefly about the displacement of 250,000 people because of the recent outbreak in rebel activity. As of today, with 250,000 people fleeing and nowhere to go, rebel forces have taken control of Rwindi and are walking around freely according to the AP.

This can not be good for the people of Rwindi or the DR Congo.

Watch the video

A rebel spokesman, stated that: "The government forces are stuck at Vitshumbi, they have no choice but to run away across the lake or through the forest. We are going to... silence the government forces. We are going to impose a ceasefire on them."

In the meantime it is the innocent of Congo that are being silenced. Rape, murder, starvation all becoming to frequently a part of everyday life.

Take action today, send your Congress man/woman a message urging Congress to adopt bipartisan legislation, HR 6520.

Take action today, Donate to Refugees International.

You have been given a voice, use it. Go out and SCREAM! about something you care about.

The World Around Us, Rwindi, Rebel, Rape, Murder, Starvation, Displaced Peoples, Politics, Humanitarian, Society

24 Hours for Darfur; Take Action Now Add Your Voice

Can you sit by? 250,000 displaced peoples as a result of the recent increase in fighting in the Congo, can you sit by? Murder, Rape, Starvation are facts of daily life, Can you sit by?

You have been given a voice, use it. You have the ability to make a difference just by talking about this issue, do it. You have an opportunity to give the gift of hope to those who live in hopelessness - give it. You can make a difference.

Go out and SCREAM! at your politicians. Talk to your family, church, friends, neighbors, anyone who will listen. Add your voice.

Visit 24 hours for Darfur.

Darfur, 24 hours for Darfur, Africa, Genocide, Politics, Humanitarian, Society

Screaming with Pictures; DR Congo

Just a few captions today, Congo is out of control. 250,000 people are fleeing but with nowhere to go. Camps are full and becoming more dangerous than ever. Rape is commonplace, murder even more so. Rotting bodies lie everywhere.

Around 1,000 cases of cholera have been reported since October, the World Health Organization warns.

A woman, speaking from hospital, said she was among a group of villagers who had been raped by Mai Mai rebels in front of their husbands, who had been tied up with ropes.

A IDP camp attempts to withstand the rains. There is no substantive shelter when you are constantly running for fear of your life.

"We were on our way back from school when we met the rebels. They made us carry some luggage for them and then told us to go with them," says a 16-year-old caught up in the recent unrest..." Forced recruitment of child soldiers is nothing new, I just wonder do we or have we, over time, become immune to these stories?

You have been given a voice, use it. Go out and SCREAM! about something you care about.

Seemingly Impossible is Possible

Amongst everything that seems to be filled with doom and gloom I have come across a lecture from Professor Hans Rosling that may offer a glimpse of hope - given time. The lecture "Seemingly Impossible is Possible" is shown as it originally aired by TED TV using Gapminder software to demonstrate global statistics in ways you have never seen them before (well, at least I hadn't). A look at Africa's struggles shows that the gap between have and have not seems minuscule when talked about in dollars and cents.

Statistics are unfortunately not the most sexy thing in the world, however Professor Hans Rosling has the gift and ability to show us global trending statistics in ways you may have never seen them before. There is hope that the seemingly impossible is possible.

Watch this video, pay attention to where the world was, where we are now and how we got here. Attention: This video has a run time of 20 minutes - it is worth the view

You have been given a voice, use it. Go out and SCREAM! about something you care about.

Africa, Hans Rosling, statistics, global, seemingly impossible is possible., global statistics

Tents of Hope

Darfur activists pitch tents to influence Washington, the following includes excerpts from an article published in the Sudan Tribune, written by Daniel Van Oudenaren.

November 10, 2008 (WASHINGTON) – Activists set up some 350 tents of hope on the national mall in front of the United States Capitol building this weekend, hoping to reenergize the U.S. Darfur movement and influence the president-elect.

It seems that this hope is alive for many of us. The hope that we can energize the efforts of the United States and our President to act on behalf of the people of this region.

Each of the tents was sent by a community somewhere in the United States, representing approximately 350 cities in 48 states.

As the article continues Mr Van Oudenaren goes on to provide expectations of those demonstrating:

.... benchmarks will include whether or not the UNAMID peacekeeping force receives the equipment that it has thus far been denied, such as transport and attack helicopters...

Today in Darfur

"...Nigerian peacekeepers were ambushed in West Darfur, wounding a peacekeeper, and on the same day attackers shot at a humanitarian vehicle, wounding the driver.... the Nigerian Protection Force Company stationed at the Geneina Super Camp in West Darfur was ambushed by a group of unknown men armed with Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) and AK-47 assault rifles

These are the UNAMID Peacekeeping forces that need the support - this is part of why the Tents of Hope are trying to draw in this nations attention.

