France's true colors

Sorry for the absence, darlings! I was really busy with my Darfur activism and NA Miami with Nidya, among other things. Less than a month ago, a French judge issued an arrest warrant on Rwandan President Paul Kagame along with nine of his associates of the shotting down of an aircraft that killed then President Juvenal Habyarimana and triggered the 1994 genocide. Yet despite that, France grants immunity to heads of states and there for can't make an arrest. As expected, Rwandan officials were inraged and broke diplomatic ties with France. For many years, Kagame has accused France on playing a role in the murder of the Tutsis, to which they keep dening and accusing Kagame of shotting down Habyarimana's plane. I would think that Kagame would have more brains and common sense not taking part in the President's assaination. Andrew Waills has written a book on France's role during the Rwandan genocide called ''Silent Accomplice: The Untold Story of France's Role in the Rwandan Genocide'' in which reveal' France's sinister role during the genocide by providing millitary, finacial, and diplomatic support to Hutu extremists doing the bulk of the killings. History won't judge France to kindy on it's secretive role in Rwanda's genocide.

Review: Conspiracy to Murder (part one)

Everybody involved in the pursuit of preventing genocide, has a moment when they switch onto its horrors and vow that 'this must never happen again - not on my watch'. For me, it was Linda Melvern's words that did it at the 10th anniversary conference organised by Never Again and the Imperial War Museum. Her words haunted me to the extent that I continue to have trouble writing down what she said - it was about the women who were raped every day of the genocide and still die every day of the after-effects. Since then, despite becoming incresingly involved in peacebuilding, I have avoided reading Melvern's very clinical, forensic books about the genocide, which she has worked tirelessly on since conducting some of the first interview about it in 2006. Call it cowardice if you like. But it is true that everybody, whether or not they feel they have any involvement in building a more peaceful world, has a responsibility to at least listen to what was done in their name, or if not in their name to the detriment of humanity.

I've finally started reading Conspiracy to Murder, which has been updated and republished in paperback this year. It does have the hard-hitting style that I expected but so far has been less haunting than interesting and compelling. In the first two chapters Melvern outlines the history of genocide - 'a deliberate attempt to reconstruct history' - detailing the different theories behind ethnic division in the small African country and the methods used by different parties to exacerbate and take advantage of two groups that lived, worked and built families together.

From the first two chapters, you can see that some of the conditions that caused genocide are still there. A densely populated country with limited space and a mobile population. A one-party state and reports of arbitrary arrests. Even the idea of communal work, twisted into massacres, still finds echoes in the much more positive pursuit of Sunday tidy-ups which Rwandans sometimes grumble about in the New Times. I wonder why Rwandans are so quick to condemn Amnesty International now when they were often the only organisation drawing attention to what was happening in Rwanda before the genocide.

The biggest difference, I hope, is in the youth. As I read over familiar names, I think of Ladislas, our Clubs Chairman who has walked great areas to set up Groups that now inspire youth to meet across divides. The issue of unemployment is also being addressed by Never Again as well as many other groups in income generating projects.

Another difference is in connection. Rwanda is quickly establishing itself as a green country with a multiligual, charming population who can talk to those of us in other countries who were born with all the opportunity in the world - admittedly this is still far too limited. They have the sort of confidence that is taken for granted in the West, but is rarely suggested for the 'poor Africans'. I remember being told that nobody in Rwanda ever starved and that Rwanda was the place where God might leave, but he would always come back. Many young Rwandans - most of those I met there who became my friends - grew up outside the country and are now back in the only place they can call home. As long as they continue to turn their back on violence and to work in fellowship with those who witnessed the horrors as children, I have a lot of hope for Rwanda.

Arms Trade Treaty

news from the Control Arms Campaign, a joint collaboration between IANSA, Amnesty International and Oxfam:

30 October 2006

After three years of campaigning, the Control Arms campaign achieved a massive victory on Thursday, October 26, when 139 governments voted in the favor of a UN resolution to start work towards an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). While 24 governments abstained, the United States was the only government to vote against the resolution. This was a curious outcome, as well as a disappointing one, given that the United States’ own laws and regulations are generally seen to set the standards of best practice at the national level.

Going into the vote, 116 governments co-sponsored the resolution; a huge number for such a bold initiative. 15 Nobel Peace Prize Laureates supported the call for an Arms Trade Treaty this week in a statement issued by the Arias Foundation and the Control Arms Campaign.

Specifically, the resolution calls upon the UN Secretary General to first collect the views of member states on the feasibility and draft parameters for “a comprehensive, legally-binding instrument establishing common standards for the import, export, and transfer of conventional arms” - an ATT - and second to establish a group of governmental experts to examine the issue in detail and report back to the UN General Assembly.

This resolution still needs to be formally adopted at the UN General Assembly in the month's time where more votes in favor of the resolution are envisaged. There is a long way to go until the treaty comes into effect, but this is a hugely important first step.

We would not have reached this point without the support of the more than 1 million people who have joined the Million Faces, and the thousands of dedicated and creative campaigners who have worked so hard up to now on the campaign. We’re counting on you as we continue our efforts to persuade the US to alter its position.

