I should've said this earlier, thanks to Clooney and Mia Farrow and others for bringing attention to the crisis in Darfur.
4
Regarding the gold coming out of places like the Sudan, we should treat that gold like the blood diamonds of Africa. Shame the money makers into doing something drastic to save that region from this violence. If the money stopped coming in, the evil empowered would become less and less powerful. Let's try to save who we can save but enough waiting around. Those poor people never asked for this and the term 'genocide' should be the whole world's problem to stop at last.
4
As much as I applaud Clooney's impassioned plea for us all to do more in the face of human atrocities, (and I wish we had a really functional World Court) I wonder if all the sanctions in the world can make a dent in the Sudan. From what I've read and seen, some of it on Vice Media, there is the ongoing problem of socializing and educating Sudanese children who are either lost in the streets addicted to glue-sniffing or in schools that teach only the blind following of Islam without any math, science, literature, geography, history or philosophy. And zero path upward for girls. So what to do? The enormity of such hideous psychopathic violence boggles the mind. I believe Amnesty International has been trying to raise awareness for years along with other humanitarian groups. But these children are either killed, sent to war, polluting their minds with solvents, and blindly following the ignorant version of a world religion. Obviously, there is no leadership in this country or authentic communication with the U.S.
3
George Clooney has stayed with the Sudan issue for many years and I truly admire him for it. He has a huge heart.
4
Genocide of a culture is despicable. Obama needs to go after those who are perpetrating it.
1
I did not live through World War II. While total world domination and genocide must have been a nightmare, there was a certain amount of solidarity with the good guys fighting the bad in a epic battle for the future of the civilized world. Now it seems, that global civilization has deteriorated in a way that is unlike anything we have seen since the dark ages with tribes running rampant and torturing and spilling blood in extremely brutal and savage ways. It is a scary world and between the environmental degradation that threatens us and the world's wildlife, and the mindless battles raging in every corner of the world, I am inclined to believe that the human race is not a viable enterprise. I don't see any answers on the horizon or any concerted efforts to stand up to the dark side of humanity that seems to be prevalent in our day to day,21st century existence. It feels like the monsters are winning.
14
I admire George Clooney for not giving up, for using his celebrity as a searchlight beamed on the awful, hideous truth of the Sudan government. He must feel enormous helplessness. Here is a man with all of the choices possible, welt, fame, a good life, and he can do nothing but try to call our attention to Darfur today. I wonder at President Obama who knows the truths of what is and has been happening in Darfur -- I wonder at his feelings of helplessness at being the so-called most powerful person in the world who, if he brought up the matter of genocide in Darfur would face advisers immediately beginning to assess political fall-out. ultimately no one cares enough about some father's 12 year old daughter in Darfur to give up any of our comforts.
6
George Clooney is a passionate man. His work in Darfur highlights his fundamental belief that a person's indifference to injustice is the gate to hell. I believe we all can learn from Mr. Clooney, for he is a successful man who understands that even with all of his creative contributions to society and well earned wealth , he still does hus nn part in advocating for the most oppressed people on the planet. Mr. Clooney from one citizen to another I thank you, and salute you.
3
Let us do a very simple thought experiment.
What does Bashir has to gain? Many says it was territory and power. If that is the case, why did he let South Sudan - the most resource rich part of Sudan that is almost three times as large as Darfur - gain independence, while the fighting continues in Darfur? Bashir even signed a peace treaty that potentially offered autonomy for Darfur in 2011.
Cut out these tumors from Sudan, and we would see the true face of the perpetrators of these violence - like what we are seeing in South Sudan.
So think again. Who is causing this? Cut off Khartoum's influence, what will be the result? History is repeating itself, yet some never learn.
What does Bashir has to gain? Many says it was territory and power. If that is the case, why did he let South Sudan - the most resource rich part of Sudan that is almost three times as large as Darfur - gain independence, while the fighting continues in Darfur? Bashir even signed a peace treaty that potentially offered autonomy for Darfur in 2011.
Cut out these tumors from Sudan, and we would see the true face of the perpetrators of these violence - like what we are seeing in South Sudan.
So think again. Who is causing this? Cut off Khartoum's influence, what will be the result? History is repeating itself, yet some never learn.
Mr. Clooney has done an excellent job reminding us of conditions and events in Darfur.
However, he weakens his argument by invoking the US declaration of genocide.
The US is among a handful of nations that have ratified the Genocide Convention with reservations. It is also among the few nations that have never joined the International Criminal Court. More importantly we have never acknowledged the genocide of Native Americans by British and Americans. We were far more successful in eliminating the indigenous inhabitants of our hemisphere than were the Spaniards, yet anglophone historians hold them up as the most rapacious of colonists.
I just spent a day with a fellow combat veteran at his home on the Navajo Reservation and I can assure readers that what we (and Spaniards in the case of the Navajo) did to them has not been forgotten.
Before the US accuses others of genocide, it should build the appropriate authority to do so by:
1) subjecting itself and its citizens to the Genocide Convention and the ICC.
2) formally accept the facts of and responsibility for the genocide of Native Americans.
3) teach our children what our European forbears did to our Native Americans and what steps we have taken to mitigate, atone and insure against recurrence.
The US has signed but never ratified the ICC agreement. If we ratify it, we should then urge Sudan, which had also signed but not ratified, to follow our example. They are adept at following our more negative examples.
However, he weakens his argument by invoking the US declaration of genocide.
The US is among a handful of nations that have ratified the Genocide Convention with reservations. It is also among the few nations that have never joined the International Criminal Court. More importantly we have never acknowledged the genocide of Native Americans by British and Americans. We were far more successful in eliminating the indigenous inhabitants of our hemisphere than were the Spaniards, yet anglophone historians hold them up as the most rapacious of colonists.
I just spent a day with a fellow combat veteran at his home on the Navajo Reservation and I can assure readers that what we (and Spaniards in the case of the Navajo) did to them has not been forgotten.
Before the US accuses others of genocide, it should build the appropriate authority to do so by:
1) subjecting itself and its citizens to the Genocide Convention and the ICC.
2) formally accept the facts of and responsibility for the genocide of Native Americans.
3) teach our children what our European forbears did to our Native Americans and what steps we have taken to mitigate, atone and insure against recurrence.
The US has signed but never ratified the ICC agreement. If we ratify it, we should then urge Sudan, which had also signed but not ratified, to follow our example. They are adept at following our more negative examples.
4
It all comes down to economics, as this article has pointed out. Call it religious conflicts or gender subordination, but it's all about money and power. Seymour Hersh did a great article in the New Yorker detailing the origin of all the troubles in Sudan back in the 2000s. A great read for anyone who has access.
2
This is a good article to read, too, from The New Yorker last year. It also mentions that Clooney helped start The Satellite Sentinel project in 2010
http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/old-enmities-in-the-newest-natio...
http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/old-enmities-in-the-newest-natio...
It makes one weep to think that anyone has to actually consider whether rape is a weapon of torture. Because what is rape at its most basic level, if not an intent to terrorize?
Isn't "torture rape" a redundant term? If you think not, I suggest (as with Dick Cheney and waterboarding) that perhaps you should submit to it yourself.
Isn't "torture rape" a redundant term? If you think not, I suggest (as with Dick Cheney and waterboarding) that perhaps you should submit to it yourself.
9
A quote:
------------------------
Over time, international outrage has shifted away from Darfur. When change doesn’t come fast enough, attention spans are short — especially for places that appear to have no strategic importance.
-----------------------
The phrase "especially for places that appear to have no strategic importance" says everything about the rest of the world, especially countries like Germany UK, France, Australia, Canada, and the US whose leaders periodically solemnly pronounce the noble principles such as "freedom," "equality," "intolerance for brutality inflicted on the powerless by those with power," and so on which they uphold as representatives of their countries.
------------------------
Over time, international outrage has shifted away from Darfur. When change doesn’t come fast enough, attention spans are short — especially for places that appear to have no strategic importance.
-----------------------
The phrase "especially for places that appear to have no strategic importance" says everything about the rest of the world, especially countries like Germany UK, France, Australia, Canada, and the US whose leaders periodically solemnly pronounce the noble principles such as "freedom," "equality," "intolerance for brutality inflicted on the powerless by those with power," and so on which they uphold as representatives of their countries.
5
Excellent article--it is so very important to keep these atrocities in the media spotlight so that they not be overlooked nor forgotten...Bravo NYT for having this article.
10
As Clooney points out, the chief motives for the genocide and rape in Darfur are economic, and the most effective methods of responding to those atrocities are also economic: namely, by cutting off the profits of the profiteers and their facilitators. Deterrence works: sanctions have brought Iran to the bargaining table regarding its nuclear development program, and were instrumental in ending apartheid in South Africa. Money is more powerful than guns.
Until people begin paying attention, however, such deterrence will not occur. George Clooney, John Prendergast and organizations such as the Satellite Sentinel Project and Human Rights Watch bring us the big picture. The comments posted here -- some of them heart-rending -- tell us the stories of the victims. We are all concerned about ISIS, which is capturing headlines by threatening the U.S. and Europe; but we must not ignore Darfur. The Security Council appears to be conflicted and useless: so the question is, to what government or international authority can those who wish to stop these crimes against humanity appeal?
Until people begin paying attention, however, such deterrence will not occur. George Clooney, John Prendergast and organizations such as the Satellite Sentinel Project and Human Rights Watch bring us the big picture. The comments posted here -- some of them heart-rending -- tell us the stories of the victims. We are all concerned about ISIS, which is capturing headlines by threatening the U.S. and Europe; but we must not ignore Darfur. The Security Council appears to be conflicted and useless: so the question is, to what government or international authority can those who wish to stop these crimes against humanity appeal?
12
A neighbor of mine went to then candidate Obama's (huge) rally in Portland OR in 2008; when he identified himself as a disabled Viet Nam vet to organizers he was invited up near the stage, a place of honor. When Obama passed him on the way to the stage he pointed to my neighbor's t-shirt, which had "Darfur" spelled out in large lettering and gave a thumb's up. My neighbor and I both voted for Obama; in so many ways, for so many reasons we have been disappointed with our politicians. The situation in Darfur remains tragic; I was gratified to see a concrete way forward presented in the article. We need to generate constituent pressure, political will and a massive effort to educate the public on the true issues of our times.
6
Human depravity seems to know no limits, aided no doubt by our very loud silence about it, and making us effectively complicit. And anybody not walking the talk is hypocritical and insensitive to the suffering of others. I, for once, feel ashamed of the injustice we are doing to our fellow men and women, likely in the name of greed, and the undeserved power money can give. Sudan's insult to humanity, and Qatar and others supporting it ought to be denounced and stopped. The United Nations could, if it wanted, to take its blinders off, and be, finally, consequent. If China and Russia choose to continue to block sensible and urgent common sense measures, and stop all this carnage, they ought to be thrown out. Selfish interests seem to take precedence over our common humanity. Who are we, exactly?