...Later in the day a vehicle belonging to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees was attacked in Zalingei, West Darfur...

This crisis will not let up without pressure from the international community. Add your voice, talk about this at home, at your church, in your community, on your blog. Write letters to your government officials, let them know that we must support the efforts and the needs of the UN Peacekeeping forces.



You have been given a voice, use it. Go out and SCREAM! about something you care about.

Darfur, activists, Sudan Tribune, Sudan, Tents of Hope, Peace Tents, peacekeepers, UNAMID

UN uthorized UNAMID Falls Short of Promise

Protect the People of Darfur

It has been a year since the U.N. Security Council authorized the UNAMID peacekeeping force for Darfur and promised to deploy 17,000 additional troops to protect the people of Darfur.

In the last year, barely 2,000 additional troops have so far reached Darfur. This failure to act is simply unacceptable.

The people of Darfur need protection more than ever. The prosecutor of the ICC / International Criminal Court issued formal charges against Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir for genocide, which may cause him to take his vengeance out on Darfuris.

Pesident al-Bashir came to power in Sudan in 1989 on July 14 2008 he was charged with ten counts of war crimes and genocide as a result of Resolution 1593. It is unlikely that there will be any action. President al-Bashir will not be arrested, he will not be transported to the Hague for trial. He will continue his ways.

Why? Why wont the world take action? The world view and it's approach is fairly conservative, especially given the big oops in Iraq, here's why I say that.

By using the "Do nothing" approach the world will operate under the blind eye of it's been here all along why screw with it now or; the region stays as status quo - it is no more nor is it any less stable than we have experienced for a decade or more. However, get involved and the region may fall in to complete chaos (quite the opposite of what we have there right now isn't it?).

So what's the benefit to turning a blind eye with the exception of the occasional publicity laden political outcry? We benefit from Sudan's intelligence sources on our "war against terror" and thus won't cut our own wrists to push someone, who is "helping" us, out of power. At least not without first setting up a puppet government and we seem to be just a bit busy right now with other parts of the world that we thought we could do this in.

Other than that what's holding us back, well, we, the US, may be a bit gun shy about getting involved in another Muslim country at this point, our recent attempt doesn't seem to be going so well politically at home or with our allies.

And the world turns, evil begets money, money begets evil, and oil! Oh my God, Oil begets it all! There is an election scheduled in Sudan for July of 2009, it is highly doubted that it will be free and/or fair. It is also highly suspect that the self-determination referendum for the south, in 2011, will be on time or honest. Why bring these dates and elections in to the conversation? The Sudanese election in '09 is important for al-Bashir to maintain control. The referrendum, if it were to pass, would successfully separate al-Bashir from 80% of the oil produced in Sudan, and don't forget....Oil begets it all.

To insure that things go his way, it seems Sudan's President or representatives thereof, have been making nice with some entrepreneurs in China: The BBC uncovered concrete evidence that weapons from China - a permanent member of the Security Council - are being used in Darfur in violation of a U.N. arms embargo.

It has never been clearer that the member states of the U.N. Security Council need to muster the political will to deploy peacekeepers to Darfur.

Write your local / state representatives, tell them this has to stop. Deploy the troops authorized by the UN mission in Darfur / UNAMID.

You have been given a voice, use it. Go out and SCREAM! about something you care about.


Darfur, UNAMID, Omar al-Bashir, al-Bashir, genocide, Hague, referrendum

Refugees United: I Saw Them Die

Today thousands of voices will be raised by the Bloggers Unite for Refugees effort as there are thousands upon thousands of stories that need to be shared; thousands upon thousands of voices that need to be heard.

I will, today, try to add my voice for some of those.

"I saw them die; and after seeing them I knew we had to run away or else we would also die with them....We all ran helping and carrying our children - there were very many of us running away.....My husband and our four children and myself left our home."

Congolese mother Anatasia Ndaonduye, age 30.

At the age of 30 I was climbing the corporate ladder, complaining about traffic and fighting the hustle and bustle of every day life as I knew it. I enjoyed the liberties of being able to sleep in my house, eat food from my refrigerator, and know that my children slept securely and in peace.

'Life is desperate'

...trudging northwards past the last of the government soldiers, past the dead fighters rotting in the ditch, past the empty artillery shell casings and discarded ammunition boxes that litter the first CNDP checkpoint....The family's head, Ndugu, said they were leaving the safety of Kibati because they simply had no choice...