Do you know? Now you know. . .

sometimes i wonder if anyone's paying attention to how fk'd up things are getting here. take action at amnestyusa.org/believe

Networking, Darfur, and things in between

Been a while since I last wrote a blog, because I've been quite busy with tasks here and there. I made friends with Nidya, a new NA member in Miami and we came up with the idea to start a NA chapter/network here for youth activists towards global conflict resolution and genocide wawareness/prevention. So far, we've contacted people whom could help, posted flyer's and planned what to do in the next couple of months. I'm still continuing my Darfur campaign at school (no I'm not wearing the sign sad to say) and recently did a presentation for a teacher, who is a sponcer of a club I'm in. He was so impressed that he gave me his ceramic apple for appreciation. That was really sweet for his part I must say! Slowly, I think I might be able to reach the message at my school and quiting isn't an option for me! It seems that things in Darfur, things are going to get way worse then getting better. I'd better hope Annan uses his last months as Secretary-General and work harder to force the Sudanese to acepect a UN Peacekeeping force.

(BLOG) RED

(BLOG) RED

Mireille in Africa: Never Again International

Mireille is just in the midst of starting her own blog to let everyone know about her journey as well.

Here is the address!!


Mireille in Africa: Never Again International

An activist perspective: Part 2

Well I'm at day 7 of my Darfur awareness champaing and it's really been going better than expected! Sadly today, my idiot self forgot to bring the sign! But I stil passed out the flyer's, which I took advantage of sticking them in locker's. One of the assistant principles, whom I like, said that he was told about ''a girl wearing a huge sign'' and had a feeling that it was me. Teacher's have continued to congratulate me on my stance. My geometry teacher invited me to join the African/Hatian American club, since they might be able to help me with Darfur awarness, which the members totally agree on! Sometimes, my mind drifts and trying to contemplate the massive human suffering in Darfur: women and girls getting raped, whole families murdered, children starving and that's just the tip of the iceburg! I can feel my heart sinking with despair because the world is witnessing a sequel of Rwanda. It's like I said, ''Those who don't remember history, are doomed to repeat it.'' Obiously the world hasn't learned it's lesson of Rwanda and other genocides in the past, which doesn't surprize me the least bit sad to say. I will say this again and again if I have too: I will be DAMNED if I'm going to stay silent while genocide is occuring. If and when my children and grandchildren will ask me If I did anything about Darfur, I'll be proud to sat that I did do something to wake up my classmates into doing something for Darfur.

Individual Responsibility to Protect

LONDON: Never Again London's contribution to International Peace Day was a conversation which bought forward thinking from the Kivu retreat in February 2006 on the individual Responsibility to Protect (iR2P). This report is my perspective on the discussion and doesn't by any means encompass everything.

Fred introduced the background to Never Again and the traditional set of problems surrounding intervention on genocide. He outlined some of the ways that individuals could be involved in crisis response and ways that individuals working in spheres where they have to be neutral might also be able to follow their own consciences.

There is no doubt that the Responsibility to Protect agenda presents many problems, but iR2P presents the opportunity to engage with those problems and finding concepts that everybody agrees with. This might mean stepping away from the problems themselves initially and simply engaging in dialogue, avoiding making assumptions or demanding commitments that individuals may be unable to make.

What emerged from this strand of conversation was the vision of a rich, complex discussion going on around a crisis in which the level of interest and ideas makes it impossible for policy makers to say that there is no interest or political will to do anything. It doesn't necessarily mean needing to sign up to simplistic analyses, but listening to every actor and every solution suggested in order to find a way forward.

The Responsibility to Protect agenda, by its nature as a state responsibility, brings a level of disconnect between the victims of a crisis and the heroes with the answers. It is impossible for refugees, youth or armed militias to have a voice in the security council unless they can somehow be represented by a channel of communication. Without the input of the people most centrally involved in a crisis, it is very difficult to propose solutions that will be any more nuanced than just 'send in the troops'.

The international responsibility does of course include challenging the culture of inpunity and states must hold each other accountable. Unless citizens of countries vocalise their wish for heads of countries to uphold acceptable standards of care towards citizens in other countries then they are very unlikely to engage in criticism of one another.

Given the level of academic research around the failures to protect populations from genocide, the steps to prevention are now fairly clear.

First is monitoring risk factors. If risks are identified, there isn't a need to over-react but there has to be in-depth research on the ground, links built up with groups on the ground and diaspora groups. Making these contacts in a time of calm makes them easier to pick up in times of chaos and confusion and you are more likely to know who to trust. These functions should be carried out by the new UN Special Adviser on Genocide, but groups like Never Again have a role in gathering youth contacts and information and channeling this to the adviser if appropriate.

Although this monitoring can make its own contribution to genocide prevention, the time may come when the risk factors of genocide and violence escalates. This is the time for individual mobilisation. Campaigns in support of simple messages are often the most effective in gathering massive support, but we discussed how this might be disempowering to all parties. A more complex individualised approach would be able to take in all ideas and allow for more flexible approaches to each conflict. We discussed how questions might be formulated to bring the most useful answers and thought that the approach of questioning would serve a variety of purposes: resources would be put into finding out the answers from the individual's own countries and politicians and the media would realise there was interest in an issue and be more likely to give it attention. The collection of answers from different countries can be easily shared in projects like the Never Again wiki, allowing for cross reference and the asking of further questions.

Following on from this mass mobilisation, the iR2P framework sees individuals who are well placed in policy circles starting to make recommendations that should be more reactive and sophisticated with the involvement of their individual involvement, rather than being constrained by the institutional bars to individual conscience.

Fred's vision, which was well received by everyone in the group, was that this approach has the potential to use the exisiting architecture of diplomacy and policy-making and that nobody should be excluded from the process: genocide prevention should not be the preserve of any specific group. We were working with the assumption that all people condemn crimes against humanity and genocide and that they wouldn't put their self interest before the protection of a group. That assumption needs examining; perhaps it is appropriate to use any levers to persuade people that it is appropriate to intervene and perhaps it is inappropriate.