3
Another poster asked, "what can we do in America to help? give us a task"
Here are some tasks: Stop objectifying women & glorifying sex/violence in America. I'm talking to the women who wear hooker shoes & revealing outfits. I'm talking to the advertisers who continue to play Viagra commercials during family tv times. I'm talking to the rappers who boast about the horrible way they act. I'm talking to kids (no matter the age) who spend endless hours playing violent games that reward them for being horrible (& outrageously objectify women at every chance).
If we want to do something at home, we can start by checking our own character. Start improving the way women, sex, & violence are treated here in America & we might have a chance in influencing the behavior of others.
Here are some tasks: Stop objectifying women & glorifying sex/violence in America. I'm talking to the women who wear hooker shoes & revealing outfits. I'm talking to the advertisers who continue to play Viagra commercials during family tv times. I'm talking to the rappers who boast about the horrible way they act. I'm talking to kids (no matter the age) who spend endless hours playing violent games that reward them for being horrible (& outrageously objectify women at every chance).
If we want to do something at home, we can start by checking our own character. Start improving the way women, sex, & violence are treated here in America & we might have a chance in influencing the behavior of others.
12
Yes, by all means, lets go back to the "fifties"... that will certainly solve the problem of rape. As usual, there is always someone who believes that its the woman in the "hooker shoes" who is at fault, Its the Viagra that is causing all males to want to rape and pillage, it's the advertisers and TV producers who are at fault. Newsflash: the women being raped in the Sudan are unlikely to be wearing "hooker shoes", the Neanderthals doing the raping are unlikely to be taking Viagra and I don't think its all the "hot" ads on Sudanese TV that is spurring it on either. This is a serious problem and serious solutions are required to seriously address the issue.
1
Seems, again, that the UN has no power or sway against violence. The UN must shrink it's activities and move away from dicating policy and laws within member countries and move towards it's original charter. Without the UN, there is little recourse to aid victims within a brutal regime. Sudan must be ousted from the UN, with no ability to trade or initiate trade agreements with any member country.
The government will never change unless you hit their source of revenue. And any country doing business with Sudan should also be removed from the UN membership and trade agreements. This utter violence and obvious disdain not only for the citizens, but also for the UN and its peacekeeping efforts should bring swift action.
Sadly, the UN is nothing more than a political organization for furthering the interests of individual countries, including Sudan, as well as an agenda towards extreme liberalism. Sadly, I guess liberalism isn't what it pretends to be.
The government will never change unless you hit their source of revenue. And any country doing business with Sudan should also be removed from the UN membership and trade agreements. This utter violence and obvious disdain not only for the citizens, but also for the UN and its peacekeeping efforts should bring swift action.
Sadly, the UN is nothing more than a political organization for furthering the interests of individual countries, including Sudan, as well as an agenda towards extreme liberalism. Sadly, I guess liberalism isn't what it pretends to be.
3
George Clooney was one of those who campaigned for Sudan to be split up. And it was. The division of any country is traumatic and typically leads to violence and human rights violations. I don't see any acknowledgment that they may have been wrong to pursue that objective.
3
Hollywood elites always know best.
4
When is "The Hollywood Intelligentsia" ever wrong?
5
What is the hu-MAN when he ignores so many attacks on the weakest of their neighbors? Year after year. Century after century. Male violence against women is always bubbling under the surface, waiting to explode upon us. The global violence ranges from online rape threats to women game designers in the US to rape and widely accepted female genital mutilation in Africa. We can accurately test a rape victim and identify the perpetrator. We need a global campaign to bring rapists to trial, and that will remove a substantial portion of our violent population that freely commits atrocities again and again. Only then will we begin to have true homeland security.
8
One article about Israel or Netanyahu gets ten times the number of comments here as a story about ongoing rape and slaughter by an Arab government against a black Christian ethnic group. As the saying goes, you would strain a gnat to swallow a camel.
11
Clooney fails to mention that religion is central to the behavior of one of the world's worst regimes.
6
It's time for someone to conduct a study of the extreme rate of terrorism and brutality in Muslim areas. Everyone with a public voice tiptoes around that question. The rise of blatant anti-semitism in Europe 1929-47, and the recent resurgence, finds is core in religion, and the world is afraid to call it what it is. American politics and social policy become more religiously oriented every day. It is time to look at every current wrong in every society that is committed in the name of "faith" or "God" or "religious belief" or some other euphemism for the centuries old practice of persecution in the name of religion. POTUS was right when he analogized to the crusades, and look what that got him.
4
Maybe, but a couple of years ago there was an interesting interview on NPR which revealed that the problem is more related to the fact that so-called Arab Sudanese don't consider themselves black, and are quite racist and therefore hate Southern 'black' Sudanese. It was also brought out that the British had a hand in creating the conflict during Colonialism. Sorry, I can't remember all the details but you can find the interview on NPR.
2
It never ceases to amaze me that people can turn a blind eye to such blatant atrocities as these because there is money involved. I don't expect that the Russians or the Chinese will do much to stop the Sudanese government as they don't care much about human rights and they do care about wealth and power. It is unfortunate indeed that the value placed on human rights and life itself varies so much in different parts of the world.
10
I also don't expect western powers to stop agitating the situation by funding the rebels.
US has problems of its own
We cannot help everyone
We cannot help everyone
1
No....but "everyone" does not mean "no one." There are instances of sustained savagery and brutality that should be seriously addressed by the entire global community INCLUDING the United States, still the richest nation in the world despite many problems at home.
6
Dear Mr. Clooney and Prendergast, just a few words to ac knowledge your courage and determination in letting the world aware of what is really going on in Soudan and what can as an individual one is able to do to improve it.The more people knows of these atrocities, mobilisation will take place for major changes. I hope your Opinion of today is one of many courses of action you will pursue in the coming months i.e. world tour conferences, marches of protest, movie productions, political talk-shows, etc. Time is of the essence here and move on.
6
What can we do?!!
We need to continue to develop non-oil based energy sources.
Kidnapping and human trafficking: we need to be sure we do not support and fight this in the US.
I know how fortunate I am to be an American citizen, but my freedom was not automatic and my American ancestors did some brutal things early on to American Indians and African slaves. We need to face these facts and tell the World they need to do so as well! There can be nothing righteous about brutality.
We need to continue to look at our own mean spirited prejudices.
Thank you George Clooney for your thoughts and observations.
We need to continue to develop non-oil based energy sources.
Kidnapping and human trafficking: we need to be sure we do not support and fight this in the US.
I know how fortunate I am to be an American citizen, but my freedom was not automatic and my American ancestors did some brutal things early on to American Indians and African slaves. We need to face these facts and tell the World they need to do so as well! There can be nothing righteous about brutality.
We need to continue to look at our own mean spirited prejudices.
Thank you George Clooney for your thoughts and observations.
14
The world is aflame with death by the thousands in Syria, Iraq, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Yemen, Libya, Gaza and Pakistan.
Where and what is the priority?
Where and how do you begin to move and matter?
And who is going to do the moving and mattering?
Where and what is the priority?
Where and how do you begin to move and matter?
And who is going to do the moving and mattering?
5
blackmamba,
One person may have a leaning towards Haiti such as Dr. Paul Farmer; some humanitarian workers are going to request assignments in certain red zones of our world. Where and what the priority is may depend on you and me; what we can relate to most. There is no single priority except Humanity.
We can begin to move, if able to look into our heart with some self-knowledge of one's strengths and weaknesses. Whether we matter is perhaps not important, but how we make our choices, and the impact it will have on others might be worth considering.
You are already moving and mattering by caring enough to read about the the tragedy caused by the Sudan on Darfur where there was hope not so long ago, and which the world has forgotten about.
One person may have a leaning towards Haiti such as Dr. Paul Farmer; some humanitarian workers are going to request assignments in certain red zones of our world. Where and what the priority is may depend on you and me; what we can relate to most. There is no single priority except Humanity.
We can begin to move, if able to look into our heart with some self-knowledge of one's strengths and weaknesses. Whether we matter is perhaps not important, but how we make our choices, and the impact it will have on others might be worth considering.
You are already moving and mattering by caring enough to read about the the tragedy caused by the Sudan on Darfur where there was hope not so long ago, and which the world has forgotten about.
5
Thank you all for reminding us. It would seem we do need reminding since our attentions have been focused elsewhere of late.
One of the truly tragic aspects of Dafur is that what happens there is replayed over and over all over Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. One would want to believe that in the 21st century we are moving away from tribalism and genocide, but this really is not the case.
The real question becomes, "How do we as a global community stop genocide from happening?"
We thought after World War II it would be enough to shine a light on it to get it out in the open, and good sense would prevail. Sadly, that has not happened. How many countries can the UN support with troops? How many war zones can the US and our allies occupy to protect the victims? One government kills, the coup happens, and the new government kills the other side. With whom do you align? (See Syria)
This is a global, not just a US, issue. Strengthening the UN? Require continent neighbors to step in to protect? Send more US/UN troops? And the last, and ugliest question: who will pay the bill?
Until the rest of this is figured out, we must not forget Darfur...or Sudan...or Somalia....or Syria....or any of the other places where sectarian violence is really attempted genocide.
http://wifelyperson.blogspot.com/
One of the truly tragic aspects of Dafur is that what happens there is replayed over and over all over Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. One would want to believe that in the 21st century we are moving away from tribalism and genocide, but this really is not the case.
The real question becomes, "How do we as a global community stop genocide from happening?"
We thought after World War II it would be enough to shine a light on it to get it out in the open, and good sense would prevail. Sadly, that has not happened. How many countries can the UN support with troops? How many war zones can the US and our allies occupy to protect the victims? One government kills, the coup happens, and the new government kills the other side. With whom do you align? (See Syria)
This is a global, not just a US, issue. Strengthening the UN? Require continent neighbors to step in to protect? Send more US/UN troops? And the last, and ugliest question: who will pay the bill?
Until the rest of this is figured out, we must not forget Darfur...or Sudan...or Somalia....or Syria....or any of the other places where sectarian violence is really attempted genocide.
http://wifelyperson.blogspot.com/
16
Sorrowful to read this update, and with thoughts of a friend recently retired after a mission to the Sudan in 2006. The duty station of this international children's organization is one of the hardest, even if African with a finer sense of the culture.
Impossible to send anything by pouch because it is confiscated in Khartoum. Music webs, a favorite, because her friends and colleagues in the evening, would dance on the roof of 'The Palace', the compound where they live, while going on site to see the work being implemented for long-term relief programs in the region.
On one of her brief home visits to NY, we rarely spoke of Darfur but once she mentioned the guns. Who is supplying them was my question, one that she could not answer.
In 2011, an official message received here: we are now The Government of South Sudan, with a celebration and joy in the air. Last year called back on an emergency-basis and on returning, she told me how her Sudanese friends relayed new accounts of suffering. There was a long silence. Others will have more of import to add here.
Thanking George Clooney, Mr. Prendergast and Akshaya Kumar. Many of us world-wide, will continue to remember the Sudan if we hear your 'Voice', while further humanitarian workers will be inspired to take up the cause for one of the poorest regions of the world where often the living are born to die.
Impossible to send anything by pouch because it is confiscated in Khartoum. Music webs, a favorite, because her friends and colleagues in the evening, would dance on the roof of 'The Palace', the compound where they live, while going on site to see the work being implemented for long-term relief programs in the region.
