Genocide/Darfur

Spielberg Says No to Olympics, Yes to Darfur

Steven Spielberg, celebrated film director and founder of the Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation, quit as an artistic adviser to the 2008 Games in Beijing because of China’s policy on Darfur. His conscience would not allow him to work on the Olympics while “unspeakable crimes” continued to be committed in the Darfur region of Sudan. He asked the Chinese government to use its influence in the region “to bring an end to the human suffering” and to push the Sudanese government to accept a UN peacekeeping force. Spielberg’s statement was released the same day 9 Nobel Peace laureates, including Elie Wiesel, urged China’s president to stop supporting and protecting the Sudanese government. How can you help? By joining the American Jewish World Service Darfur Action campaign http://www.ajws.org/emergencies/darfur/.

Thumbs Up! AJWS Hails Passage of Sudan Divestment Bill

"Passage of the Sudan Divestment Act ensures that U.S. tax payer dollars will not go to funding a genocidal regime.”
—Ruth W. Messinger

American Jewish World Service (AJWS) praised the Senate for unanimously passing the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act (SADA), already passed by the House. The bill prohibits federal government contracts with companies invested in Sudan's booming oil and weapons sectors and provides safe haven for states enacting their own Sudan divestment policies. "Once signed by President Bush, SADA will force companies invested in Sudan to choose between receiving lucrative U.S. government contracts and funding a government responsible for killing hundreds of thousands of its own citizens in Darfur," asserted Ruth Messinger, AJWS President and a leading figure in the Jewish human rights movement.

Teens in Colorado Raise Money for Darfur: “It Just Takes Cents”

Last year, middle school students from the Herzl RMHA Jewish day school in Denver took direct action to ameliorate the genocidal situation in Darfur by collecting loose change in order to help rebuild a school in thrice-destroyed Korma, Darfur. “We learned that we can be role models even at this young age,” recalls one of the eighth graders. “We learned that youth have a powerful voice and that we have the power to influence people and the world to do the right thing.” This year’s Grade 8 students are continuing to take a stand and “speak out against man’s inhumanity to man.” After all, it just takes cents!

A resource guide entitled “Change The World. It Just Takes Cents” ^tm (Middle School Darfur Initiative), available for classroom use, provides a comprehensive educational framework and curriculum for philanthropy and informed social action, with the emphasis on Darfur

Thumbs Down! The Genocide in Darfur Continues: Where Do The Candidates Stand?

This scorched-earth campaign by the Sudanese government against Darfuri civilians has, through direct violence, disease, and starvation, already claimed as many as 400,000 lives. Approximately 1 million more Darfuris still live in their villages, under the constant threat of murder, rape, and torture. What can you do to help? Let the presidential candidates know that you care. YouTube and CNN are sponsoring presidential debates, and you can pose questions to the candidates via personal videos posted ahead of time on YouTube. The next debate, on NOVEMBER 28, will feature Republican candidates. Here’s your chance to question the candidates about moral leadership policies related to crimes against humanity. You can also read what Democratic candidates said when asked about the crisis in Darfur. Make Your Voice Heard!

Darfur Activism and Israel’s Reaction to the Chinese Olympics

By JOSHUA SPIRO

Dream for Darfur, a group engaged in a symbolic Olympic Torch relay (visiting sites of past genocides), has made the 2008 Beijing Olympics a rallying point for the genocide unfolding in the Darfur region of Sudan. But is a Darfur-related Olympics campaign a priority for Israeli officials and Darfur activitists?

Not on Our Watch: The Mission to End Genocide in Darfur and Beyond

By Don Cheadle and John Prendergast
Foreword by Elie Wiesel
Introduction by Senator Barack Obama and Senator Sam Brownback
(Hyperion Paperback, 2007)

Don Cheadle, who starred in “Hotel Rwanda,” traveled to Sudan with John Prendergast, senior adviser to the International Crisis Group. Together they visited refugee camps and heard first-hand accounts of murder, rape, and torture. The authors say they wrote Not on Our Watch: The Mission to End Genocide in Darfur and Beyond as a call to action to inspire American citizens to force the government to “do what’s right.” A portion of the book’s proceeds is being donated to ENOUGH, the project to abolish genocide and mass atrocities.