There is another assumption that awareness, and the demonstration that people care, will lead to action by heads of states. As we have seen, this is not necessarily the case. A much more reactive process is needed to ensure action is appropriate, swift and correctly resourced. People using their critical faculties and engaging with the realities of politics but still demanding action, might make it more likely to happen.

There is already a great deal of expertise in many of these fields. iR2P offers a chance to 'join the dots' and piece together complex situations, while recognising that they are complex. It takes the improved communication opportunities available to us to fundamentally change the basis of activism and democratic participation and, perhaps, succeed in preventing genocide where previous generations have failed.

A activist's prespective

With the impending crisis happening in Darfur and the looming disater that was about to unfold if the AU withdraws, I decided that now is the time to make my voice be heard by any means necessary. On Monday during class, I was looking for something when I saw some poster boards and suddently an idea struck my mind that would help me spread the word on Darfur. And so I made a poster that read ''Save Darfur'' on the front and ''400,000 dead and counting. Get up! Stand up! Never stay silent!'' The night before, I flet a bit anxious of what would be the reactions of people when I would wear the sign. But I knew I had to do it. So I went to school on Tuesday and added some photos to better make the point (graphic photos) As soon as I walked out of the library wearing the sign, people stared at me reading the sign which I felt it was working. At PE, i walked around the court with the sign, nervous as anything. As I was walking, I thought about those children in Darfur whom watched their parents be killed and are all alone with no one to love or care for them. I thought about Rwanda and the bodies rotting in the sun and of Senator Dallaire trying to warn the world of the genocide. That's what kept me going. Some students asked me about Darfur and I told them in which I had to make an example of the Holocaust and ''Hotel Rwanda'' but they seemed quite interested about Darfur. For the rest of the day my teachers were really impressed with me on Darfur and students came up and asked me about it.
On Day 2 of my campainge, I needed to speak with the teacher in charge of the school's newspaper. I had sent him a letter before and wanted to send another letter. As I handed it to him, he explained that he thought that anyone with a heart and a brain like mine, would care for such an issue and that was admirable. But, unfortunatly, he couldn't publish anything about Darfur because the newspaper only dealt with what's happening around the school. I understood completly, but as I walked out of the room, tears came streaming down my face. My heart was so full of sorrow for Darfur and I thought that it seemed so hopeless to be speak out on something that was happening millions of miles away. I quickly deleted that thought from my head because my voice was ten times stronger than those in Darfur and I HAD to speak out, or I would be guilty of the worst crime of all: Staying silent in the face of genocide.
Day 3 went really well. More students asked me about Darfur and I explained to them and told them to spread the word and do some research of there own. Teachers also came up to me and told me on what a great thing I was doing and I also told them to spread the word with there students. My creative writing teacher even invited me to address one of her classes since they were learning on the Holocaust.
I'll continue wearing the sign up until next week. I know what I'm doing is not much, but to me, it's sure beats the hell out of not doing anything. I just hope that the Darfurians know that the world and myself won't rest this genocide is stopped!

Reflections on the International Day of Peace

NEW YORK- Today, 21 September, is the International Day of Peace - a day to celebrate the ideals of peace, observe global ceasefire and practice non-violence. To celebrate, we at Never Again International have organized a series of globally connected local events in 5 countries- Britain, Canada, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and the United States.

At Speak Out for Peace, the New York City event I'm involved in organizing, there will be a diverse lineup of poets and musicians all performing on works around the theme of peace. I really wish we could share what we are doing with the global Never Again community. Every single piece of the event was donated- from volunteer planning time, to the venue space, to the free performances, to physical materials (donated drinks, paper for programs, etc). It's wonderful to see what inspired labor and generosity in our communities are able to achieve and produce without funding from institutions or rich individuals. It's incredibly inspirational to think about- and I feel tremendously blessed to be inspired by individuals like my friends, family, colleagues and community members whom I can admire from a close distance.

I'm writing to practice a bit what it is I'm going to say to open the event, which is most of the text of this blog. I want to inspire attendees to really take part in this symbolic day heart, mind, spirit and body because it can only become a reality if everyone on our planet embraces its meaning and breathes life into it. World peace does not come from grandiose declarations from podiums at press conferences, but out of convictions born in each of our minds and hearts that guide our speech and actions. The fact that this day is being celebrated is in itself a testament to the fact that a personal decision made by an ordinary individual has far reaching global effects. Jeremy Gilley's decision to found Peace One Day, launching a global campaign to get a fixed calendar date for one day where there would be no violence or killing, was both a personal one about his career and an altruistic one with the intent of improving the world. As with all things in life, our creative ideas have a gravitational force of their own- and voila! 7 years after he began his campaign, hundreds of celebrations of peace are occuring in all 192 member states of the United Nations on the day he worked so hard to get established.

This power that we all possess as individuals - the fact that our thoughts and beliefs give birth to the shared reality we and those around us live in - is incredibly empowering and emboldening but not something that we are often encourage to think about and use. A powerful example of the connection between the local and the global is what the United States did with the understandable pain, anguish, sadness, confusion and outrage resulting from experiencing the horrific and criminal acts of September 11, 2001. Those emotions have given birth to a global "War on Terror" that has unleashed pain and destruction on many more lives- instead of helping us evolve into a more just society that is able to avoid crimes against humanity. So what we think and feel as well as how we react to the world around us on any given day does make a difference in the way that the world turns- more than we realize.