On one of her brief home visits to NY, we rarely spoke of Darfur but once she mentioned the guns. Who is supplying them was my question, one that she could not answer.
In 2011, an official message received here: we are now The Government of South Sudan, with a celebration and joy in the air. Last year called back on an emergency-basis and on returning, she told me how her Sudanese friends relayed new accounts of suffering. There was a long silence. Others will have more of import to add here.
Thanking George Clooney, Mr. Prendergast and Akshaya Kumar. Many of us world-wide, will continue to remember the Sudan if we hear your 'Voice', while further humanitarian workers will be inspired to take up the cause for one of the poorest regions of the world where often the living are born to die.
13
I applaud the Clooney's for continuing to shine a light on this all but forgotten tragedy. It is only by continuing to make this an issue that change will happen. The bottom line is that power ultimately lies in the bottom line. I agree that by putting economic pressure in a consistent, and untied effort will bring about change, but we have to let out leaders know that we give a dam, and they need to rise to the occasion. Check out the website - Satellite Sentinel ProjecSatellite Sentinel Project . There are links to people you can contact who are in a position to make changes happen.
17
Well said. And thanks for the Satellite SentinelProjecSate tip.
Nobody can deny the genocide in Darfur. I feel so sad for the innocent and poor people dying for no reason. All this blood shed for nothing. They people of Darfur are so kind, genuine, honest, generous, welcoming, and most of them memorize Quran by heart.
I read all these comments and report, and laugh. I have been to Darfur 3 times. And believe me the UN staff and officers over there are involved in this. While I was in one of my visits to Darfur installing Chemistry Analyzer in one of the private laboratories there. All the media was speaking about a major genocide in the city I was in. The truth was totally different. A guy shoot couple of bullets at a UN convoy, nobody was hurt or killed. It was serious and dangerous, but there was no one killed or genocide.
The next day, while I was in the airport of Genina City, I met an Italian guy from UN. I asked him if he saw the news, he said yes. This guy was so honest to tell me that the reports were made up, because they need extension for the mission. He said they will never say the truth, it is all for money. He said that in Italy he will make every month around xxxx Euros and here makes a lot of money and no tax, rent or .... He just pays for his cellphone.
I think George Clooney is making use of Darfur for his own benefits. If he is genuine let him gather funds for those people, they need schools, dig wells for fresh water, hospitals. If he is not, I will be happy to give directions and help.
I read all these comments and report, and laugh. I have been to Darfur 3 times. And believe me the UN staff and officers over there are involved in this. While I was in one of my visits to Darfur installing Chemistry Analyzer in one of the private laboratories there. All the media was speaking about a major genocide in the city I was in. The truth was totally different. A guy shoot couple of bullets at a UN convoy, nobody was hurt or killed. It was serious and dangerous, but there was no one killed or genocide.
The next day, while I was in the airport of Genina City, I met an Italian guy from UN. I asked him if he saw the news, he said yes. This guy was so honest to tell me that the reports were made up, because they need extension for the mission. He said they will never say the truth, it is all for money. He said that in Italy he will make every month around xxxx Euros and here makes a lot of money and no tax, rent or .... He just pays for his cellphone.
I think George Clooney is making use of Darfur for his own benefits. If he is genuine let him gather funds for those people, they need schools, dig wells for fresh water, hospitals. If he is not, I will be happy to give directions and help.
7
Haytham, I don't understand what you are trying to say -- first you say no one can deny the genocide and then you say it is made up -- which is it? The self-serving exaggeration of UN workers and George Clooney or innocent people dying for nothing -- hard to see where you are coming from Dude.
8
George Clooney exposes the horrific world of rape-torture suffered by Sudanese women and your first response is to deny it? How very unoriginal.
You have been given a gift, to live safely in Canada, but your viewpoints are more in line with the Sudanese government: Deny the atrocities and blame those aiding the innocents.
You have been given a gift, to live safely in Canada, but your viewpoints are more in line with the Sudanese government: Deny the atrocities and blame those aiding the innocents.
6
DS,
There is always going to be a bit of a lame prankster among the commentators, and we should just ignore this tripe instead of taking it seriously. The unfortunate Haythams of this world haven't caught on that many Good-Will Ambassadors over the decades, not only have raised substantial amount of funds to help with emergency operations and long term goals for countries in need, but they have taken the time to visit the places they represent, see, listen and speak to the people.
Today, Mr. Clooney is considered among one of the most responsible and fervent of representatives for these international organizations, and he keeps a low profile when visiting. There are probably a few readers of this article who did not know of his work over the years; an ongoing one which hopefully his admirers will remember.
There is always going to be a bit of a lame prankster among the commentators, and we should just ignore this tripe instead of taking it seriously. The unfortunate Haythams of this world haven't caught on that many Good-Will Ambassadors over the decades, not only have raised substantial amount of funds to help with emergency operations and long term goals for countries in need, but they have taken the time to visit the places they represent, see, listen and speak to the people.
Today, Mr. Clooney is considered among one of the most responsible and fervent of representatives for these international organizations, and he keeps a low profile when visiting. There are probably a few readers of this article who did not know of his work over the years; an ongoing one which hopefully his admirers will remember.
5
- Presidednt Obama invited to the religion breakfast an Islamist criminal ,Sudan’s foreign minister, Ali coordinator of country’s paramilitary Janjaweed, were implicated in slave trading and brutal attacks on dark skinned minorities - remember Darfur
Why?
Why?
3
Many of the comments on this important piece are thoughtful and intelligent. The recurring question of "what to do?" is answered according to the educational and human level of the respondent. For the sake of this short comment, I must be overly simple: the lower the educational level of the respondent, the more violent the solution. What is needed is not, I believe, a solution to THIS problem because this problem is like many others we face all over the world. What we need is a strategy of values which we can hope other cultures might adhere to. This means that education and wealth distribution are the keys to eliminating many problems connected with abuse in all shapes, quantities and forms.
Instead, Americans, and not only, want immediate solutions to complex cultural habits which are uncivil and barbaric. But to change culture you can't used force, you must use the mind, the habits and the cultural values transmitted to successive generations. Therefore, education to common human values creates solutions for the future. In this way, fanatics are isolated culturally and a more stable and honorable way of life is offered to more and more people. We need to invest in education, everywhere.
Instead, Americans, and not only, want immediate solutions to complex cultural habits which are uncivil and barbaric. But to change culture you can't used force, you must use the mind, the habits and the cultural values transmitted to successive generations. Therefore, education to common human values creates solutions for the future. In this way, fanatics are isolated culturally and a more stable and honorable way of life is offered to more and more people. We need to invest in education, everywhere.
15
Amen!
Are sanctions really the best way to sort this out? The living conditions in Sudan are bad enough for most people. These sanctions punish the people more than create any change. Thanks to the sanctions most NGOs can't get money from US donors. All those with power and wealth have alternative ways of getting around the sanctions. They don't care for Sudan and the people.
5
It's sad and shameful when our news media devotes more time to celebrity gossip than to covering atrocities in the world like those described in this column. Messrs. Clooney, Pendergast, and Kumar deserve our appreciation for keeping the spotlight on the atrocities in Darfur.
11
thank you Geogre Clooney I am angry at what is happening in the Darfur the political and religious forces had their independence and have never had objectives to achieve peace and stability in Sudan is time regulation and organization of peace and human rights advances
4
Heaven forbid we should mention that the perpetrators of this continuing horror are Islamic [terrorists]. It is time to declare war on ALL religions and finally drive this ancient scourge from our present and future.
6
No thanks. I'm Jewish and I intend to stay that way.
2
Why don't we have enough money or political will for action on this, but Republicans can call for a vote 30 times to try and repeal healthcare?
Disgusting, absolutely gross. Those women need our help.
Disgusting, absolutely gross. Those women need our help.
11
I consider myself officially remiss in my inclination to dismiss A list aid workers. The authors of this piece have detailed the current state of affairs in Sudan-Darfur in a professional and objective manner. It should have run as a news feature.
In it's self I do not consider celebrity consciousness raising a good thing. Too much of the possible good is lost on the audience falling into celebrity idolatry. As for the consciousness they raise I attended a lecture by a young author who recounted her travails in the aid worker game. Over generously it could be described as humanitarian-tourism. Neither she nor her numerous aid worker love interests had any thought of making a career of it. It was just an interesting and possibly rewarding stoop before adulthood. She had no idea how cynical she was. I wonder how much more real attention would be paid to this place if Mr.Clooney or someone like him looked on these poor people and decided that Hollywood is a very banal way for a grown man to earn his daily bread and then cast his lot with them. Kind of like the now largerly absent missinonaries did. Would Hollywood stop? would Darfur begin?.
One criticism I offer is that no mention is made of the religious identity of either side. Once more I must accept that the cause of aggression in so many of these tragedies has nothing to do with the faith that dare not be critisized. Maybe she will learn one day that peace love and understanding are more than Elvis Costello lyrics.
In it's self I do not consider celebrity consciousness raising a good thing. Too much of the possible good is lost on the audience falling into celebrity idolatry. As for the consciousness they raise I attended a lecture by a young author who recounted her travails in the aid worker game. Over generously it could be described as humanitarian-tourism. Neither she nor her numerous aid worker love interests had any thought of making a career of it. It was just an interesting and possibly rewarding stoop before adulthood. She had no idea how cynical she was. I wonder how much more real attention would be paid to this place if Mr.Clooney or someone like him looked on these poor people and decided that Hollywood is a very banal way for a grown man to earn his daily bread and then cast his lot with them. Kind of like the now largerly absent missinonaries did. Would Hollywood stop? would Darfur begin?.
One criticism I offer is that no mention is made of the religious identity of either side. Once more I must accept that the cause of aggression in so many of these tragedies has nothing to do with the faith that dare not be critisized. Maybe she will learn one day that peace love and understanding are more than Elvis Costello lyrics.
2
It was mentioned, albeit in passing, that the oppressed communities in Darfur are the Christian minority in the region.
1
Absurd. There are no Christians in Darfur.
Why does the NYT refuse to publish letters from Sudan scholars,but gives space to activists like Prendergast and Clooney who are discredited by scholars and US government analysts ?
One more fairy tale for the American consumer. So sad.
Why does the NYT refuse to publish letters from Sudan scholars,but gives space to activists like Prendergast and Clooney who are discredited by scholars and US government analysts ?
One more fairy tale for the American consumer. So sad.
I applaud the authors of bringing the atrocities committed on women in Darfur, which would have, otherwise, would not have have in public domain.
The United Nations should take immediate steps to put pressure on the Sudanese government to stop such atrocities.
The African countries like South Africa, Kenya and others should take a lead to stop such crimes against women, as one can't depend on the United States alone to come to send forces against regimes who have no respect for human values.
The United Nations should take immediate steps to put pressure on the Sudanese government to stop such atrocities.
The African countries like South Africa, Kenya and others should take a lead to stop such crimes against women, as one can't depend on the United States alone to come to send forces against regimes who have no respect for human values.
