May 8, 2008
Seven children killed while at school
It is a horrific thing whenever we hear about a shooting that happens at a school, killing innocent students. But what about when the killer is the government? The Sudanese government killed seven Sudanese children on Sunday while at school. Thirteen people were killed in total. The children live in the region of Sudan known as Darfur where the killing by the Sudanese government does not stop.
This is Book Seven material. A government attacking it’s own people. Only in this case it’s happening in our world, it’s happening every day, and in the case of the seven school children the international community took 48 hours to even respond.
In the words of the Save Darfur Coalition:
“The attack—and the miserable response—is yet another example of the world’s failure to protect the people of Darfur. The U.N. approved a peacekeeping force for Darfur ten months ago. Less than a third of that force has reached Darfur.
“But we have an opportunity to make sure the world keeps its promise to the people of Darfur when the U.S. assumes the presidency of the U.N. Security Council on June 1.
“Help us meet our goal to send 75,000 messages to President Bush before June 1 urging him to help bring peace and security to the people of Darfur.
“Last summer, the U.N. Security Council committed to send a robust peacekeeping force to Darfur. There was hope that with the arrival of additional peacekeeping troops, the worst of this humanitarian nightmare would soon be over.
“Ten long months later, only 10 percent of the additional 20,000 troops have deployed. Those that are on the ground lack the basic logistical and material support they need to do their job. There is simply no reason why the most powerful nation in the world, together with its allies, can’t find 22 helicopters to help save lives in Darfur.
“In last year’s State of the Union address, President Bush said: ‘The United States … will continue to awaken the conscience of the world to save the people of Darfur.’
“If those words mean anything at all, the President will use the leadership of the U.N. Security Council to get the peacekeepers what they need to protect the people of Darfur.
“Talk is cheap. The time for outrage alone is over. The time for action is long past overdue. Every day of foot-dragging is another day of unspeakable atrocities visited on the people of Darfur.
“The people of Darfur need protection NOW.”
Emma Bridges
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It’s terrible and more needs to be done. My STAND chapter is working to help them out!!!