In recent times, the media has highlighted the genocide that has been occurring in Darfur, Sudan. Darfur, Sudan is a country roughly the size of the state of Texas (Darfur Scores, n.d.). Genocide is the systematic killing of an entire ethnic group of people from a national, ethnic, or religious group, or an attempt to do away with them all (Darfur Scores, n.d.). Beginning around 2003, according to Darfur Scores (n.d.), “the Sudanese government in Khartoum and the government-sponsored Janjaweed militia have used rape, displacement, organized starvation, threats against aid workers and mass murder. Violence, disease, and displacement continue to kill thousands of innocent Darfurians every month.”
Today, people seem blinded by their outsized enthusiasm for social media. According to them, a few clicks can change the whole world and accomplish wonders such as curing cancer. Good intentions become sufficient on their own, as if there were no need for medicine and scientific researches anymore. Well, this is pure nonsense. Facebook’s likes cannot save African children from starvation, the same way Twitter’s 140 characters will not put an end to acts of terrorism. This notion is not even remotely debatable. For instance, the project Kony2012 had a perfect starting point; inspiring video, moving story and most importantly worldwide spread. Unfortunately, the terrorist is still at liberty, and the lack of thorough investigations is to blame. Instead of focusing on the real problems of war and kidnapping of children, the so-called activist related to the obvious and spent all of his money and energy on his movie. Ultimately, due to the predominance of weak-ties, the project was not successful. More importantly, certain tools of social networks, especially “likes” and “retweets”, encourage people to feel good about themselves, when actually they should incite them to put their efforts and means in the cause they supposedly defend. As Gladwell wrote, “[current] activism succeeds not by motivating people to make a real sacrifice but by motivating them to do the things that
Did you know one out of twelve people died as a result of the Darfur genocide? The Darfur genocide was part of the ongoing Sudanese civil war in Darfur. The rebel sides are the Sudan Liberation Movement and the Justice Equality Movement. The Janjaweed, or Sudan’s government-funded military, retaliated against the rebellion by attacking and killing the civilians in Darfur. These practices went on long enough that it was considered a genocide. The Darfur crisis was one of the most tragic events in the last twenty years, and affected families in many ways including the brutal treatment of natives, moving to refugee camps, and the loss of home villages and possessions.
The United Nations has described it as "the world's worst humanitarian crisis". As of 2003, the Darfur genocide is being carried out by the Sudanese armed forces and funded Arab militias known as the Janjaweed. These militias are historic rivals of the rebel groups known as the Sudanese Liberation Movement (SLM), and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). Darfur is a region in western Sudan on the border of Chad, Libya, and the Central African Republic. Darfur is estimated to have about 6 million people living there. The conflict started in 2003 and has continued through today. The Janjaweed were accused of oppressing Darfur's non-Arab population. The Janjaweed are destroying Darfurians by burning villages, polluting water, murdering, raping
As a middle eastern, I did not realize how much Facebook was considered a main role in these uprising and how it was reported here in the U.S. and the west. These uprisings were not just a result of a “Facebook revolution,” but the thousands of people who took to the streets and protested against dictators and demanded change. As someone who lived there, I believe that the political, religious, and economic problems were there already and Facebook was a tool that happened to be accessible to help protesters organize. It certainly was not a main factor in these revolutions. As a matter of fact Facebook was also used and still being used by governments to spread propaganda. In the Syrian conflict Facebook, twitter, and video platforms like YouTube are being used by terrorist groups like ISIS to spread their radical ideology and even reach like-minded people in the west. This was not possible few years ago and is definitely an example of how social media could play a negative role in
When most people talk about celebrities it is usually related to their latest fashion statement, the new movies they are starring in, or the new song they released. However, what is becoming increasingly more popular for celebrities to be associated with is humanitarian and development work. Through their use
“500,000 people have been slaughtered, in Darfur, Sudan, yet no one cares.” An anonymous quote that has spoken truth before, but now it will no longer be true. The Darfuri Genocide has been the cause of poverty, death, famine, etc. This is one of the worst humanitarian crisis that’s going on to this day. The Darfuri people have had to deal with slaughtering of their people, UN attempts, and past civil wars that led up to this major fighting.