13
As Mr. Clooney and friends clearly depicted the picture, Sub-Saharan Africa is in the hands of slave master Arabs.
What is going on these zone is a great shame for UN, UN charter, Human Rights.
Why we are so ignorant about Arab's and Arab Muslims onslaught on African Muslims and African Christians and others. Because Where this ideology originated , there is a oil policy.
Today, particularly Arab's in business of ethnic cleansing , sectarian warfare and religious persecutions.
What ever reason you can give the Arab world as an excuse ( such as Israel) doesn't cover their crimes.
What is the relation with Darfur genocide and Israel? nothing. Plain nothing.
The world is waiting silence meanwhile Arabs with the government forces or terrorists killing millions. The west is just and accomplice but nothing else.
Shame on western civilization. There are hundred of high level people should be indicted with crime against humanity.
What is going on these zone is a great shame for UN, UN charter, Human Rights.
Why we are so ignorant about Arab's and Arab Muslims onslaught on African Muslims and African Christians and others. Because Where this ideology originated , there is a oil policy.
Today, particularly Arab's in business of ethnic cleansing , sectarian warfare and religious persecutions.
What ever reason you can give the Arab world as an excuse ( such as Israel) doesn't cover their crimes.
What is the relation with Darfur genocide and Israel? nothing. Plain nothing.
The world is waiting silence meanwhile Arabs with the government forces or terrorists killing millions. The west is just and accomplice but nothing else.
Shame on western civilization. There are hundred of high level people should be indicted with crime against humanity.
7
su,
There are high level people of all nations working in the Congo (DRC) now. An Irish friend, a humanitarian worker and skilled engineer, returned earlier this year and has recuperated well from a bout of malaria.
Virunga, the largest national park in the Congo, is being safe-guarded against the Oil Seekers, and the fight has long been on to save the Mountain Gorillas from being killed, while the Head Warden, a royal Belgium man was ambushed April last on a routine field trip and left mortally wounded in a ditch. He survived and is back at work with the many brave Congolese public servants who have lost their lives over two decades.
Western Civilization is not only watching, but is taking action against these assassins with a thirst for oil and power.
There are high level people of all nations working in the Congo (DRC) now. An Irish friend, a humanitarian worker and skilled engineer, returned earlier this year and has recuperated well from a bout of malaria.
Virunga, the largest national park in the Congo, is being safe-guarded against the Oil Seekers, and the fight has long been on to save the Mountain Gorillas from being killed, while the Head Warden, a royal Belgium man was ambushed April last on a routine field trip and left mortally wounded in a ditch. He survived and is back at work with the many brave Congolese public servants who have lost their lives over two decades.
Western Civilization is not only watching, but is taking action against these assassins with a thirst for oil and power.
1
"To avoid scrutiny, the government has spent millions of dollars provided by Qatar to set up “model villages,” where it encourages Darfuris displaced by violence to settle."
OK, so Qatar enables genocide in Darfur and supports Jihad John and the rest of the sociopathic Sunnis in ISIL.
Do we even care about its "reasons"?
Maybe Qatar presumes it has immunity because it hosts the U.S. and RAF bases there?
It's time for both the U.S. and the Cameron government to tell the Qatar government:
"We don't need names, and we don't care if it is happening through governmental or private channels. Just close it down or we're outta here. Got it?
"Oh, and by the way, you financially support Al-Jazeera, which has actually done some cutting-edged journalistic work, and given you reflected glory as a somewhat enlightened regime in the process.
No dump on Al-Jazeera. We realize that they couldn't run a story about the complicity of Qataris in these depredations and expect not to get defunded.
"They don't have immunity for whatever they say -- or do -- like Bill O'Reilly does at Fox News just because he has ratings with the couch potatoes who sport wife beater T-Shirts and brews as they are egged on in their prejudices and resentments by Billo in front of the telly.
"But we'll find someway to get them banned from the U.S. cable market if you don't clean up your act. The First Amendment does not extend to serving as a tool for someone actively supporting genocide."
OK, so Qatar enables genocide in Darfur and supports Jihad John and the rest of the sociopathic Sunnis in ISIL.
Do we even care about its "reasons"?
Maybe Qatar presumes it has immunity because it hosts the U.S. and RAF bases there?
It's time for both the U.S. and the Cameron government to tell the Qatar government:
"We don't need names, and we don't care if it is happening through governmental or private channels. Just close it down or we're outta here. Got it?
"Oh, and by the way, you financially support Al-Jazeera, which has actually done some cutting-edged journalistic work, and given you reflected glory as a somewhat enlightened regime in the process.
No dump on Al-Jazeera. We realize that they couldn't run a story about the complicity of Qataris in these depredations and expect not to get defunded.
"They don't have immunity for whatever they say -- or do -- like Bill O'Reilly does at Fox News just because he has ratings with the couch potatoes who sport wife beater T-Shirts and brews as they are egged on in their prejudices and resentments by Billo in front of the telly.
"But we'll find someway to get them banned from the U.S. cable market if you don't clean up your act. The First Amendment does not extend to serving as a tool for someone actively supporting genocide."
3
arbitrot,
When it comes to Qatar and what is happening there, you may want to check the World Sky Watchers of [email protected] where the latest this Saturday is 'Free the Modern Slaves of Qatar'.
When it comes to Qatar and what is happening there, you may want to check the World Sky Watchers of [email protected] where the latest this Saturday is 'Free the Modern Slaves of Qatar'.
3
One question: What can I, as a US citizen, do to help? Give us a task...tell us what we can do today to help move a solution forward. I'm a big believer in the grassroots but we need to know what to do. I want to be able to do something and have you tell me in a year that those of us who are sickened by this and taken an action have had an effect in helping with a tangible solution.
23
As I have said before, these guys need help in many ways. They are desperate for food, water, safety, electricity, education and health services. You can not believe the literacy over there.
One example, there is shortage of Iodine, leading to Goiter (enlargement of thyroid gland). Do you believe that they think, that ladies with larger gland are more beautiful.
I am not following any political party in Sudan, and I do not believe that any existing party care for Darfur or even whole Sudan. They are seeking their own benefits.
I am a Medical Lab Technologist, and do not have influence or connections. I know people from Darfur, who will be happy to help.
Darfur needs volunteers; teachers, doctors, nurses. They need books, schools, food.
I can help in getting visa to Sudan. I can direct or recommend to the right people who dedicated their life to help others.
it is not easy to find people who will not try to make benefit of any support or money send. That is why I recommend hardware or materials to be sent instead of money.
Also money will be needed for customs clearance, but I think that can be gathered through donation in Sudan.
But before sending anything to Sudan, you should get the green light from the US and Sudanese government, due to the sanctions.
I will do my best to help if you think you can provide help. They need books, food, electrical generators, tools to dig wells for water. They need the basics or basics to live a descent life as human beings.
One example, there is shortage of Iodine, leading to Goiter (enlargement of thyroid gland). Do you believe that they think, that ladies with larger gland are more beautiful.
I am not following any political party in Sudan, and I do not believe that any existing party care for Darfur or even whole Sudan. They are seeking their own benefits.
I am a Medical Lab Technologist, and do not have influence or connections. I know people from Darfur, who will be happy to help.
Darfur needs volunteers; teachers, doctors, nurses. They need books, schools, food.
I can help in getting visa to Sudan. I can direct or recommend to the right people who dedicated their life to help others.
it is not easy to find people who will not try to make benefit of any support or money send. That is why I recommend hardware or materials to be sent instead of money.
Also money will be needed for customs clearance, but I think that can be gathered through donation in Sudan.
But before sending anything to Sudan, you should get the green light from the US and Sudanese government, due to the sanctions.
I will do my best to help if you think you can provide help. They need books, food, electrical generators, tools to dig wells for water. They need the basics or basics to live a descent life as human beings.
1
Thank you George Clooney for writing on this. Sudan and South Sudan are not glamorous places, it really bothers me when someone says what qualifications does someone like him have to go and write about it -- well the qualifications he has is that he went there and right to Darfur, spoke to people, saw the misery and hardship, met the malaria carrying misquitoes first hand and every other bug and parasite probably that the place has to offer, so more qualifications than anyone can hope to have, plus obvious intelligence and empathy added to this -- I have myself been in South Sudan since 2011 so have an idea of what he must have encountered, so bravo to him for making the public aware of this terrible situation going on as we speak, seemingly without end or resolution in sight.
49
DS,
Please continue to spread the word. A valuable contribution on your part, a solace to those who are working there, and added hope that more people of your caliber will be inspired to take some action.
Please continue to spread the word. A valuable contribution on your part, a solace to those who are working there, and added hope that more people of your caliber will be inspired to take some action.
2
DS. Actually, he did NOT go to Darfur. He was in Chad in a refugee camp of Zaghawa along with Nicholas Kristoff who "inspired " him to get involved in anti-Sudan projects. His Sentinel Project is useful for Nuba Mts. but his Darfur information comes from activists, in this case Akshaya Kumar.
This PR campaign has lost all credibility. Folks should check with Sudan scholars in the US or UK or with US government analysts who know better.
Why do you think that there is a rapproachement with Khartoum ?
Could this explain the release of this "report" to block it ?
This PR campaign has lost all credibility. Folks should check with Sudan scholars in the US or UK or with US government analysts who know better.
Why do you think that there is a rapproachement with Khartoum ?
Could this explain the release of this "report" to block it ?
Peter,
Let me check with a friend who visits the duty station in Darfur on mission quite often. She is an admirer of his as an actor and of his humanitarian work. Most likely she is also acquainted with Mr. John Prendergast and Akshaya Kumar as well, and the rules and regulations of this international children's organization, whom Mr. Clooney has been appointed as one of their Good Will Ambassdors, does not make these mistakes.
Let me check with a friend who visits the duty station in Darfur on mission quite often. She is an admirer of his as an actor and of his humanitarian work. Most likely she is also acquainted with Mr. John Prendergast and Akshaya Kumar as well, and the rules and regulations of this international children's organization, whom Mr. Clooney has been appointed as one of their Good Will Ambassdors, does not make these mistakes.
I just want to thank you for using your celebrity and privilege in a way that matters. Instead of spouting ultimately meaningless speeches from award stages for one cause or another, you are actually doing something. You don't self-righteously promote your advocacy; you actually act and INSTIGATE the change - instead of simply giving a few dollars or a shout-out to the organizations and people who do the true work. After a somewhat disgusting display of "look-at-what-a-promoter-of-civil-rights-I-am" night at the Oscars, it is very refreshing to see a celebrity who is actually not wasting his or her time with platitudes. We can all learn from your example, and I am enriched by this article. I will certainly try harder to act rather than speak, too.
19
The underlying tone of most of these comments are defeat and cynicism. It sounds like the forces perpetrating these horrors are just too strong to counter. I choose to retain hope that things can and will get better for oppressed Darfuris. Kudos to Clooney, Pendergast, and Kumar and the Satellite Sentinel Project for continuing the cause.
7
Thank you so much to the writers for their valiant work keeping these oppressed people in the news. I read a few comments declaring that Americans do not care about Africa, say, like the ME. But naturally the ME is more in the news for some reasons Africa is not.