But of course, I'm preaching to the choir here. We at Never Again believe and value the individual and the personal- and this belief lies at the heart of our mission of connecting young people and individuals around the world to dialogue and collaborate with each other for peace. That's why the NY team is bringing together the talented lineup of poets to inspire attendees- we want to make them think, laugh, cry, feel good. That's why we're setting up the Peace Wall because we want to get people to think and we want to hear those thoughts. And of course, we ultimately want to involve attendees in our work in the future.

So today, 21 September, let's renew our personal commitment our mission, to a more peaceful world. Let's celebrate our achievements as a movement. And let's challenge ourselve by doing one thing- big or small- to make that inner commitment and belief a reality. I'm sure you can all think of one thing you can do!

Remember: "Another world is not only possible, she is on her way." -Arundhati Roy

Countdown for Darfur

"In many ways it is unfair but it is nevertheless true that this genocide will be on your watch. How you deal with it will be your legacy,Your Rwanda, Your Cambodia, your Auschwitz."
Oscar winning actor George Clooney and Noble peace prize winner and Holocaust survivor Eile Wiesel, adressed the UN Security Council on Thursday about the already devastating three year genocide in Sudan's Darfur region, which has claimed over 400,000 lives. George and his father, Nick a journalist, went to Darfur a couple of months back to interview victims and see for themselfs the conditions that Darfurians were living in.
Currently, some 7,000 African Union soldiers are in the region but is running out of manpower, finances and equipment. Its mandate expires on September 30 which is less than three weeks away.
So far the Sudanese government have flat out refused to let a UN peacekeeping force in Darfur, in which the UN passed a resolution for a robust UN force. Sudan's president Omar al-Basher has even went as far as saying that government troops will fight off UN peacekeepers.
Secertary General Kofi Annan is stepping up the pressure towards the Sudanese government to stop the killings and let peacekeepers enter the region. It would certaintly do go for Annan since he has until December when he steps down for his reputation is pretty much still tainted with Rwandan blood. I'm sure he doesn't want Darfurian blood etheir.
Several celebrities have been speaking out against the genocide, like actress Mia Farrow, Don Cheadle(Hotel Rwanda) Samantha Power among others.
This genocide is very simalar to Rwanda but the one difference I think is the media attention and how so many people aroung the world are protesting to stop the slaughter. If nothing is done within the next three weeks, millions will die and Darfur will go down in history as the genocide that could be stoped but no one did. Thus another tainted legacy for the UN.
It's time for the upsatnder's to take there places and scream for Darfur and hopefully with a little help from Hollywood, millions of lives can be saved.

Innocence for sale: The human trafficing problem

MIAMI: In 1865, the thirteenth Amendement was passed in which it states that slavery and involentary servitude were banned. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN in 1948, also states in Article 4 that no one is to be forced to slavery and also banning the slave trade. But now around the world, children and people are being sold and bought in the new era of modern day slave trade. People are being lured into trafficing for many reasons which includes in some cases physical force, false promises of a job oppotunity, and marriges in foreign countries. According to the US State Department, approximatly 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders every year. Millions are in other countries. Trafficing victims suffer physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, threats against themselfs and family, Passport theft, health problems, and even death. But it not only effects victims it also underminds the health, safety, and security of all nation where trafficing is taking place. Child sex tourism is another common problem in which foriegners take part in sexual acts with children whom could be as young as 8 or 9 years old. Predators come from all over the world and most cases hold prominate positions. Previous cases include an retired US Army general, a dentist, teachers, and a University Professor. Children in these conditions suffer almost the same as trafficing victims but they also suffer drug addiction, diseases like HIV/AIDS, unwanted pregnancy, and maluntrition. The United States are taking some steps into stopping human trafficing. For example, they passed several bills one of which helps convict trafficers for as much as 30 years in prison. The Department of Health now cerrtifiying victims so they may qualify for the same assistance as refuges. The US is helping and contributing funding for other countries to prevent human trafficing which includes special housing and work training centers for victims, training Custom official to reconizing trafficing victims and so many other things. Now more than ever, it;s important that all of us learn more about this devastating international crime of human trafficing because it's quickly becoming the crime buisness of the future.

All falls down: Reflections on 9/11

MIAMI: It's been 5 years since the devastating attacks on September 11 occured and I can still remember where I was when it happened: I was in the seventh grade and I was in my Homeroom class, when my teacher's son came in told him to turn on the television. The first thing I saw was two twin towers and a plane went straight through the north tower. I, and along all my other classmates were shocked and confiused of what was happening but as the news report went on, we found out that terrorists highjacked comercial planes and one of them went through the World Trade Center. Another two planes crashed on the Pentagon and one was headed to Washington D.C. but was diverted to a field in Virginia. My eyes were locked on the t.v. set watching the events unfloding. Some time later another plane hit the South tower in which I was begining to think was just an earlier footage of the North tower being hit. But I knew I was sadly mistaken. Then at 10:28AM when I was in my Math class trying to do my work but couldn't because the television was on, the North tower(Or the South tower. I can't remember) collapsed. As I watched, CBS reporter Dan Rather said in a weary voice I'll never forget, "The World Trade Center has collaped."