As a human I can not conceptualize the feelings that this man must have. As a Father I can not fathom how this man must feel. How is it humanly possible to live, exist in such an environment. As I write this I wonder is there anything in my life I can relate to this type of despair, and no matter where I have been in life I find that there is not.

"We know its dangerous, but what can we do. We had no shelter (for the rainy season), there is not enough food for everyone, and we just couldn't stay ..... we would rather die in our home than in the camp."

How does one arrive at this point in life? The point that allows you to make this decision. The courage, the fear, the complete and utter hopelessness this family is facing must feel like wave after wave crashing down upon you in some horrific and relentless nightmare. The number of displaced peoples in our world, as of 2007: 8,525,500.

Refugees in Osire Camp in Namibia peacefully demonstrated for their basic rights in June. Countless children stood with their parents holding signs that read, "We are not animals in the zoo. We are people....."

November 4th, 2008 nearly 250,000 people gathered in Grant Park, Chicago to cheer a new President. Not a single participant felt fear or threat from their government for the gathering that was taking place. A few thousand miles seems to equal a few hundred years.

.....In retaliation, Namibian officials have banned refugees from setting foot outside the camp--despite the fact that the Constitution of Namibia allows residents to demonstrate peacefully.

I wish this was the end - but it is not. Join me wont you, act, even if it is simply by raising awareness in your family, social circle, or church. Reach out and be a voice for those who so desperately need one.

Update: New clashes between government and rebel forces have broken out near Goma.

Thousands of displaced people have fled in panic from a nearby camp, as the clashes continue. The UN force, Monuc, have deployed helicopters to try to contain the violence.

There will be more stories to tell, more voices to hear. Be a voice.

Technorati Tags: displaced, displacement, Congo, Africa, Darfur, Kibati, genocide, peace, Namibia, UN, African, Refugees United, Bloggers Unite, BlogCatalog, Bloggers, Unite, Refugee, Refugees United, Red Cross, Save Darfur, Refugees United, Save Darfur, Refugee, Africa

13-year-old Somali Rape Victim Stoned to Death

Somalians live in fear of the Al-Shabab:

By Daniel Howden
Sunday, 9 November 2008

This was a death foretold. A Toyota pickup with a loudspeaker began an early-morning tour of the ruined neighbourhoods of Kismayo, a port in southern Somalia, announcing that there would be a killing. By 4pm a crowd of 1,000 people had gathered at the football stadium. A hole had been dug in the ground, and half an hour later a truck loaded with rocks arrived.

Please notice the date of this article. It IS 2008. This is happening in our world and it is happening today.

A young girl was dragged into the stadium. She knew what was going to happen next, and witnesses saw her struggling and screaming. "What do you want from me?" she asked. Then she shouted "I'm not going, I'm not going. Don't kill me."

The girl was 13, her only crime?

...But four men forced her into the hole and buried her up to her neck. Fifty men then set about stoning her to death.

She had been raped.

...After 10 minutes she was dug up and two nurses checked to see if she was alive. She was. So they put her back in the ground and the stoning recommenced.

Because... she had been raped by three men and her family reported the crime.

These are the politics of the world around us.

You have been given a voice, please use it. Go out and SCREAM! about something you care about.

Politics, Humanitarian, Society, Somalia

Postcard to President-elect Obama

Fellow "SCREAMERS!" now that the election has past and the political feeding frenzy will begin to die down a bit it's time for us to get back to the business at hand.

Saving the world one small scream at a time.

I would like to ask you to join me in signing and sending an electronic postcard to President-elect Obama (I love writing that!!) for the Voice for Darfur campaign.

Both candidates pledged "unstinting resolve" in pursuing an end to the Darfur genocide. Now it's time to begin the campaing of urging President-elect Obama to uphold his pledge.

Please join me in signing the post card. You can get to the Postcard by clicking the Save Darfur graphic or by clicking here.

President-elect Obama's Record on Darfur:

Obama/Reid Amendment

On Oct. 2, 2006, Sens. Obama (D-IL) and Reid (D-NV) offered a $20 million amendment to H.R. 5631, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act. The amendment allocated funds to support the African Union troops in Darfur.

The African Union is currently the only protection for Darfurians. While it is imperative that a United Nations force take over for the African Union, the latter must be supported in the meantime.

The Obama/Reid amendment provided sorely need funds, but this is just a step. We must add our voices and keep the issues in front of our government. Sign the postcard to let our President know that his voice and that the voice of our country is needed now more than ever.

You have been given a voice, use it. Go out and SCREAM! about something you care about.

Technorati Tags: President-elect Obama, Voice for Darfur, genocide, Darfur, Darfur, voice for darfur, President-elect Obama