Israel is our main ally there.
We have an intimate history with their creation.
Lots of business and tourism occur between us.
We started calamitous wars there.
The oil for the world's future is there.
Isis is a growing threat with international designs.
And how many oppressive wars can we keep up in the world while trying to dig out of the wreck left and continued by the Republicans?
Israel is our main ally there.
We have an intimate history with their creation.
Lots of business and tourism occur between us.
We started calamitous wars there.
The oil for the world's future is there.
Isis is a growing threat with international designs.
And how many oppressive wars can we keep up in the world while trying to dig out of the wreck left and continued by the Republicans?
2
I hope that these men are brought to a tribunal and made to pay for their crimes. It's so horrible what they do. They think because they kill journalists and don't let foreign press in that they won't be tried for war crimes!? It's like Rodovan Karadzic all over again. He was exactly the same as Salva Kiir, AL Bashir and Riek Machar. They are war criminals. It's so sad how the international community is not doing anything. But hopefully, if Hillary wins, she will be on our side and these horrific men will find their day in court!
1
Thank you George Clooney, John Pendergast and Aksha Kumar for writing about South Sudan and the genocide that is happening. I am from Sudan. Sudan was an absolutely horrific place to live under Al Bashir. And I left. I left because I knew I wouldn't live, if I stayed. I also knew the chances of surviving until I made it to a refugee camp in Kenya were slim. I lived through an ambush barely. My best friend, right next to me, was shot in the head. I crawled on the ground several days and nights until I made it. I have 17 brothers and sisters. One by one, I am losing them to these horrible people in South Sudan. Most recently, in January, my brother was killed. He had a regular job. He was 30 and about to get married. I spent my first few years in America working as a fisherman making sure he had money to finish college in Khartoum. He was the first in our family to graduate from college. He was our shining star. Our hope for the future. Beautiful. And he was slaughtered in an ambush, by government troops, a month ago. And that was my little brother. The way he died, hacked by a machete, shot and burnt is so horrific. I don't know if I can ever live past his last few minutes. He was simply doing his job. And my sister, who we haven't been able to contact for two years, is in Darfur. She may not be alive but we are hoping that she is. I thank you again for writing and bringing light to the atrocities that are happening/happened to my brother.
63
Tom,
There are no words to express the deep sorrow one feels on reading your personal life as a Sudanese. Of great magnitude, it is life stories such as yours that count, to remind us of Humanity Lost and how a brilliant Scientist, Stephen Hawking recently declared that it was our aggression towards each other that was ultimately going to be our greatest threat.
Thinking of you and the loss of brother at this time, while joining others in hoping that your sister will be reunited with you, your family and friends. This is the Human Condition, we are much the same, and while tempting to remain deaf and mute, we would be statues and not humans if we could not relate in some way.
There are no words to express the deep sorrow one feels on reading your personal life as a Sudanese. Of great magnitude, it is life stories such as yours that count, to remind us of Humanity Lost and how a brilliant Scientist, Stephen Hawking recently declared that it was our aggression towards each other that was ultimately going to be our greatest threat.
Thinking of you and the loss of brother at this time, while joining others in hoping that your sister will be reunited with you, your family and friends. This is the Human Condition, we are much the same, and while tempting to remain deaf and mute, we would be statues and not humans if we could not relate in some way.
Thank you for this important piece on Darfur and for exposing the additional violence in Sudan, especially the Nuba Mountains. Having visited their in 2001, I can assure that the state sponsored violence there is real and devastating; 14 years is too long for such war.
The State Department and Congress need to get more engaged, and employ simple yet effective tools- including banking sanctions and travel bans- to help limit the damage to the people of Sudan.
The State Department and Congress need to get more engaged, and employ simple yet effective tools- including banking sanctions and travel bans- to help limit the damage to the people of Sudan.
6
All rape is torture..it doesn't need to be designated so in a court. This plight is heartwrenching. The world is a terrible place for those without money. But Mr Clooney...you will not save Darfur without first sorting out the global hegemony that supports such a regime....run for office!
6
OK George. I'm outraged. I'll get right on this.
Thanks for all your help.
3
For all the people who are asking about George Clooney's qualifications to write an op-ed on this topic, I urge you to look up the credentials of all three authors of this piece. Mr. Prendergast and Ms. Kumar work on these issues full-time, and Mr. Clooney has an admirable and consistent history of speaking out on issues involving Sudan and South Sudan.
19
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and evidence of the ongoing human rights violations in Darfur. While awareness alone won't stop the tragedy, ignorance would surely allow it to continue.
7
Well done. Thank you for bringing to light the forgotten victims in Darfur. The same Sudanese regime offering Bin Laden haven continues today unhindered but by international shame. Keep it up. What other hope have the children ?
4
Thank you Mr. Clooney for your continued efforts at keeping our eyes on this genocide. Now, let's pressure our leaders to act.
I am grateful to the authors of this op-ed for bringing the tragedy of the situation in Darfur and Sudan back into our attention. I applaud their efforts and encourage their recommended solutions. It is true that Western intervention is never really a solution in the third world, but insisting on some degree of U.N., NGO and media access may save many lives and we can all support that, while disagreeing on the wisdom of more overt steps which entail some application of force. Sometimes you just have to keep saying it, until people hear, and I hope these contributors and others continue to do so.
52
No one cares. As long as there is money to be made, no one cares. As long as it's not happening to Your citizens, no one cares. Rwanda, Nigeria, Sudan, Somalia, and on and on. Continuous civil war with no end in sight. Someone is selling weapons, someone is buying gold and diamonds, someone is making money. No one cares......
5
Hi Fred. Obviously some people do care as evidenced by this article. What is hard is to continue caring when there is so much suffering in so many places and so little that is effective against it. It makes one feel helpless. While reading this I could not help thinking that Mr. Clooney and those who are working to keep this in the news and to find solutions must be so very sad and frustrated. The problem, too, with rape is that it is often hidden. It devastates the community turning the women into pariahs for having been raped, ruining their relationships and culture.
11
Thank you this reminder of Darfur. Once it was the most important story, now, not so much. In and of itself, that is a grim reality of the world going increasingly madder day by day, year by year. But, one must do what one can. Thank you for acknowledging that responsibilty. Even a tear is worth more than indifference.
2
Sadly but inevitably relative economic leverage remains the only truly "humanitarian" response on the part of all governments. Hollywood, it may be said, eats its own young and may be considered a model for the human race. With star power, one gets things done. Without it, as in Dafur, the cast offs are left on the side of the road to whither and die. Democracies are no exception to what appears the rule. How about Gaza? Disgraceful neglect by fellow Arabs and their affluent governments. The Israelis? Obfuscation and self righteousness of yet another democracy. And on and on...
1
From this article, it is difficult to discern the scope of the underlying issues. Obviously, there is a tragic conflict, with many people being killed or tortured.
The world has, since the dawn of time, been a violent place. It's not an excuse, it's an explanation.
The countries that have their act together, in terms of respecting their population, respecting their neighbors, respecting human rights, number between 10 and 20 - out of some 200. It would be like saying that there are 10-20 competent computer manufacturers. No one wants a Zimbabwe computer - it would not work. Or, if a Zimbabwe computer did work, it would only function to transfer money to secret Geneva bank accounts.
Until the "model" of governance - like the "model" of computers provided by Apple and other competent manufacturers - are exported and implemented in the basket-case countries like Sudan and Zimbabwe, compassion is one of the few things that can be offered. I do admire Mr. Clooney's efforts - but focusing on the symptoms, not the causes, will not solve the problem. Regrettably.
The world has, since the dawn of time, been a violent place. It's not an excuse, it's an explanation.
The countries that have their act together, in terms of respecting their population, respecting their neighbors, respecting human rights, number between 10 and 20 - out of some 200. It would be like saying that there are 10-20 competent computer manufacturers. No one wants a Zimbabwe computer - it would not work. Or, if a Zimbabwe computer did work, it would only function to transfer money to secret Geneva bank accounts.
Until the "model" of governance - like the "model" of computers provided by Apple and other competent manufacturers - are exported and implemented in the basket-case countries like Sudan and Zimbabwe, compassion is one of the few things that can be offered. I do admire Mr. Clooney's efforts - but focusing on the symptoms, not the causes, will not solve the problem. Regrettably.
2
Thank you for elevating this issue again, with recommended action steps for the international community.
3
Arabs...oil...gold...banks...what could possibly go wrong?
6
Ideally evidence of genocide would trigger invasion by a UN Army and gendarmes force. Andre` Lewin suggested an army of its own for the UN. (Ambassador Lewin was then Chairman of the French UN Association and author of Points for Reinvention of the UN.)
2
Would someone please make a list of the countries where people are killed en masse because they are of a different tribe or religion. Add the countries / areas where girls and women are raped and/or taken hostage. Begin with Darfur, go on to Somalia and other countries in Africa; isn't that where the worst problems on this pale blue dot exist?
Put the names of the countries on an Excel spreadsheet; columns for things these countries have in common: tribe, education in general, education of women, religion, best count(s) available on numbers murdered, and so on. Perform an analysis.
Send a copy to the toothless tiger, the U. N.; to the heads of state of each of the countries on the list. Send a copy to the leaders of each religious group in the countries on the list. Send a copy to every news corporation in the US and Europe. Solicit suggestions for solutions to the many problems in Africa, and for volunteers to travel and help the poor people, or donate something other than words.
And send a copy to every women's rights group in the US so members will have something to compare with their lives, so that maybe - just maybe - they will realize how magnificently lucky they are. (This woman bought her own birth control as long as she needed it - I'm post-menopausal).
And if those 'women's rights' group members don't recognize how fortunate they are to have been born in the USA, then let's take a collection to buy some cheese to go with their whine.
Put the names of the countries on an Excel spreadsheet; columns for things these countries have in common: tribe, education in general, education of women, religion, best count(s) available on numbers murdered, and so on. Perform an analysis.
Send a copy to the toothless tiger, the U. N.; to the heads of state of each of the countries on the list. Send a copy to the leaders of each religious group in the countries on the list. Send a copy to every news corporation in the US and Europe. Solicit suggestions for solutions to the many problems in Africa, and for volunteers to travel and help the poor people, or donate something other than words.
And send a copy to every women's rights group in the US so members will have something to compare with their lives, so that maybe - just maybe - they will realize how magnificently lucky they are. (This woman bought her own birth control as long as she needed it - I'm post-menopausal).
And if those 'women's rights' group members don't recognize how fortunate they are to have been born in the USA, then let's take a collection to buy some cheese to go with their whine.
4
People who travel to the countries you describe are risking their lives, especially if they are Christians, Jews or women. I greatly admire those brave enough to go. Being taken hostage and/or being killed in some horrible manner does not solve the problem. Are you volunteering to go? I thank God everyday for the benefits of being born in the U.S.A.
5
Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and again in this case, Qatar, seem to be the source of proxy wars throughout the Middle East and Africa. Whether it’s in Libya, Syria, Lebanon, or Sudan, our charming 3 allies seem to be major suppliers of arms and finance to perpetrators of unimaginable atrocities.
