what is really happening - north shore - 8th grade service learning project
DESCRIPTION
Over the course of the year, the 8th graders at the North Shore Country Day School have been studying the genocide in Darfur. Their goal of their project was to raise awareness to this crisis. Led by Natalie Sept, a group of students presented the following to the Middle School students, Upper School students, faculty, and staff of the North Shore Country Day School during an all school assembly (Morning Ex) on Monday, May 14, 2007TRANSCRIPT
What is happening?really
The Facts
Darfur is a state in the country of Sudan.
Roughly ¼ the size of the U.S.
Darfur is 196,555 sq. mi
Almost four times the size of Illinois
The whole eastern half of Darfuris covered with plains and lowhills of sandy soils known as goz.
While dry, goz may also supportRich pasture and arable land.Primarily arid climateDarfur’s Economy is based on subsistence agriculture, as well aslivestock in the drier north.
Taken from Google Earth, this is a satelite image of the damage done in Darfur
Aerial view of one of the villages, burnt to the ground.
About the size of Winnetka
Raw Numbers…
450,000 people have been killed
More than 2.5 million have been driven from their homes
More than 3.5 million are completely reliant on international aid for survival
And the numbers continue to rise…
Millions over crowd refugee camps in the outskirts of Sudan and ChadNow the Janjaweed are entering into ChadThere is no place to hide
People must wait in line hours in order to see a doctor
Dependent on International Aid, refugee camps are full of starving familiesHundreds have died of malnutrition and disease alone
people involved
Unlike the media portrays the conflict is not between Muslims and non-Muslims
BOTH groups are in fact Muslim
Ideology of Arab supremacism has been growing in Africa since the 1960’s
The Sudanese government became involved in the 1990’s…
…funding militia groups who were carrying out the attacks
It was not until early 2003 that the Non-Arab Africans began to Combine their forces to protect themselves against militia groups
Two of the main groups—The Sudan Liberation Army andThe Justice and Equality Movement—combined to create theNational Redemption Front
The Sudanese Government, however, saw this uprisingOf Non-Arab Africans as a threat against the nation of Sudan, And thus began funding a group known as the Janjaweed to quell the rebellion of the National Redemption Front
However, due to the prospects of peace, a faction of the Sudanese Liberation Army broke away from the National Redemption Front in order to come to a peace agreement with the Sudanese government—
this prospect of peace would turn out to be an empty promise from the Sudanese government.
An analysis in late 2006 concluded that "It is likely that the number of deaths for this conflict in Greater Darfur is higher than 200,000 individuals, and it is possible that the death toll is much higher."
The conflict began in February 2003, when rebel groups began attacking government targets.
The government retaliated by launching a military and police campaign.
The government has been accused of encouraging a group of Arab nomads called the Janjaweed to rape, murder and loot the African Farmers
President of Sudan Omar Al-Bashir who denies any correlationbetween Janjaweed and his government.
On March 22nd, Bashirfinally agreed to have an additional 3,000 Peace-Keeping troups sent to Darfur region.
It is now May 14th
No additional troops have been sent…
Kass Town 89,895
Al Mallan 2,124
Thur 24,087
East JM 13,800
Beida AU 3,227
Arava VC 5,845
Habilla AU 26,433Manawashi 10,968
Jemeza Komera 3,285
Djabal 15,103 Mukjar 14,325
Kango Haraza 3,327
Daya 18,725Golo AU 62,060
Gornie & Debanga 13,770
Gildo 15,182
Mornei 61,034Nertiti 13,081
Shangil Tobayi 19,494
Zalingei AU 95,069
Ladob 10,972
2.5 million Displaced Since October 2006
Hunted like animalsRapedMurderedAbandoned
What have we done to help?
Al-Bashir agreed in November 2006 to a three-phase U.N. plan to strengthen the African Union force.
The first phase, a light support package including U.N. policeadvisers, civilian staff and additional resources and technical support,has already been sent to Darfur
Al-Bashir has refused to give a green light to the third and final phasea 20,000 strong “hybrid” United Nations-African Union force.
Deployment of the second phase of 3,000 troops has been delayed
YOUR Congressmen
Darfur Scorecard
Representative Mark Steven Kirk
Senator Barack Obama
Senator Richard Durbin
A+
A+
B
Co-sponsored: Darfur Accountability Act, Civilian Protection, and No-Fly Zone. Also UN Mendez Amendment for peacekeeping in Darfur
In addition to Obama’s contributions, Durbin has been to Darfur, and sponsored the Derby/Leahy Amendment for emergency funding to increase peacekeeping in Darfur
Voted for majority of Darfur legislature, but voted againstFunding Amendment for Humanitarian Aid.
What can I do?
TAKE ACTION!
Write to your congressmenSudan Divestment Authorization Act (Senate Bill 831), introduced on March 8, provides federal protection for states that divest from foreign companies funding the genocide in Darfur, Sudan.
TAKE ACTION!
Attend a RallyLook for updates on www.savedarfur.orgfor rallies and protests comingto your area!
EDUCATE!
SPREAD AWARENESSKnowledge is PowerThe greatest thing you can doIs to inform people of Darfur. Continue to Educate! Be a sourceof information so that we can beginchange!
SANZA Solstice: Rock for a Reason
June 12th @ 7pmSubterranean (North and Damen)
Featuring performances by Paper Airplane Pilots, Cameron McGill and the Quartet Offensive, Jonny Rumble, Sub Rosa, Smallwire, Hey Day, Laz...Dj's Stare Decisis, Matt Fields, and D.j. Bugalu...including items to be auctioned off courtesy of Wilco, Andrew Bird, and more!!!
Coming Soon…
We will not be silent
Save Darfur