Not On Our Watch: Protesting Genocide through Nonviolence

Ruth Messinger, president of American Jewish World Service (AJWS) and key activist with the AJWS Darfur Action Campaign, was arrested last year in front of the Sudanese embassy for an act of civil disobedience. She is a role model for teens around the country. Why? JVibe has the scoop.

Is Your Money Funding Genocide? Urge Companies to Stop Investing in Sudan

 “The moral necessity of divesting from investments in Sudan is broadly recognized and growing. I urge you to join me in sending a clear message to our elected officials that we refuse to have our money used to slaughter innocent people.”
—Mia Farrow, Actress and Good-will Ambassador for UNICEF

Sign the Divest for Darfur petition, and help stop the violence: More than 400,000 innocent people have been murdered or succumbed to starvation and disease in Darfur.

The American Jewish World Service, which has led the effort in the Jewish community to stop the genocide, lists the worst offending companies conducting business with Sudan and provides ways to participate in targeted divestment legislation.

For example, Fidelity had nearly a billion dollars invested in unscrupulous Chinese oil companies linked to the development of Sudan’s flourishing oil industry. By insisting that companies such as Fidelity divest their holdings from those doing business with the government of Sudan, economic pressure will be placed on the Sudanese government to cooperate with international efforts to end the genocide. Join the AJWS Darfur Action Campaign now.

A Troubled Exodus: Exploring the Perilous Plight of Sudanese Refugees in Israel

By YOSEF I. ABRAMOWITZ

In a provocative, in-depth, five-part series published recently by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) and then reprinted in Jewish newspapers worldwide, Yossi Abramowitz reports on a frightening and potentially life-threatening situation faced by more than three hundred Sudanese who fled the genocides in Darfur and southern Sudan. They escaped the deadly massacres by fleeing to Egypt but, mistreated by the Egyptians and afraid they would be deported by them back to Sudan, they sought freedom by sneaking into Israel. That landed them in Israeli prisons.

SocialAction.com interviewed Yossi from his home in Israel to find out why he opted to focus on this particular humanitarian crisis and the ensuing moral dilemma for Israel and American Jewry. We also wanted to check in with the writer, social entrepreneur, educator, publisher, and lifelong social activist. Here are Part One and Part Two of the interview. We welcome your comments and reactions at socialaction@jflmedia.com.

Time is Running Out for the People of Darfur

Justice, Justice, shall you pursue [Deut. 16:30]

The ongoing genocidal campaign in Darfur already has claimed more than 450,000 lives and displaced more than 2 million people. What can be done? The American Jewish World Service founded the Save Darfur Coalition to provide concrete ways Jews can help stop the atrocities, such as by contacting members of Congress or attending rallies, marches, and monthly vigils. You can take action locally by participating in the Coalition’s Global Days for Darfur, April 23-30, 2007. Find out about events planned in your community, learn how to plan your own event through your congregation, and join the international effort calling for an end to the crisis in Darfur NOW.

Thumbs Down!—Number of Refugees Up

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) says refugees worldwide number almost 10 million - an increase for the first time since 2002, largely as a result of the crisis in Iraq. Plus, violence in Darfur is on the rise, making the already disastrous refugee situation there even worse. About 2.1 million people in Darfur have been uprooted from their villages in addition to the more than 200,000 who fled the country. What can you do? Join the American Jewish World Service DARFUR ACTION CAMPAIGN. Act now!

Stop the Genocide Now! Make Your Voice heard on During Global Days for Darfur

People across the world are coming together the week of April 23-30 for Global Days for Darfur. Organizations and individuals will use these days to draw attention to the genocide Darfur and call for immediate action. Over 400,000 people have died and 2.5 million have been internally displaced; the rallies, vigils, and marches this week will highlight the theme that “time is running out” for the people of Darfur. The last global days featured events in over 54 countries. To find more events in your area, resources to create your own, and to publicize your congregation’s event, visit the Religious Action Center or the Save Darfur Coalition or contact RAC Legislative Assistant Allison Grossman for more details

How Can You Help the Darfur Refugees? A Little Goes a Long Way

Just $25 provides one family in Darfur with two solar cookers, two pots, and training for the women, which greatly reduces the need to collect firewood and the danger of attack. Jewish World Watch—a coalition of synagogues in Southern California—is working with Solar Cookers International to purchase and provide them. For information about how you can contribute to this project, visit Jewish World Watch’s website.