With “friends” like these…..
With “friends” like these…..
2
The reason that this article should be taken seriously with its authors being seen as experts is that George Clooney is not just an "actor and film producer." He has been a human rights activist for many years. He is a very smart man who has done his homework and paid his dues in the field to understand these kinds of problems.He has been visiting Darfur since the beginning of this disaster. He also is spending his own money in these pursuits. I am sorry that you did not describe him as a human rights activist in your author notes; that should have been listed first and foremost.
15
I think that people do care. I think that we all become tired of feeling hopeless and helpless to effectuate any meaningful change in horrid places like Darfur. I think that we are tired of being told that we don't care.
4
Rebecca: prove it.
1
We need to acknowledge one thing too, when it comes to address this issues seriously, we are seeing and invisible but surely western governments backed forces playing down, that is why we are fed up from the we don't care rhetoric.
Because whenever like Mr.Clooney and his friends or etc. organizations bring the issue on the table, Some government and media forces always dilutes and try to smother.
We are too much tolerant to religious and ethnic intolerance since 1990's . too much.
Because whenever like Mr.Clooney and his friends or etc. organizations bring the issue on the table, Some government and media forces always dilutes and try to smother.
We are too much tolerant to religious and ethnic intolerance since 1990's . too much.
1
Interesting that no one mentions the elephant in the room here. Is this not simply another example of Islam's desire for conquest. Christian Sudanese in the south have been victimized by Islamic jihadists in the North and this has been going on for a couple of decades. It is one of many "clash of civilization" skirmishes throughout the world at the moment. Why do so many fear to identify this "conflict" for what it really is?
5
Great comment!
Right to the politically
Incorrect point!
Right to the politically
Incorrect point!
4
http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/
UN Declaration of Human Rights - excellent reading.
UN Declaration of Human Rights - excellent reading.
1
Increase support of the United Nations. Members are sworn to uphold the Declaration of Human Rights. It's all in there. One world.
These horrific murders and acts of cruelty have been occurring all over Africa for decades. If the West wants to stop the rise of ISIS and similar groups, then we are going to have to stop tolerating them by passively looking the other way. The whole continent has become a breeding ground for barbaric political and religious groups (no practical difference implied). They will all be paying us a visit someday.
2
I agree with you that tolerating these horrors is wrong. Exactly what do you suggest?
1
Pretty disgusting that Qatar is hosting the world cup.
3
The reason no one is paying attention is not so much the color of people's skin or that it is women who are suffering, but that it is contained - one Sudan against another - without endangering our interests (commodities and our safety), and politically, it is easier to exploit the fear from ISIS, Iran, Russia, in which cases there is an "us and them", and ebola. In Sudan, for most of us, there is only "them and them". People here, who pretend to care the most about the innocents being slaughtered by ISIS, care only about the perceived danger to us here and to the oil supply.
2
People who care may not know what to do. I notice your critique, which may be correct. What is your solution?
So glad your serious side won in the end George. Use it well.
3
A five to six millennia old tradition.
1
The New Cold War:
Russian and Chinese UN Security Council vetoes on one side, American vetoes on the other. The Security Council is the stage where dominant powers divide the loot, so to speak.
Did Obama do anything about Darfour since 2008? Why not? He just praised the Emir of Qatar who supports Sudan in its 'model village' genocide facelift.
Maybe Obama is too reasonable...
Russian and Chinese UN Security Council vetoes on one side, American vetoes on the other. The Security Council is the stage where dominant powers divide the loot, so to speak.
Did Obama do anything about Darfour since 2008? Why not? He just praised the Emir of Qatar who supports Sudan in its 'model village' genocide facelift.
Maybe Obama is too reasonable...
2
Astonishing.
Isn't it enough that they've starved, hacked and shot hundreds of thousands in Darfur? Now we have to be sensitive to women readers by redundantly pointing out sexual abuse?
Politically correct nonsense.
Isn't it enough that they've starved, hacked and shot hundreds of thousands in Darfur? Now we have to be sensitive to women readers by redundantly pointing out sexual abuse?
Politically correct nonsense.
1
Would you like to be held down and sexually violated over and over? Some of these women are maimed. Some are ostracized from their families after being raped. You think it is a minor thing and call it "nonsense." No, sir, you don't "have to be sensitive to women readers," but you might try having some compassion for rape victims. I sincerely doubt that you care what happens to women anywhere or at anytime. In your mind, how dare anyone point out the suffering of mere females, right? I bothers you to have to read or think about it, so trivial and all. I feel sick after reading your dismissive comment.
7
Wow. How dare those women experience a unique kind of suffering! Can't we just not think about their plight and redundancy!?!
Rape is a war crime, an act of terror, and a way of continuing the trauma for generations (especially if the women become pregnant). It is sadly, very different from other acts of war, even if those acts are also cruel and inhumane.
Rape is a war crime, an act of terror, and a way of continuing the trauma for generations (especially if the women become pregnant). It is sadly, very different from other acts of war, even if those acts are also cruel and inhumane.
4
We need a foreign policy. We also need honesty about the problem which is an Arab on black, muslim on black African, issue. Horrible. Sad. Horrific. And the world has stopped paying attention.
3
While 'social and ethnic control' may indeed be a consequence and effect of the mass rape in Dafur, the act itself is a deeply personal and individual act of horrific violence perpetrated by an individual male upon an individual dehumanized female target. These disgusting pigs, who might refer to themselves men, rape for one reason - in the absence of societal constraints, they can.
1
This is and long has been a genuinely disgraceful situation, and as world leaders continue to turn their backs I'm reminded again of the Holocaust. Those who shout "Never Again" every time the Israeli government builds settlements on the West Bank and kills thousands of civilians in Gaza need to look instead to Darfur to ascertain why that expression continues to resonate.
4
Thank you for this. To be sure, some of us have not lost side of Darfur and of the criminal actions of the government of Sudan. They must not be allowed to escape notice because of the "upstaging" of groups like ISIL. It is time for consequences.
9
To paraphrase Katherine Hepburn in 'The Lion in Winter,' - it's 2015 and we're barbarians.
How we can pretend to be a modern, enlightened and compassionate people and yet continue to WILLFULLY ignore tragedies like this is beyond explanation. And I'm looking at you, liberals. We're the ones who supposedly care about stuff like this, but if we cared it would at least make the news. There's enough of us for that.
We don't care. We care about Americans. We care about Europeans. We care at least a little about selected other nationalities. We don't care about Africans. We don't care about Africans. We don't care about Africans. Give me a reason to believe otherwise.
How we can pretend to be a modern, enlightened and compassionate people and yet continue to WILLFULLY ignore tragedies like this is beyond explanation. And I'm looking at you, liberals. We're the ones who supposedly care about stuff like this, but if we cared it would at least make the news. There's enough of us for that.
We don't care. We care about Americans. We care about Europeans. We care at least a little about selected other nationalities. We don't care about Africans. We don't care about Africans. We don't care about Africans. Give me a reason to believe otherwise.
25
I would love to agree with you but we all care, however we have our own problems, and I don't mean America, I mean people. What Russia is doing in Ukraine is what started WWII, Iran maybe getting close to the bomb and yeah that's bad but Pakistan already has it and N. Korea's close too, ISIS is getting closer and closer to home (America I mean), the weather sucks but according to about 30% of Americans it's just bad luck and not science, and I could go on. Everyone has a cause and they are all important. I'd be the last person to tell the wealthy how to donate their money but how about this? Everyone gets a little skin in the game. Either mandatory service, yeah that's right, like Israel. The place everyone likes to praise but not emulate. Or a draft into some sort of service. Let's see how this plays out with the masses. The one thing liberals and conservatives agree on-not my kid!
Americans care about Americans? Really? Seems to me with growing inequality Americans do not care about other Americans. If they did they would vote differently and push for better policies. Most Americans are struggling and will for a long time before and if anything changes. So glad you are rich but you are also very poorly informed
Sorry - we can't stop Africans from killing each other.
I too wish there were more comments on this piece. But as evidenced at the very least by the authors of this piece themselves, there are people out there who care about fixing these atrocities.
Is it enough? No. But there isn't enough for a wide array of issues that range from the under- to over-publicized.
The lack of comments is more about lacking an opinion beyond the obvious inhumanity. It's the lacking of an idea of the geography or the people. It's the not understanding of international organizations. It's the not knowing of the possible options.
Admittedly, the facts can be complex and our capacities for knowing about things is more finite than we'd like to think. However, that doesn't change what things we should know about. And this is definitely something we should know about.
With that said, I myself am ignorant. I do not know enough about Sudan to have a well formed opinion aside from knowing what is horribly wrong. But here I comment. And here I hope to begin to know more.
Is it enough? No. But there isn't enough for a wide array of issues that range from the under- to over-publicized.
The lack of comments is more about lacking an opinion beyond the obvious inhumanity. It's the lacking of an idea of the geography or the people. It's the not understanding of international organizations. It's the not knowing of the possible options.
Admittedly, the facts can be complex and our capacities for knowing about things is more finite than we'd like to think. However, that doesn't change what things we should know about. And this is definitely something we should know about.
With that said, I myself am ignorant. I do not know enough about Sudan to have a well formed opinion aside from knowing what is horribly wrong. But here I comment. And here I hope to begin to know more.
14
Remember South Sudan?! Remember how the west portrayed those southern rebels as righteous freedom fighters against a "tyranny"?
The west essentially engineered South Sudan, which ended up being a militaristic tyranny ruled by warlords. Innocent people are starving, fleeing, or being killed, with no hope for the country in sight. Now that South Sudan became a complete and utter failure for the west to efficiently exploit its rich natural resources, what exactly does some of these westerners really want?
Suppose we now engineer a West Sudan by cutting out Darfur, what would happen? We will be cutting Darfur out of all the resources from Khartoum, and Darfur would go back to its bloody tribal warfare just like before Khartoum's intervention.
There are only two problems in Darfur: poverty and tribal conflicts.
Sudan cannot cooperate with the west because the more it cooperates, the more it has to lose. The more humanitarian workers it allows, the more propaganda the west come up with with so-called "evidences". The more democracy it allows, the faster the west breaks it up. Such cooperation, as we have seen from the example of South Sudan, is both losing situation for both the Sudanese people and Sudan as a nation.
In doing so, the west is only alienating itself, and allowing countries such as China to have an upper hand in the development of African nations.
The west essentially engineered South Sudan, which ended up being a militaristic tyranny ruled by warlords. Innocent people are starving, fleeing, or being killed, with no hope for the country in sight. Now that South Sudan became a complete and utter failure for the west to efficiently exploit its rich natural resources, what exactly does some of these westerners really want?
Suppose we now engineer a West Sudan by cutting out Darfur, what would happen? We will be cutting Darfur out of all the resources from Khartoum, and Darfur would go back to its bloody tribal warfare just like before Khartoum's intervention.
There are only two problems in Darfur: poverty and tribal conflicts.