Since then, I've been trying to come to terms with what happened and why. Even though I didn't know anyone of the over three thousand people whom lost there lives on that day, these people were our neighbors, friends, people whom were just at the wrong place at the wrong time. Many times, I've(along with every other American) have asked, why would terrorist do this to us? What did we do to them? Through the years, I thought that terrorist were inhuman, whom just wanted to destroy and kill all Americans for the hell of it, but recently, in the Conclution of the book "Shake Hands with the Devil" and of reading "A Problem from Hell: America and the age of Genocide" now I've started to see things in a totally different light. Senator Dallaire writes that people in the First world have the tendancy of thinking there more human than people in the Third world, which might be one of the contributing factors why the world was so passive to respond to the Rwandan genocide. When he went to Sierra Loene in 2001 for CIDA, he describes a rage he saw in the eyes of the children that were suffering under the brutal regiem of Charles Taylor (whom is currently being held in the Hague for crimes against humanity) He explaines that because the youth in contries like Chechnia and Middle Eastern contries are suffering under curruption, war, genocide, famine, and other worldly disasters, they grow up under extreme violence and feel anger towards the world and resort towards violence in order to survive and warns that if this isn't solved, then the world will be nothing but a repeat of Rwanda, 9/11, the Congo, Siera Leone and the Middle East. And in "A Problem from Hell" Samantha Power explains why the UN and the United States are wary of responding to genocide and which survivors of such crimes don't make good neighbors and they too resort to taking out their rage against the world. To me it makes so much sence. If were going to win the "War on Terror" the US can't be in this self-intrest bubble, we shouldn't be able to move mountians to protect just our own sovergnty, we as humans have to help out one another because NO human is more human than the other no matter where they live or who they are. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a terrorist smpathyzer. What they did on 9/11 was very wrong and cruel, but the fact of the matter is that the world has turned a blind eye on the suffering and the plight of millions of people whom suffer so much in places like Rwanda, Darfur, and other place around the world. Now more than ever, this generation have to rise above race, color, religion and say in a loud voice "Enough is enought!" in reaching out a hand of humanity to those whom need it the most.

September 11 is another date in American history which will live in infamimy. A date which we saw the best and worse of human play out in front of the world. A warning and a lesson to the world of the consecuenses of self-intrest. We must be able to spill our blood for humanity and put the good of it above everything else. For the sake of the future and of the children.

Blogger's note: I would appreciate if you all let me know your opinions and thoughts. Thanks!

Child Soldiers: Expanding the Dialogue

WINNIPEG: The opening of the conference yesterday was absolutely amazing. I had the opportunity to speak briefly with Senator Dallaire, as well the Rev. Dr. James Christie of the University of Winnipeg. Before the conference closing, General Dallaire and I will have the opportunity to sit down and discuss the collaboration that is possible with NA. The energy in the room last night was amazing. My one regret is that the dialogue with actual child soldiers will not be as expansive this week as we had hoped, due to VISA problems. I am fully confident, however, that the workshops and plenaries that arise from the sessions will produce instruments to prevent the use of children as soldiers. As Romeo Dallaire eloquently said, we must work to eradicate the concept that adults could actually use children as weapon systems in war.

Child Soldier's Conference

WINNIPEG: 1 and a half hours until Senator Dallaire kicks off the conference with his address. I have had the honour of speaking with him on two seperate occasions and organizing a forum for him with the peacekeeping students at McGill University, but I am still overwhelmed with emotion whenever we meet.
I will endeavour to pass on regards from all the Never Again team!

What the F*@K is taking so long?

MIAMI: ''Something ugly is brewing in Darfur'' Deputy Secretary General Mark Malloch Brown warned last week, refering to the already deteriorating three year genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan. Tomorrow, the Security Council will have an emergancy meeting to discuss on what to do for Darfur despite a letter of protest from Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir stating that there is a plan to restore order and protect civilians, which 2 million Darfurians were displaced since 2003. The one thing that gets under my skin is that if al-Bashir wants to restore order, why the f**k did you have to wait for three years? Oh that's right YOU'RE the one whom is overseeing the mass extermination taking place! It's truly amazing what the ablilty of hate can do to ones mind set. Like Hitler when he preached about getting rid of the Jews, and Rwanda's extermist radio calling the Tutsis ''cockroaches'' hate is always involed in a genocide. With international pressure building up, and the mandate for the AU running out of time, the UN have better roll up it's sleeve, think hard, and DO something before this goes into the UN's already tainted legacy of not being able to stop a genocide that could have been stopped.

Undun

To see such evil
Such horror
Such indifference
Such blood
Having innocence taken away to no avail
To have action glued to the grass
Dark ruby rivers overflowing with no signs of stopping
To have the soul in tattered rags
In such misery
Never endding despair
Drowning in an ocean of eyes
Anger
Innocence
No laughter
Losing control
In a cocoon tainted by the sorrow
Scalding waters burn the soul
Eroading to destruction
If you can only see that despair
I'll do my fair share of mendding your heart
Let me feel your meloncholy so you can rest.

my life in a haiku

summer jigsawing
never again fun for all
building peace on skype

xx

Defining Moment

In a small dark room
Stumbling crashing
Sorrow full in heart's content
Gasping Reaching
Not knowing what to do
Hopeless dying

Opening Pandora's box
All the secrets and scandel escaping
Like salt water waves splashing on my face
A story emerging of betrayel, inhumanity, indifference,
and evil.
A lone soul to struggle with Lucifer's doing's.
Endding with a shatter
I soked in the words
Dark, heart reanching, seductive,
a tainted history but with remarkable courage
So sick and twisted of nothing but horror.
For me truth and beauty come from within the evil.
It's arms strong and comforting wraping around my aching soul.
Faith giving me a fighting chance
Hanging on to my treasure
Simple dazzling beautiful
Worth more than all the diamonds and gold in the world.
A sort candle glow will light the way.

Note: This is based on how the book ''Shake Hands with the devil'' made a huge impact on my life.