Petition Urges U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights to switch focus from Israel to Darfur

The newly formed United Nations Human Rights Council has passed eight one-sided anti-Israel resolutions (four more are planned) while ignoring the situation in Darfur, which the U.N. itself has admitted is the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Here is Simon Wiesenthal Center’s petition, which you can sign, urging the Council to stop bashing Israel and instead focus on human rights abuses in Darfur.

RAC Continues to Promote “30 Days for Darfur” Campaign

As a result of the Darfur rally in Washington DC, the Religious Action Center launched the “30 Days for Darfur” campaign. This campaign, also supported by the National Council of Churches of Christ USA and the Southern Baptist Convention, organizes Americans of faith nationwide to meet with consulates and embassies of African Union and NATO countries as well as Russia and China to advocate for greater international efforts to end the genocide in Darfur.

Babaganewz Tells Kids How to Help the Crisis in Darfur

The crisis in Darfur, Sudan, continues, but kids can help.

A Reminder of Slavery and Genocide

At the Passover Seder, you may want to consider adding a plate of “slave food” as a physical reminder of the ongoing slavery and genocide in Darfur. BabagaNewz provides a family-appropriate modern midrash to read aloud on preventing genocide. “We who remember what it felt like to be beaten as slaves—we call to mind now the pain of our fellow humans in Darfur.”

Darfur Educational Resources

The American Jewish World Service, a leader in the campaign for action in Darfur, has prepared numerous educational resources on the situation in Sudan for those interested in who want to put an end to the atrocities.

Crisis in Sudan

This campus organizing toolkit, prepared by the American Jewish World Service for use by Weinberg Tzedek Hillel, provides essential information for successfully organizing students on your college campus.

Jewish Values and Sudan

From Religious Action Center

Judaism compels us to translate into reality the sacred ideal of the humanity of each individual and the Divine spark within us. Judaism not only condemns all racial bigotry; it affirms the belief in the sanctity of humans created in the image of God. Judaism thus places a moral responsibility upon its adherents to affirm the equality of all human beings as children of the One Universal God. The Jewish community has been the quintessential victims of religious persecution, and of all people, we understand the duress of this persecution and will devote ourselves to any measures designed to lessen its impact. It is our duty and obligation to prevent this persecution in the future. The most repeated commandment in the Torah, appearing 36 times, is that we must not discriminate against the stranger in our midst, for we were strangers in the land of Egypt.
To take action click here.

Darfur Update

Video of Darfur from Physicians for Human Rights.

PHR’s John Heffernan narrates and helped produced this compelling video after he led a team to Darfur earlier this year. Susannah Sirkin, deputy director of PHR, and SocialAction.com Advisory Committee member, provides a Jewish perspective. Click here to read Susannah’s introduction and click here to view the video.

Journalism as Activism: Nicholas D. Kristof & the Genocide in Darfur

Or N. Rose, a teacher at the Rabbinical School of Hebrew College in Boston, interviews Nicholas D. Kristof, an op-ed columnist for The New York Times, who has emerged as a unique voice in the mainstream media, using his column as a vehicle for social justice. Over the last two years Kristof has been a steadfast public advocate for the people of Darfur, Sudan, holding accountable the Bush administration and the American media for largely ignoring the first genocide of the twenty-first century.

What makes a motivator?

“I am not just an activist; I am a fighter. I am fighting for the people in Darfur as a Jew, as an American, and as a human being.” Molly Fink tells what works for her in Sh’ma: A Journal of Jewish Responsibility, www.shma.com.

What motivated this group of Jewish teens in Connecticut to aid refugees in Darfur?

All of them cite the Holocaust as one reason for their efforts and the feeling that Jews can never be bystanders, according to writer and editor, Doug Chandler.