““Our lives begin to end the day Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things we become silent about things

that matter.”that matter.”- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Where is Darfur?Where is Darfur?

Underlying Tensions &

Dispelling Myths MYTH: The crisis in Darfur is an Arab v. African

conflict. FACT: “Identity” was more fluid before the conflict;

differences have since become exaggerated.

MYTH: It’s a conflict over water resources. FACT: Drought and desertification exasperated

tensions between herders and farmers.

MYTH: It’s nothing more than a tribal conflict. FACT: Darfuri rebels are dissatisfied with the

government due to Darfur’s geographic, political, economic isolation.

DARFURDARFUR::

Who’s Involved? Government of Sudan: led by President Omar al-Bashir

Janjaweed Militias: supported by Government of Sudan

Rebel Forces: multiple and fractious, oppose Government of Sudan and Janjaweed militias

International Community: – international organizations: United Nations, African Union– proponents of intervention: US, UK, France, several EU members– reluctant states: China, Russia, South Africa

Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs): – Advocacy groups (Save Darfur Coalition, Genocide Intervention

Network, ICG)– Humanitarian groups (Oxfam, RI, IRC)– Human rights organizations (Amnesty International, HRW)

ACTORSACTORS::

Timeline of a Timeline of a GenocideGenocide

Feb. 2003 – Fighting breaks out Sept. 2004 – U.S. recognizes the crisis as genocide Nov. 2005 – 400,000 dead April 2006 – 50,000 people rally to save Darfur May 2006 – Attempted peace deal Sept. 2006 – “Global Day for Darfur”: 57 cities, 41 countries, 6

continents Jan. 2007 – Attempted cease-fire May 2007 – International Criminal Court issues arrest warrants

for 2 people, U.S. announces sanctions against Sudan July 2007 – U.N. Security Council passes Resolution 1769 Nov. 2007 – Expulsion of humanitarian official, disagreement

over composition of UNAMID, attempted peace talks May 10, 2008 – JEM rebels attack Sudanese capital in

Khartoum July 14, 2008 – International Criminal Court requests arrest

warrant for Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir for war crimes including genocide.

What’s Really

Happening?

As many as 400,000 have been murdered since 2003.

An estimated 2.5 million people have been displaced.

The largest refugee population in the world is found in Darfur.

STATISTICSSTATISTICS::

Save Darfur Save Darfur CoalitionCoalition

180 member organizations 130 million people Goals:

- Safety of civilians and aid workers

- Humanitarian relief- Accountability- Safe return

What Can You Do?

Quick Actions– Become a part of the Save Darfur community– Spread the word– Keep Darfur an important issue in the government

Participate in National Darfur Campaigns– Be a Voice for Darfur postcard campaign– Protection and Security– Dollars for Darfur National School Challenge

Local Organizing for Darfur– Join or start a local advocacy group

ACTINGACTING::

our generation united to make a

difference?WHAT IF:WHAT IF:

"Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great; you can be that generation."

- Nelson Mandela

What if students used online social networks to organize their schools and a national fundraising effort to stop the genocide?

Dollars for Darfur: Dollars for Darfur: National School ChallengeNational School Challenge

Visit the official Dollars for Darfur website to start your own group and help end the genocide:

www.savedarfur.org/dollarsfordarfur

Dollars for Darfur group pages: Facebook and MySpace

Ask friends from other schools to set up a campaign and join Dollars for Darfur groups

Here’s the Here’s the Challenge:Challenge:

Last Year: Students raised

$150,000! Over 400 schools

registered on the Dollars for Darfur website

This Year:

Goal: $200,000 Let’s get 500 schools

involved! Your Goal: Raise the

most and advocate most effectively out of all the schools!

Where Does the Money Where Does the Money Go?Go?

50% = humanitarian aidThis aid goes directly through organizations working on the ground in the Darfur region.

50% = Save Darfur Coalition for media outreach, public education, targeted coalition building and grassroots mobilization.

Examples of what aid Examples of what aid to Darfur can provide:to Darfur can provide:

$35 = Two high-energy meals a day to 200 children $50 = Vaccinations for 50 people against meningitis, measles,

polio or other deadly epidemics $70 = Two basic suture kits to repair minor shrapnel wounds $100 = Infection-fighting antibiotics to treat nearly 40 wounded

children $250 = A sterilization kit for syringes and needles used in mobile

vaccination campaigns $500 = A medical kit containing basic drugs, supplies,

equipment, and dressings to treat 1,500 patients for three months

$1000 = Emergency medical supplies to aid 5,000 disaster victims for an entire month

$5500 = An emergency health kit to care for 10,000 displaced people for three months

For more information and to be involved visit:

www.savedarfur.org/dollarsfordarfur

www.savedarfur.org