The internet is a powerful tool for activists, but can also be utilized by the other side by promoting propaganda and mobilizing their own supporters. Networking sites have revolutionized the way people activists approach revolutions. Moreover, the internet has connected people from across the world and has caused people in the states (like myself) to become invested in a civil war occurring in a part of the world I never knew existed. The internet has empowered and enabled people by connecting like-minded people, providing access to information, broadcasting events, and creating real connections between people. Alone, the internet is not enough to bring down an oppressive, authoritarian state; but when coupled with the power and will of the people, it can create real
In 2003 there was a mass slaughter and and rape of the people in Darfur. This happened to so many people like men, women, and children. Many people suffered from the mass torturing. This is known as a genocide. The genocide has been going on for about 13 years and is still going on today. This genocide is the first genocide in the 21st century. The darfur genocide was gruesome. Since the Darfur bloodshed was gruesome and had people attacking, it led the United States and Court to believe it was considered a genocide. Darfur is a horrible time in history for so many people. The Janjaweed and the Sudanese forces attacked hundreds of villages in Darfur. The genocide is what caused so many people to suffer from the United States, court, crimes
Peace and Security Creating relations between races and ethnicity's has always been vital to the success of the world. The United States and the international community have been, more often than not, late to stop violent acts against humanity. It took decades after the United Nations was created, and after a horrendous genocide in Rwanda, for the International Criminal Court to be created. Despite these two establishments created for international peace and security, crimes against humans rights are still occurring.When human rights are being violated, it is necessary for the U.S. and its allies to intervene in ethnic conflicts. While others may say humanitarian intervention goes against a state’s sovereign authority,it is necessary to protect
Ever since 2003 there’s been a mass torturing of Darfur civilians. This is known as the Darfur genocide. It is still going on today. It’s been going on for over 13 years. Many times the Darfur Genocide has been called the first genocide of the 21st century. Many people i’ve been seeing question if it’s truly genocide. I have to say that I think it’s no doubt genocide. I say this because genocide is the deliberate extermination of a people or nation. To say the least it’s very deliberate what the Janjaweed has been doing to the Darfur citizens. It’s terrible the many gruesome acts the Janjaweed has been doing in Darfur. The Janjaweed has been murdering people in Darfur. The Janjaweed has been also raping young women in their own villages. These
The local farmers formed two rebel groups known as the Justice and Equality Movement, and the Sudan Liberation Army. These two rebel armies were formed because, according to Makki Sala , the government in Khartoum was accused of favoring the Arabs and carrying out a systematic ethnic cleansing in Darfur . But these two rebel groups are not the only groups who are causing problems in Darfur; a group of bandits who rape, kill and steal are known as the Janjaweed this group is claimed as the main cause of the countless massacres that are occurring in the villages of Darfur . The Sudanese government has been accused of working with the Janjaweed to fight against the two rebel army groups. This is very unfortunate to hear because the government should never be involve with a group who massacre innocent people, the government should protect its people not exterminate them because they don’t agree with their policies. Although the horrific events of the holocaust occurred many years ago the after shock of it still remain in today’s society; ethnic groups are attacked, discriminated against, even exterminated in some cases, so the united states needs to step in like they did " in December 1941, the United states entered world war II on the side of the allied forces"(United states). The U.S helped stop the civil war that’s occurring in Darfur and help save the innocent women/men and children from
The Darfur genocide was the first genocide in the twentieth century and it is also the first genocide to be declared genocide. Sadly the Darfur genocide still remains and millions of people are still being affected as of today. Roughly around 400,000 innocent lives were lost. (Society in Darfur, Chiff.com) In the year 2011 more than 500,000 Sudanese civilians were being driven out of their homes by the government’s harsh actions and decisions and this number is still rising. (It’s in my blood, stopgenocide.org.) Many of their homes and villages were burned to nothing bust ashes by the Janjaweed. In the year 2008 the United Nations created a “hybrid” United Nation and African Union mission known as UNAMID. They had planned to send over 26,000 troops to help defend the citizens with force if necessary. But they only sent around 9,000 troops so far and they also lack the proper equipment (Sudan Protest, guardianlv.com). The United Nations have stationed many refugee camps. Many people run away from their village to get to the refugee camps and get the protection they need. Many associations are making an honest effort to help send supplies to Sudan. So far around 6.1 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance as of 2014. And the response by the several of humanitarian groups has been amazing. They have raised 6 million dollars’ worth of donations and was sent to Sudan last year in 2013. The Relief International group stationed many health outposts throughout
Being ransacked, raped, and pillaged, and most of all, murdered and driven out of your homes, all by your government? These were the horrors about 100 native tribes faced in a region of Sudan named Darfur in 2003. The government of Sudan took up arms against these villages for a number of reasons, here including the ongoing fight between the native farmers and nomads, the Sudanese government being corrupt, and the struggle between the villagers/farmers and their government.
the video of darfur is the best to show everything that is happening in darfur. the video interviewed people, showed images and video of their homes. the narrator even talking in a sad and depressing voice to give the viewer a feeling of how sad it is. The people they interviewed were mostly pregnant, and were raped to make the bitter feeling more appealing. the people talked about how they attacked at their homes, and how they are starving, and everything there going through. The video was able to show the dismal feeling that is going around in darfur.