There's no school today. And I'm supposed to be following my time plan today. But I figured, this post was absolutely necessary.
WEST DARFUR
The Darfur Conflict is an ongoing guerilla conflict or civil war centered around the Darfur region of Sudan. It began in February 2003 when the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) groups in Darfur took up arms, accusing the Sudanese government of oppressing black Africans in favor of Arabs. One side of the conflict is composed mainly of the official Sudanese military and the Janjaweed, a Sudanese militia group recruited mostly from the Afro-Arab Abbala tribes of the northern Rizeigat region in Sudan; these tribes are mainly camel-herding nomads. The other combatants are made up of rebel groups, notably the SLM/A and the JEM, recruited primarily from the non-Arab Muslim Fur, Zaghawa, and Masalit ethnic groups. Although the Sudanese government publicly denies that it supports the Janjaweed, multiple human rights groups have accused it of providing financial assistance to the militia and of participating in joint attacks targeting civilians.
There are various estimates on the number of human casualties, ranging from under twenty thousand to several hundred thousand dead, from either direct combat or starvation and disease engendered by the conflict. There have also been mass displacements and coercive migrations, forcing millions into refugee camps or over the border and creating a large humanitarian crisis.
The crisis in Darfur, in western Sudan, has led to some of the worst human rights abuses imaginable, including systematic and widespread murder, rape, abduction and forced displacement. Hundreds of thousands of civilians have died as a result of both deliberate and indiscriminate attacks, and more than 2 million civilians have been forced to flee from their homes. The situation on the ground has been plagued with renewed violence, Janjawid attacks, and aerial bombing by the Government of Sudan's military. Currently, the Government of Sudan is resisting the UN Security Council-mandated peacekeeping operation that is desperately needed.
Amnesty representatives have met with UN, U.S. and European officials to call for their vigorous action and have pressed the governments of Chad and Sudan directly. Amnesty's global membership has also organized letter-writing campaigns and demonstrations to draw attention to the crisis.
The international community must, at long last, put a stop to these atrocities and bring relief to those who have survived but continue to suffer. Join the growing movement of citizens worldwide who are taking action for Darfur.
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Democratic Republic of Congo
Unrelenting Violence Stalks Civilians Throughout Eastern DR Congo
Throughout 2009, the civilians suffered continuous violence from different armed groups in eastern Congo. Hundreds of people were killed, thousands of women, children, and, sometimes, men were raped and hundreds of thousands of people fled their homes. Guerilla warfare has replaced armed clashes in North Kivu where combatants spread terror by looting and burning houses in reprisals against the perceived support of communities to different factions.
In 2008, the fighting occurred mainly between the Congolese army (FARDC) and the National Congress for the People’s Defense (CNDP) rebel group. This past year saw the conflict change when the Congolese and Rwandan armies started an offensive in both North and South Kivu to wipe out Rwandan rebels of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). The Congolese military received logistical support from the UN peacekeeping mission in DRC, known as MONUC.
In October, MSF teams were vaccinating thousands of children against measles at seven sites in FDLR-controlled territory in the Masisi region—and in support of the Congolese Ministry of Health—when the Congolese army opened fire, sending civilians and aid workers alike running for cover. This attack occurred despite security guarantees from all sides to operate in the region. Thousands of people were forced to flee to unknown locations, and MSF was forced to evacuate its teams to the regional capital, Goma.
MSF immediately denounced the military offensive. “We feel we were used as bait,” said Luis Encinas, head of MSF programs in Central Africa. “The attack was an unacceptable abuse of humanitarian action to fulfill military objectives.” The MSF vaccination campaign could continue in other areas and reached a total of 165,000 children.
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Many a times we tend to take things for granted. For taking the most simplest things like love and care from your own family for granted. We complain that parents do not spend enough time with you because of their work, but haven't you thought that some children can't even find their parents in Africa?
We complain about not being able to have kfc, macs and subway for lunch. But haven't you thought that the kids in Africa can't even fill their tummies. Some can't even have 3meals a day.
You complain about not being able to get the latest Juicy Couture or the latest LV or Burberry, but some can't even cover their bodies with cloth.
You complain about school and the large amounts of homework you get everyday and tests flooding you every week. But kids in Africa will die to be schooled and educated.
You complain about taking medication when you fall sick, but some out there can't even get proper medication.
We're all selfish people who only care about ourselves. We live in a first world society, with everything falling into our hands as we wished they would. But then you see, half the people in the world don't have their lives as lucky as we do. May you know, we should take a step back and look at ourselves. Why complain about so much when people out there have so little?
So take a step back, look at our lives and the people's lives in Africa. See the difference? Its huge. They need so much. While we have too much. Why can't we support everyone in the world? Why can't we give aid to them? Why can't we help? We all have too much food in our household. Just look at how much food you throw away each day. You know how much that amount can feed a society?
I know, we're young. But so what?
I'm posting this, not because I really want you guys to do something. But because I just want you people out there to be more thankful for what you have and stop complaining. Kids nowadays, seriously they ARE overly pampered. So parents, please.
We're all lucky people, sometimes we're too comfortable that we forget that.
Western Union Agent: Please answer the question to assure that this transmission is for you; it's a code to pick up your money. Your friend, Nicodemus, says to ask: "What is the name of your brother?"
Nicodemus' Friend : (big smile spreading across his face) Every man!
David: (as he and Sam secretly plan to send their Christmas money to Darfur) You said we could spend it.
Eric: I did. Your mother and I, both, said you could spend it, or, you could put it away for a rainy day.
David: (very seriously) It's raining all over the world