International AIDS conference

WINNIPEG, CANADA: Now, with the opening of the 16th International AIDS conference we find ourselves asking "Can we again stand idly by?" This is a time to move into action and live up to our Responsbility to Protect.

The Rwandan genocide was full of absolute horrors and atrocities. That horror lives on some 12 years later for the many women who were gang-raped and are now dying slowly from AIDS. It may not be a machete severing one's neck, but it is just as deadly. AIDS 2006 is an opportunity for the international community to not simply renew its commitment to fighting the AIDS epidemic, but a time to act to protect all those suffering from the HIV/AIDS epidemic, including the 9% of the population in Rwanda who are HIV positive.

Where is our Prime Minister on this historic occasion? One has to ask. The lack of his presence at the International AIDS conference in Toronto begs the question, how is Canada demonstrating its commitment to protect the 36.3 million adults and 2.3 million children who were living with HIV at the end of 2005 (http://www.avert.org/worlstatinfo.htm). I challenge the Prime Minister to stand up for Canadians who are suffering from HIV/AIDS and the millions of people around the world who are currently living with the virus. We indeed have a responsibility to protect to help control the spread of HIV worldwide.

Dear Sudan,

MIAMI, USA: Dear Sudan,
I see your people suffering. Running away to escape hunger, illnesses, rape, and murder. There bodies cry out in pain but their souls screech out a horrable scream. A cry for help. The little children look like the living dead, with their infected bellies, stick thin arms and legs, flies despending on there faces. While I sleep on my cozy nested bed tonight, they lie down trying to make it thorugh another hour; another day. The world seemes to know whats happening, but all I hear is words: ''This is an humanitarn disater of biblical paportions'' or ''Were doing everything we can to stop this crisis'' I want to scream ''NO! Stop talking get off your ass and do something!'' True while there are people whom are speaking out and trying to do something, I fear this will be another case of internation apathy. I may not be doing much but I will do more. The world is seeing you suffer. We refuse to turn away in vain.
I hope this helps.
Sincerly,
Ruth

Prevention works!

LONDON, UK: Once again all eyes seem to be on Britain, concerned emails come from America and Africa and the column inches and TV news fills to the brim with terror plots.

Leaving aside my cynicism for a moment about the media, this episode makes an important point. In NGO circles when conflict prevention is always valued, someone normally points out that governments don't like to invest in prevention because 'you don't get any credit for preventing a war/genocide'. Surely, then, '10/8: foiled' is the exception that spectactularly proves the rule. And again, while I try and put aside my concerns about the arrests of men mainly younger than myself, there's no doubt that if indeed major loss of life has been avoided then the international intelligence services must be applauded for protecting us. It shows the value of intelligence for prevention of violence and the wide value of investing in nonviolent prevention of violent conflict. If the world's media were only so concerned about the thousands of African deaths through armed conflict then perhaps Responsibility to Protect would start getting somewhere.

For me, one of the most intelligent police actions is bringing sniffer dogs into London. After the bombings last year, police with huge guns were bought in to 'reassure' the public, but after the shooting of the Brazilian Menezes it was found that this wasn't very reassuring, especially if you were male, young and dark skinned, but in fact also if you were simply carrying a backpack (as a sidenote, single females are considered as much of a security risk by some security experts since the blowing up of an El Al plane by a young Irish woman who did not know her boyfriend had planted the bombs in her luggage). They also found that a machine gun generally doesn't generally have the heightened sense of smell of a spaniel. The smiling, wagging dogs transform the atmosphere of tension at Euston by being friendly and calming presences as well as reassuring those of us using the trains every day. It's a peaceful, imaginative action.

OK, just one little note of cynicism about the blanket media coverage of these plots. It's August. There is no other news. Well, unless you count the Middle East, those DRC elections, two people blown up in Iraq, peace activists being arrested by the dozen for mischief-making up at Prestwick and, hang on, more than a million people being evacuated and 104 dead in China. Never heard that on the breakfast news while they were listing what you could take on a plane. I could go on, but won't.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
- Martin Luther King, Jr.

For all our sakes, CEASEFIRE

NEW YORK, USA: Yesterday, Amnesty members and supporters held silent vigils worldwide asking for a ceasefire in Israel and Lebanon. We had about 60 simulateneous vigils in cities all across the United States alone joining together to simply stand with the victims on both sides of the Israel/Lebanese conflict. Our message was:
1) Call for a ceasefire
2) Demand that all governments stop the supply of arms to the conflict
3) Stand in solidarity with victims and survivors on both sides of the Israel Lebanon conflict

Click the link below to see a video of our DC vigil, covered by The Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2006/08/08/VI2006080800291.html

I attended one that one of my colleagues organized in front of Penn Station, one of the busiest intersections in Manhattan during rush hour. I have to admit I was a bit unprepared, unlike my Executive Director who donned his Amnesty t-shirt for the event (he usually wears a button-down shirt and tie). But the important thing was that I got out there - I passed out "Urgent Action" flyers asking people to write to the US govt, Israeli govt and Hizbullah and held a big homemade poster that said "STOP the sale of arms" and "CEASEFIRE".

Standing still and silent in a big, loud intersection in a huge city like NY during evening rush hour gives you an interesting perspective of the world:

First, it made me re-realize how silly it is how important we all think our own lives and schedules are, rushing around to get to our destination, totally disconnected from the rest of the world. We plug into iPods earphones or bury our noses in our train reading. I confess, I am one of the biggest offenders of this horrible habit of residents in capitalist, industrialized society. There is just so much information to consume, and in that process, you get disconnected from what the heck you are actually reading or hearing about. Ironic I've spent hours of my life reading about and listening about the Lebanon crisis, but haven't had time to actually do anything about it until Mon night!