Sudan cannot cooperate with the west because the more it cooperates, the more it has to lose. The more humanitarian workers it allows, the more propaganda the west come up with with so-called "evidences". The more democracy it allows, the faster the west breaks it up. Such cooperation, as we have seen from the example of South Sudan, is both losing situation for both the Sudanese people and Sudan as a nation.
In doing so, the west is only alienating itself, and allowing countries such as China to have an upper hand in the development of African nations.
5
"There are only two problems in Darfur: poverty and tribal conflicts." Did you actually read this article? Or does mass rape committed by Arab soldiers against unarmed black African women not constitute a problem? Beijing can have Khartoum; we don't need to compete with them to profit from acts of barbarism.
3
Declaring with such seeming certainty that "there are only two problems in Darfur, poverty and tribal conflict" betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of the Darfur conflict.
Your portrayal of the Sudanese government as an innocent victim caught up in Western conspiracies also does no justice to the Sudanese government or to the well-documented cases of atrocities and human rights abuses in the Darfur region especially. There is no "so-called" evidence; you can visit the remains of burnt villages directly or see the videos of Antonov bombings on the internet at your leisure.
To what is a nuanced situation, where critiques of Western diplomacy, aid and intervention can and should be made, you've brought a displaced proxy analysis of South Sudan with at the very least two big logical fallacies right in the middle.
Bashir's government may have plenty to lose by cooperating with "the West," but if done in the correct way, Sudan and its people stand only to gain.
Your portrayal of the Sudanese government as an innocent victim caught up in Western conspiracies also does no justice to the Sudanese government or to the well-documented cases of atrocities and human rights abuses in the Darfur region especially. There is no "so-called" evidence; you can visit the remains of burnt villages directly or see the videos of Antonov bombings on the internet at your leisure.
To what is a nuanced situation, where critiques of Western diplomacy, aid and intervention can and should be made, you've brought a displaced proxy analysis of South Sudan with at the very least two big logical fallacies right in the middle.
Bashir's government may have plenty to lose by cooperating with "the West," but if done in the correct way, Sudan and its people stand only to gain.
2
On another note, if you truly believe Janjaweed was backed by Sudanese government, just take a look at some 2007 articles. They were fighting among themselves since then. Who do you really think is the plausible backer of Janjaweed? At least the Sudanese government stood little to gain - it was able to completely demolish rebel bases in Darfur with air strikes. It is plausible the Janjaweed had some information regarding the strikes and followed suit, but that says nothing about who is funding them.
Though...we do know who had been delivering arms and resources to the South Sudan warlords.
Though...we do know who had been delivering arms and resources to the South Sudan warlords.
Why would I put any more credence in what George Clooney says about Darfur than I would in what Jenny McCarthy says about vaccines? Just because a celebrity says something doesn't make it right.
7
Jenny is quoting research that has been refuted, against much more evidence going the other way. Clooney has invested in and organized, with Prendergast, a setup to monitor and report the little information about what's going on there to fill the vacuum. The differences between the 2 are stark.
What an odd comparison.
If you look closely, or at all, there are links to information about all the claims made.
I respect George Clooney for using his celebrity to shine a light on a painfully tragic situation in an almost forgotten corner of the world. As another commenter said earlier, it seems that the darker are the skins of the victims, and the less a part of the world can offer us economically, the more we look the other way. Or perhaps it is that we can't see it at all as so much of our national media is focused on foolishness like "lottery news" and what's the latest with the Kardashians. I long for the days of Walter Cronkite and a truly comprehensive news environment that scanned the world and enlightened rather than entertained us.
27
A very familiar tragedy in many developing countries especially those rich in resources. Sadly, everyone in the trading lines knows about this; but oil and minerals are very cheap if you don't have to pay the world market prices.
Greed and resource-curse have tragic combinations....human rights? Lip service.
Greed and resource-curse have tragic combinations....human rights? Lip service.
4
I wonder what would happen if those people who have been summarily massacred, raped, tortured and thrown into pitiful refugee camps, what would happen if the remaining peoples were armed, even with used AK 47 rifles. Those rifle are abundantly available, cheap and easy to use. Rather than involving American or other UN peace keeping forces or observers, wouldn't it be far better to give these people an opportunity to defend themselves? Of course some screaming liberals would be appalled if we distributed guns as some people would get killed. So far hundreds of thousands have been killed by armed thugs and butchers who have faced no resistance. Let's give the survivors an equal chance. Keep in mind too, that some American politicians want to pass legislation so that American college students, especially females could carry concealed weapons to defend themselves on campus. If we can arm college women surely we can arm Darfur.
4
Let's just keep arming everyone...and people can just go around killing each other, everywhere and anywhere.
1
Despite recent government offences there are still rebel groups operating in Darfur with impressive armament. Also, if you go to IDP camps at night you'll hear without fail intermittent gunshots (usually only when Messi scores a goal though). They have weapons, weapons are not the problem.
One of the reasons the Darfur conflict in ~2003-2009 was so bloody was precisely because there were so many weapons coming in from Chad. Please, no more weapons.
One of the reasons the Darfur conflict in ~2003-2009 was so bloody was precisely because there were so many weapons coming in from Chad. Please, no more weapons.
1
As long as women continue to be seen as "less than," nothing will change, whether it's in Sudan or anywhere else. We can barely get a rape conviction here in the US, and our military can't even control its own ranks in this regard. The patriarchy must fall for anything to change fundamentally. I'm all for taking action against Sudan as suggested in this piece, but even if politicians would see expanding sanctions and so forth as urgent (which I doubt), these are only band-aid fixes for a much, much larger problem.
48
"these are only band-aid fixes for a much, much larger problem."
Men?
Men?
Too much violence and injustice in this world. Too little attention to the plight of the helpless whose zip code is not 'media worthy'.
14
Although I'm sure his intentions are very good, what actual qualifications does George Clooney have to write and publish an op-ed on this topic? This seems like a very serious issue that should be presented and written about by qualified and knowledgeable people.
Shame on the NY Times for exploiting celebrity with an op-ed piece on this very important issue!
Shame on the NY Times for exploiting celebrity with an op-ed piece on this very important issue!
6
Kudos to George Clooney for trying to draw a bit more attention to this issue. Kudos to the New York Times for using George Clooney's name in an attempt to do the same.
Even with the name of a celebrity on the title (usually a sure draw for most Americans), this article has far fewer comments than any other 'opinion' article posted today, including one on dietary habits.
Even with the name of a celebrity on the title (usually a sure draw for most Americans), this article has far fewer comments than any other 'opinion' article posted today, including one on dietary habits.
36
Maybe you could be grateful that he, or anyone else, wants to shed light on this horrible situation. Being informed is the necessary first step for problem-solving. Having intelligence and the will to inform gives Mr. Clooney the qualifications.
58
Excellent points...maybe the NYT can get someone from the Jenner-Kardashian crew to write an op-ed on this Iran nuke deal or maybe on the situation in Ukraine.
1
Thank you George Clooney, John Prendergast, and Akshaya Kumar for telling us what's going on in Sudan.
Maybe the global market can help. With Sudan now supplying more and more "product" to the gold market, the price of gold will go down and a lot of people will lose money. In order to stop "the bleeding" Sudan's gold must be taken off the market. Merchants have reputations to protect and probably don't want to deal with enormous fines and/or prosecutions for buying Sudanese "torture-rape" gold. Buying Sudanese gold must be made a thing of the past. Maybe then, Sudanese rapists could assault piles of gold instead of women.
Maybe the global market can help. With Sudan now supplying more and more "product" to the gold market, the price of gold will go down and a lot of people will lose money. In order to stop "the bleeding" Sudan's gold must be taken off the market. Merchants have reputations to protect and probably don't want to deal with enormous fines and/or prosecutions for buying Sudanese "torture-rape" gold. Buying Sudanese gold must be made a thing of the past. Maybe then, Sudanese rapists could assault piles of gold instead of women.
4
i hope too...
Another set of horrors. What can we do? Really. WHAT CAN WE DO? We read about these terrible human rights violations EVERY DAY. Today it is the Sudan/Darfur. Tomorrow, it is another innocent Black beaten to death or shot by a cop. Yesterday it was oppression in Iran. Or Russia. Or Syria. Or Ferguson.
I know these stories need to be told and we need to hear them, but what exactly can we do so stop them? What can one person, like myself do?
The world is spinning out of control with human rights violations from a scale of one to ten. Pick a place. What has happened to civilization that so many people - mostly men - in power have such a sick, depraved need to torture and murder and physically, emotionally, mentally and economically terrorize so many people?
I do not know what to do to stop the insanity. Someone, please enlighten me.
I know these stories need to be told and we need to hear them, but what exactly can we do so stop them? What can one person, like myself do?
The world is spinning out of control with human rights violations from a scale of one to ten. Pick a place. What has happened to civilization that so many people - mostly men - in power have such a sick, depraved need to torture and murder and physically, emotionally, mentally and economically terrorize so many people?
I do not know what to do to stop the insanity. Someone, please enlighten me.
27
MAW, if you find out what can be done, please let me know! That being said, this isn't spinning out of control. It's been going on my entire life (remember the killing fields of Cambodia?) and in previous eras it was worse. Just look at the Holocaust. Human violence and warfare have actually decreased over time and people are much less likely to die from violence than in the past. So things aren't entirely bad. The trend is actually up.
1
Support the UN as a world governing body!
Read the Declaration of Human Rights. It's all there.
http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/
Read the Declaration of Human Rights. It's all there.
http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/
Many of us are familiar with the sense of helplessness in the face of such situations; the only thing I can think of to do is to reform the Useless Nations into a Useful nations outfit by selective membership and voting rights. We are forced to accept national sovereignty for all nations, even those that are not sovereign in the moral sense of that concept. The UN is simply unable to function as it was intended, the honest cop on the world beat. Tragic. Let's change it.
Interesting that the authors have felt the need to put "torture rapes" in quotes. I have always thought that rape was torture in general.
38
"... international banks, gold refiners and associations like the Dubai Multi Commodities Center and the London Bullion Market Association should raise alerts...."
Are you kidding me? They know very well what's happening and they plan to continue to make money until it is possible. Human rights? Well...let's discuss this later, business first.
Are you kidding me? They know very well what's happening and they plan to continue to make money until it is possible. Human rights? Well...let's discuss this later, business first.
33
This is just sad and no one cares or paying attention.
3
The perpetrators of these atrocities in Sudan are criminals, as are the criminals beheading innocents under the guise of killing infidels. The world media should quit calling these criminals by other labels that imply they are political or religion entities or some kind of freedom fighters. They are psychopathic criminals that should not be allowed to indulge in wanton murder and rape under terms that fail to accuse them of the greed and lunacy they are plainly guilty of. Enough of names like jihadists or terrorists or ISIS; beheading or blowing up innocent civilians is murder not freedom fighting.
60
It is both sad and infuriating that this ongoing terror activity against women continues in Darfur and South Sudan. There are very few to advocate for sanctions and protection for these vulnerable populations and even fewer who can take effective action to halt the atrocities being inflicted. The result is continuing misery for thousands of innocent victims. It may very well be that only a Higher Power can stop the insanity.
