Helping Stop Genocide in Darfur During This Christmas Season

In the past, I've blogged about the situation in the Darfur region of the Sudan, mentioning the ongoing work of the Catholic Workers movement to draw attention to the genocide occurring there. About ten days ago, Susan Stabile posted a message from a Mirror of Justice reader wondering what we, as ordinary Americans, can do and expressing the frustration that many of us feel in seeking an effective response. The following message should provide some hope and a means of providing concrete assistance to those who are suffering and to restoration of security in the region.

Professor Ellen Kennedy of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul sent this message to faculty colleagues, with the heading: "Genocide Intervention Network - A Christmas Story":

Colleagues,

I want to tell you a Christmas story that will warm your hearts – and perhaps motivate you to make a difference in the world.

As you probably know, we have a campus chapter of the Genocide Intervention Network. GI-Net is an organization that has over 600 chapters throughout the country and an international presence; its mission is to educate about genocide, advocate with elected officials and other leaders for a non-violent resolution to conflict, and raise funds to protect those whose lives are at risk. At present the focus is the genocide occurring in Darfur, Sudan. Over 400,000 people have been killed and more than 2.5 million people have been displaced from their homes and villages.

The Student Advisory Board of our chapter has launched a “Ten for Ten” campaign this holiday season. Instead of receiving gifts this year, they are all asking ten of their family and friends to donate $10 each to the national GI-Net office. The national office has raised over $250,000 to assist the limited African Union peacekeeping troops with non-weapons-based support in Darfur. And of those ten, our students also hope that at least one will ‘pay it forward’ to ask another ten to give their support.

These students have made a commitment to lend a hand, to raise their voices, and to take a stand for the people in Darfur who are dying at a rate of more than five hundred every single day. These students are ordinary Midwest kids – but they’ve realized that the words ‘never again,’ uttered after the Holocaust, have rung hollow. They are committed to making ‘never again’ mean ‘never.’

Will you join them in this effort? Your tax-deductible contribution to the Genocide Intervention Network (a registered 501-C3; tax ID number 20-2278405) will help African Union troops to protect women and children against gender-based violence in Darfur.

Please participate with our students in the spirit of giving with the most precious of gifts – the gift of safety. You can send your donation to the Genocide Intervention Network, 1333 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20005, and note that it’s part of the “Ten for Ten” campaign. If it’s more convenient, you can send it to me at Mail MCH 316 at UST and I’ll send it on to Washington.

With best wishes for the holidays,
Ellen

For more information about the national organization, please see
www.genocideintervention.net