The other thing I re-gained an appreciation for is how difficult it exactly is to change the world. Changing the world starts with changing someone's mind - and if you think it's difficult to change President Bush's mind, try a busy New Yorker's! When trying to hand out flyers, the negative reactions I received ranged from annoyance and utter disinterest to anger while the positive reactions included people signing petitions, asking for more copies of our flyers, and thanking us for holding the event. Some people smiled and others looked at me like I was dirt. My biggest frustration was that I only had less than 1 second to make an impression on them; and usually their reaction is dictated by what they already believe, not of the merit of our argument.

It made me really appreciate all of the people who go out to protest what they believe in, sign petitions and write letters. It takes a lot of effort, energy and courage and it DOES make a difference. Even though the prognosis for a ceasefire in the Middle East is grim, I can at least be proud of the fact that we are doing our best to advocate for victims of human rights violations. And that was enough, at least for yesterday.

Common Apathy

MIAMI, USA:In 1915 the Ottoman empire from Turkey wanted to get rid of it's Armenian problem by any means nessarary. That what resulted in the torture, starvation, and murder of over a million Armenians. Despite from the pleas of U.S. Ambassador to the Ottoman empire, Henry Morgenthau Sr,to take action, the U.S wanted to keep up with it's friendly ties with Turkey, even if people were being murder. This would be one of the many cases of genocide(the word was yet to be created)and the U.S along with the international community, would simply not be able to stop the mass kilings of a specific race. But why is the international community apathetic to genocide? There are many reasons why no international body would even utter a peep of protest to a goverment that is commiting crimes againest humanity.

A young Polish scholar named Raphael Lemkin was apalled from the Armanian genocide. Why was a crime like this not punished by internation law? For years he researched about this and finally in 1943, he came up with took the root words genos (Greek for family, tribe or race) and -cide (Latin - occidere or cideo - to massacre) to create the word genocide. In the original adoption of the Geneva convections, Lemikin explaines the defenition:

"Generally speaking, genocide does not necessarily mean the immediate destruction of a nation, except when accomplished by mass killings of all members of a nation. It is intended rather to signify a coordinated plan of different actions aiming at the destruction of essential foundations of the life of national groups, with the aim of annihilating the groups themselves. The objectives of such a plan would be the disintegration of the political and social institutions, of culture, language, national feelings, religion, and the economic existence of national groups, and the destruction of the personal security, liberty, health, dignity, and even the lives of the individuals belonging to such groups."

Finally in 1948, the United Nation adopted the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide making it a crime under international law. But it wasn't untill 1988 when the U.S sighed the treaty.

The mass murder of Jews by the Nazis during World War 2 was ignored by the U.S. due largely in fact because it didn't want to deal with another problem from Germany, despite reports of Death Camps. In Cambodia Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge killed up to 2 million Cambodians through 1975-1979. With this coming after Vietnam and the fact that that the regiem had a seat at the U.N, nothing was done. The Iraqi Kurds were gased buy the thousands in 1988. The U.S had ties with Iraq up untill the invation of Kuwait. In Bosnia Serbs tortute and killed Non Serbs over an estimated seven to eight thousand men and boys during 1992-1995 which of course the U.S. was slow to respond. Rwanda in 1994 faced a horrific genocide that killed over eight hundred thousand Tutsi by Hutu extermist in just one hundred days. This time the U.S. and the U.N. did know what was happening but did nothing to stop the killings. The Kosovo Albanians in 1999 were killed by Serb security forces. According to The New York Times "On April 19, the State Department said that up to 500,000 Kosovar Albanians were missing and feared dead."

One or the many reasons why the world is leary to responding to genocide is Self Interest. If there is no economic vaule to a country where genocide is being commited, then why bother? Another reason is not starting a big huge war with a country that has good relations just because that goverment is killing it's own people. With the current genocide in Sudan's Darfur region, there are American companies who have deals with Sudan because of oil and China a permanent member of the Security Council, has relations with the Sudanese president, whom is accused of conducting the genocide that are killing more than four hundred thousand Sudanese.

It is no surprise that genocide rages on.

Melanie and Joseph's Internship in Kigali

We are in the midst of preparing for our internship. Clare has been such an immense help! Currently, we are in the process of putting the final touches on our fundraising letters and are optimistically looking forward to an enthusiastic response. We have been already rewarded by the response that has been given by our friends and colleagues to our internship.

One of the first steps on our journey was to get our passport photo taken and have that stamped by the photo shop and signed by the doctor. This morning, we both had our first Twinrix shots, which is a combined hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccine. The vaccine is administered in 3 doses, so we are looking forward to getting our second dose in another month. Note that vaccines really should be budgeted for because just this one costs $176.59 a pop! (and that's not counting the $18 doctor administration fee). Really, to anyone who is concerned about needles, it barely hurts at all - and this is coming from someone without a high pain threshold. This week, we will be visiting a travel clinic to get all of our other vaccinations up to date. Hopefully, by Monday, we'll have the official go ahead to begin fundraising.

Albert in New York

Our Rwandan director, Albert Nzamukwereka, landed in New York last weekend to spend three months as a guest of the International Center for Tolerance Education. You can read his very first impressions of the city at his blog which he has promised to keep updated.