6
If anything is to be done, we humans must do it. If someone could tell me of a confirmed divine intervention from a higher power, I would gladly welcome it and not despair for those unfortunate victims.
4
If the male half of the world's population were being systematically sexually abused, the world's superpowers would be clamoring for a solution. Thank you to the authors for bringing the evidence of this awful situation to light.
124
Actually, no. Males are killed and abused throughout the world and nobody gives a fig. Hell, pygmies of whatever gender are currently being eaten as bush meat.
6
Haven't we heard this story before? Just change the names and dates and it is simply a repeat of what has been happening all over the world.....
10
Shockingly, Sudan is a member of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (this Commission will meet in New York City from 9 to 20 March).
69
Possible opportunity to protest outside the meeting?
3
How to equally consider all the violence being done to women throughout the Middle East, Asia, and Africa? It just goes to show how much importance male American politicians attach to atrocities committed to HALF the population, by the other half.
30
We can't even stop the Syrian civil war, which has killed over 200,000 men, women, and children. What makes you think that our failure to stop this is some kind of big, bad male plot?
4
"Peacekeepers" unable or unwilling to use force to destroy Warmakers keep no peace except in the self-deluded conscience of self-congratulatory hypocrites who use them to relieve themselves of the burden of doing something effective while still claiming to care.
17
Are you willing to give your life to enforce a peace in a country half a world away?
2
No. I also am not willing to endorse hypocritical phony balcony that at best does nothing, and which might do harm by giving people a false sense of security when what they could use are arms to defend themselves. I don't want to give my life but would like to give the victims a shot at making the aggressors give theirs. Its their fight, but that doesn't mean we can' the lip them even the odds.
1
Obama is on this! The US recently partially lifted sanctions against Sudan. While this seems counterproductive to ordinary people, that just proves how much smarter the White House is. They have a plan that is going to stop this genocidal war, just as soon as the glaciers stop melting and the seas recede.
7
In Sudan as everywhere, corrupt men are the bane of all things. They carry on unpunished and with great glee for it.
America's foreign aid goes directly into the pockets of corrupt men.
America's foreign aid goes directly into the pockets of corrupt men.
23
Thank you for this very important article! It is indeed horrifying how easy it is to ignore these atrocities in the 21st century. Perhaps for many of us it is unthinkable that such atrocities and acts of terrorism could be implicitly or explicitly sanctioned by a government, any government. And when are we going to stop using religion as an excuse to behaving inhumanely?
17
You do remember Hitler, Stalin, Mao, and Pol Pot, don't you? Why is it so surprising that such acts would be sanctioned by a government?
9
The United States has the most powerful military in the world. It is supposed under civilian command. Yet it won't stop the epidemic of rape among female soldiers who volunteered their service to this country. It certainly could stop this torture if it cared. It has the structure and supposed discipline to do it yet it does not seem to think it an important goal. Do you really think this government is going to care that much that black women in Africa are being raped en masse?
44
@ Kathy - "Do you really think this government is going to care that much that black women in Africa are being raped en masse?"
Do you honestly believe the entire US government is racist because it doesn't care that black women in Africa are being raped?
Do you honestly believe the entire US government is racist because it doesn't care that black women in Africa are being raped?
3
Do those Sudanese pay taxes? Do they serve in our military?
Sorry, but I don't think you're going to get much support for risking American lives and treasure in yet another foreign intervention. There are horrors going on all over the world. 200,000 people have been killed in the Syrian civil war. ISIS is on the march and beheading our citizens. And we won't even send troops to deal with those things.
We can't solve every problem in the world. I hope we'll work to discourage this and other horrors but the notion that we can put troops everywhere evil things happen is laughably impractical.
Sorry, but I don't think you're going to get much support for risking American lives and treasure in yet another foreign intervention. There are horrors going on all over the world. 200,000 people have been killed in the Syrian civil war. ISIS is on the march and beheading our citizens. And we won't even send troops to deal with those things.
We can't solve every problem in the world. I hope we'll work to discourage this and other horrors but the notion that we can put troops everywhere evil things happen is laughably impractical.
2
Thanks to the writers for reminding us of these crimes. More than that, my gratitude that they are putting the effort into finding out what is going on there. Someone has to do these things, all over the world . . . . but once it is done, and it is brought to our attention, what can we do to effect action? I confess that with so much horror in the world these days, I don't even know where to begin to help encourage action.
39
Last month I witnessed another tragic side of Sudan's 'forgotten war' when I traveled to two refugee camps in eastern Chad. I was there to interview Sudanese refugee families about their use of solar cookers, made by refugee women in the camps from cardboard and aluminum foil. Since UNHCR has reduced food and wood rations for all refugee families, I learned that even with their $5 solar cookers, which don’t last very long in the harsh desert climate, and the $100 stainless steel wood burning stoves that are given to each refugee family, many women and their young daughters are still heading out of their camps several times a week to chop down the few remaining trees in the desert and haul them home to burn in their cooking fires. After ten years, these camps are now semi-permanent albeit totally unsustainable mega-villages, with tens of thousands of refugees overwhelming the local Chadian population of extended families living in small mud walled compounds. The work of my organization, Solar Cookers International, promoting the use of small solar thermal devices for cooking and heating water cannot affect the ongoing tragedy in Sudan, but I do believe we can improve the lives of Sudanese refugees and the local Chadian population by providing them with durable, more powerful and more efficient ways to use and store solar energy for cooking and heating water. All we need is funding for R&D and field testing.
84
You should "Crowd Source Fund" your project. I think you will be pleased with the response you will receive. You should expand your goals to include other solar infrastructure and agriculture as well. Good luck with your project.
The number of reader comments to this article are almost non-existent compared to the hundreds of comments to Friedman's article today about ISIS. I think that demonstrates America's lack of interest the horrific criminal activity going on in Sudan as opposed to the Middle East's problems.
It's really difficult to know what to say about this lack of interest and caring about the atrocities carried out daily with women its special target.
It's really difficult to know what to say about this lack of interest and caring about the atrocities carried out daily with women its special target.
156
I think Americans are fascinated by terrorism, especillay Middle East Terrorism. This probably dates back to 9/11. The reason why ISIS gets more attention is probably due to the effort they make to show the beheading of Americans and Westerners. They get the attention of the Media. The Media make the news.
23
Well, I didn't red the ISIS article and did read this, but I think ISIS has killed Americans and we are now fighting ISIS, which makes it of more interest to people. It also practices beheadings rather than rape and yes, on the scale of things, murder is one of the few things we deem worse than rape. Finally, there is a lot of Darfur fatigue! After years of failure, people get the sense that there's nothing much to be done.
2
@Charlotte & those who complain people have turned a blind eye on Darfur's continuous atrocities - especially against women - should take this up with @AmbassadorPower (Twitter). I did. Understandably, Ms Power has a larger role now but she was one of the staunch supporter of helping the victims in Sudan before her appointment and it is important she hasn't forgotten. And probably realpolitik doesn't help when the Obama Administration has so many fires, domestic and otherwise, to fight. Still, while I appreciate Mr Clooney to pen this op-ed and keep this in public eye, your outrage should direct at the proper targets, be it charitable efforts to help the victims or mobilization of forces be bought to bear to those perpetrators
• The United States and other countries should expand sanctions and step up enforcement to pressure Sudan to observe human rights and to negotiate for peace.
Sorry, George, America's busy sanctioning Russia over Ukraine and fighting Holy War in the Levant to care, "especially for places that appear to have no strategic importance" and "attention spans are short [when change doesn’t come fast enough]." This is sooooooooo "old news."
Move on!
Sorry, George, America's busy sanctioning Russia over Ukraine and fighting Holy War in the Levant to care, "especially for places that appear to have no strategic importance" and "attention spans are short [when change doesn’t come fast enough]." This is sooooooooo "old news."
Move on!
8
No. We should never forget atrocities such as this one. Forgetting takes away every ounce of humanity we have left. Never forget those women (and their families). This is tragic.
79
I hope the relative lack of comments is because this situation is so objectionable, and because the steps to take are so obvious.
However, Americans literally can't see the problem in the Sudan, and they also may feel powerless, that their individual action is ineffectual on a huge problem in an unfamiliar country far away... Voters might hope to elect officials who could possibly urge committees to consider rules that would eventually apply some pressure to influence any reasonable Sudanese official (who might then rationally analyze the massacre they've created?)
Instead, Americans might need some sort of catchy international ice-bucket-type meme - that makes them feel like they're doing something - to connect with the issue, and the Sudanese people, before officials find the will to act.
However, Americans literally can't see the problem in the Sudan, and they also may feel powerless, that their individual action is ineffectual on a huge problem in an unfamiliar country far away... Voters might hope to elect officials who could possibly urge committees to consider rules that would eventually apply some pressure to influence any reasonable Sudanese official (who might then rationally analyze the massacre they've created?)
Instead, Americans might need some sort of catchy international ice-bucket-type meme - that makes them feel like they're doing something - to connect with the issue, and the Sudanese people, before officials find the will to act.
Heather, I think that was sarcasm.
3
This is not only a crime against humanity, it is a hate crime against women everywhere. We must pay more attention, and possibly break relations with Sudan. These crimes are worthy of ISIL.
128
The US government is breaking relations with Sudan by inviting it's Foreign Affairs Minister for official entertainment venues as well as Mr. Al basher political adviser into behind closed doors talking. There's a new ball game taking place these days. "Mr. George Clooney " you have more lobbying power to dismantle these behind the scenes moves than the poor victims in Darfur so please figure it out than just writing articles.
10
The UN Security Council should be disbanded since it's completely useless. I hope this article brings much needed attention to the horrific situation in Darfur. And I hope our government takes the specific actions you have recommended.
"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." -- Albert Einstein
"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." -- Albert Einstein
85
@ Zeya
The UN Security Council should be reconstructed because, as long as the permanent members retain veto power, it will remain "completely useless."
Thanks for the Einstein quote!
“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer
The UN Security Council should be reconstructed because, as long as the permanent members retain veto power, it will remain "completely useless."
Thanks for the Einstein quote!
“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer
7
You're right. But I don't think France, Russia, China, the UK, or the US will voluntarily relinquish its veto power, so I stand by my previous comment. Like the Bonhoeffer quote!
5
Completely useless. I agree.
8
The blacker the faces, and more importantly, the less a country has to offer to the big players in this world, the less we care. Now, if their we solid opportunities for us to do business there... maybe we can sell them more guns!
29
Apparently we just don't care where gold comes from and the politics that control it.
8
Africa has much to offer. Just ask the currently very quiet Chinese...
36
Thanks to the writers of this piece to bring this back to the fore. I suspect they are taking a page out of Nicholas Kristof's book and highlighting the rape aspect of this genocide, if only to get some traction in the media.
As horrible as rape is, in circumstances such as in Darfur, or other African conflicts, rape is but a tool in the larger event of genocide. Nevertheless, whatever works to get the feckless world 'powers' to pay attention.
But, the large number of NGOs, activists, and others haven't lost their focus. Let us not forget that. Even if they try and are only able to ameliorate the awful circumstances of these refugees.