Sudan: Peace or War

As we wear our green ribbons and bracelets to join in unity with the people of Darfur, Sudan this weekend, please keep in mind we have a responsibility to these people to do all we can. The UN has failed, and now it appears as though the African Union has its hands tied. Here are a few exerpts from Darfur, Sudan.

"Last, they are constrained by a weak official mandate, which prohibits them from using their weapons except to defend themselves, from taking Sudanese into custody and from physically intervening in the conflict in any way. Their daily rounds are officially described as "confidence patrols." "

This does nothing to restore peace, nor does it stop the genocide, raping of women and children, torture, and slavery by the Sudanese government. Morale is low, also, due to the restrictions placed on these "peacekeepers."

' "You have to talk, talk, talk to each other, and that's about it," said Brig. Gen. Festus Okonkwo, a Nigerian officer who heads the mission, speaking in his office in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. "This is not a peacekeeping mission where you can exert force when there needs to be force. And I will tell you, that is not an easy job. That's not an easy thing to be asked to do." '

The address above will take you directly to this article. Please, keep them in your prayers, no matter what your faith is, even if you have none. These people need our voices and our prayers.

Please call your Congressperson and Senators at 1 (877) 762-8762, and make your voices and your opinions on this issue heard. We can move mountains, one phone call at a time. Thank you.