BBC NEWS | Africa | Google Earth turns spotlight on Darfur. (More coverage of the use of Google Earth at United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and Google Earth, Google Earth Blog: Crisis in Darfur - The Google Effect, Ogle Earth: Darfur) I finally got to take a look at the "Crisis in Darfur" layer in Google Earth. I'm reminded once more of the need for prayer and advocacy on my part and the part of those around me. Following the list at What Can I Do to Help Prevent Genocide? is a start; engaging with | Save Darfur is another.
I'm pondering Nicholas Kristof's words in Driving Up the Price of Blood - New York Times:
I find President Bashir’s ruthlessness pretty easy to understand. What is harder to fathom is President Bush’s refusal to stand up to the genocide for four years. Why not impose a no-fly zone, why not hold an international conference on Darfur, why not invite survivors to the White House for a photo-op, why not give a prime-time speech about Darfur?
Perhaps the explanation for Mr. Bush’s passivity is the same as the explanation for Mr. Bashir’s brutality. Maybe Mr. Bush has made his calculations, looked at the number of calls and letters he gets about Darfur, weighed the pros and cons, and decided that Americans really don’t care enough about genocide to make him pay a major price for allowing it to continue.
Last night, some former housemates of mine went with Laura and me to hear people recount their experiences with relief efforts in Mississippi and Louisiana. At first, I did not want to look at still more pictures of the disaster area but found myself emotionally immersed in the muck and destruction. (I plan to take a look at Flickr: Photos tagged with katrina for further local coverage of the recovery efforts.) I learned that a major part of the volunteer effort has gone to "mud-outs" the stomach-wrenching and labor-intensive process of removing the furnishings from houses damaged by flood waters. Seeing pictures and videos of workers wearing respirators, boots, and gloves and standing beside walls covered with the biggest mold spots I had ever seen brought home how hard the work was. There are more students heading down to New Orleans in March.
I've been pondering things Laura and I can do to help in the relief efforts. We can certainly give money to the American Red Cross. We can also support the students who are going on the trip directly. I need to remind myself not to forget prayer, which is often the last thing in which I engage, alas. Finally, I'm part of a community of folks who care about issues such as the ongoing relief efforts around the hurricanes. I can do my part to keep them informed and motivated to work together.
Two days ago, I submitted a letter to the editors of the San Francisco Chronicle to bring more attention to the "ambiguous genocide" in Darfur. Since I have yet to see the letter in press, I suspect that it won't be published. I am trying to keep myself from speculating too much on why my letter might not have make the cut. I hope that others will be able to write punchier, wittier, catchier letters that will make people pay attention to the dire situation in Sudan.
For me, writing the letter is naturally much more important than getting it published because it was the writing itself that forced me to decide and commit to some action. I'm pleased that one of my usual dear readers followed some of my links I posted, including the Darfur conflict - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Last night, by telling friends that I had submitted a letter to the editor, I was granted the opportunity to explain the Darfur conflict around a dinner table, prompting some thoughtful reflections on the efficacy of divestments. This morning, remembering my promise to pray for Darfur, I spent some time in quiet asking God to intervene, to bring peace and justice to the region, to grant those in power wisdom and courage. As I sit down to study the Wikipedia article so that I can do a continually better job at telling others what is happening in Sudan, I consulted the BBC New's "in depth" coverage on Sudan: A Nation Divided to corroborate the Wikipedia. I also need to answer an email from the Justice Task Force at my church on what actions we should take in the coming months. One baby step at a time for me as I try to be faithful.
For a long time, I have wanted to write a letter to the editor of the San Francisco Chronicle to raise awareness on Darfur. I wanted to write a letter that was concise, moving, analytically flawless, and timely. I couldn't do it because I was too wrapped up in my own process rather than the very pressing issue at hand. Over the last few days, I have worked on a simple letter, which I include (with some minor editing) here:
After I sent the letter, I realized that I neglected to mention the role to be played by church groups such as the Justice Task Force at my own church, which has been instrumental in my knowing what little I know about Darfur.
Let me add links that are mentioned above or which support the letter:
SF Gate: Chronicle: Feedback Submission Guidelines for those of you who want to write to the SF Chronicle yourself.
Let's see whether my letter gets published.
This morning, I took in the news of the new minority Canadian government to be led by Stephen Harper. When trying to explain the results to Laura, I realized how out of Canadian politics I've been. At best, I could parrot what I read on the CBC website and New York Times (!). One interesting wrinkle for me is the speculation that Michael Ignatieff might contend for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada. Years ago, while I was a student at the University of Toronto, I went to a book reading of Michael Ignatieff's. He was just a rising young star at that time. I had since followed his career, primarily reading his articles in The New York Review of Books. The jump from young writer to Harvard professor to Canadian-bigshot-returned-from-USA professor at the University of Toronto to MP was startling to take in this morning. Read what the CBC writes:
About a week ago, I listened to the amazingly funny clip from Jon Stewart about Karl Rove and Valerie Plame. I don't know whether the clip is factually accurate -- but it sure made me laugh. I'm tempted to think now that in political discourse, it may be as important to be funny and entertaining as it is to be logically exacting and scrupulously fair. Oh to be funny and fair!
Trade expert warns U.S. obsession with security threatens Canada's sovereignty:
"They (America) want to expand their markets and other countries are going to be leery," if they hear of Canada's experiences, Jennings said.