We're very excited that Albert has had this opportunity. It is the first time that a Never Again volunteer has been able to work full time in a fully supported environment and the New York Never Again chapter are fully geared up to make sure he gets the most from the trip: meeting NGOs, networking, talking to schools as well of course as enjoying New York's vibrant social scene and food!

Bombings in Lebanon... one member's reflection

I have only begun to recover from the initial shock of the fact that these bombings are going on in the last couple of days. The first day it started happening last week, I woke up at my usual time to get ready for work and turned on National Public Radio (NPR) which was playing BBC World News Radio reporting on the bombings. The first thought I had was "Heddy, wake up!" because surely, I thought it could only be a dream. Surely, all this political broo-ha-ha over the captured Israeli soldiers did not warrant killing of innocent lives. It was almost the same eery feeling I had when I was listening to NPR the morning that the September 11th attacks happened right here where I live. Being in NYC, obviously my life is not in danger or anything; nevertheless what's going on makes me incredibly sad and my heart goes out to all the Lebanese, especially those living in Beirut, and everyone in the MidEast that these bombings are going to cause further pain and heartache for... it just seems so senseless. Having worked on human rights violations and genocide issues for 5+ years, you think one would be able to adapt and get de-sensitized but I've never found that to be true in my case. I wonder sometimes whether that's a good or bad thing...

Although Amnesty (where I work) has put out statements and are conducting advocacy around this issue - I can't help but feel powerless to do anything to help, even being a part of an organization like Never Again. We've mostly been internally focused for awhile, or at least from where I sit. Marian and I have been talking about the need for us to internally equip ourselves to better respond to emergencies like Darfur and these bombings in Lebanon. Yes, we are doing a wonderful job given the time and resources we have, but it still doesn't let us off the hook in terms of responding to the needs of the world. How to accomplish all of this without letting the urgent and important tasks (like stopping violence in Darfur immediately) not crowd out the less urgent yet still important tasks (like post-conflict peacebuilding in Rwanda). More questions than answers these days, but at least beginning to search is part of the solution...

For the non-BBC, non-CNN version of things, read here: http://la.indymedia.org/news/2006/07/168619.php

Sorry if this post was not what folks were looking for... I just can't do the clinical, political, emotionally detached analysis right now with people dying and continuing to live under threat.

Peace Boards

Originally uploaded by cmwhite.

Peace boards, based on Basia Forrest's Peace Posts that have been received enthusiastically by many members of Never Again, got to Stoke-on-Trent, UK, this weekend. The boards were accompanied by three soldiers sitting outwardly in the blazing sun.

They will stay for a few more weeks, giving us the opportunity to see how the people of Stoke respond to the chance to contribute their ideas to peacebuilding

Responsibility to Report

Never Again International in London invites you to join us in a conversation, 'Responsibility to Report'. Drawing on the lessons from Rwanda, 12 years ago this year, the debate will focus on current and future reporting of genocide and crimes against humanity. With a view to establishing a set of key recommendations to be put before media organisations, the debate will hear from those directly involved - from grass-roots reporters to editors setting news agendas.

In 2005, a change came that campaigners hoped would help prevent another Rwanda: the Responsibility to Protect. World leaders pledged that the international community, acting through the Security Council "was prepared to take collective action" in a timely and decisive manner" when states are "manifestly failing to protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity." (1)

Since then, governments and civil society have been furiously debating the meaning ot R2P and its implications.The words have been increasingly used in the press. However, there has so far been little debate on the significance of this change for journalists.

Because something has changed. Extreme violent conflict is no longer simply the businesses of other countries, Britain as a member of the Security Council could, potentially, now be held culpable if it was to repeat its response of 1994 which was to push for the withdrawal of peacekeepers in Rwanda.

So Britain has new responsibilities. But what responsibilities do journalists have? What makes a situation serious enough for a journalist to be able to state quite clearly that this is a situation in which the international community should be responding, not because that is the journalist's view but because our governments have promised to do so.

We will ask you to share your experiences and put forward ideas about our responsibilities as people involved in the media. We define the media in a very inclusive way and hope to hear about new developments that could help, rather than threaten, mainsteam journalists. We hope to build bridges and widen all of our perspecitves on the possibilities for news, on finding more voices and information our thinking on how situations that all of us agree are Very Bad can get attention. We will hear about has changed - or not changed - since she was reporting from Rwanda 12 years ago. We want to talk about the blocks that can mean genocide isn't news, but we also want to come out with positive ideas on how the media can fulfil its responsibility to hold power to account.

This conversation will be taking place in London in late July, bringing together youth, media experts, journalists, editors and grassroots voices. In the run-up to the event, we invite you to collaborate on this issue in our wiki project page.

Darfur and the ICC

NEW YORK: Yes, it gets tiring to see things getting worse but not better and it's easy to be a cynic. But a really good friend recently reminded me that we need to "be the change [we] wish to see in the world".

I sent the following letter to Condi Rice and my elected representatives in US Congress. You can do the same here: Take Action

July 11, 2006
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Condoleezza Rice,
I am profoundly concerned about the egregious crimes committed against the people of Darfur. I believe that the International Criminal Court (ICC) is an important instrument to protect human rights in Sudan, as well as deter future crimes in the region. I appreciate the U.S. administration's willingness to assist the ICC in carrying out its work in Darfur, and I urge even closer cooperation with the Court in the future. Please do everything in your power to keep pressure on the Government of Sudan to cooperate with the ICC investigation.
Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Heddy N.

Celebration & challenge

Yesterday I spoke to Quakers in Woking about Never Again as part of a day called Africa: Celebration and Challenge.

While I was there to talk about peacebuilding and reconciliation, the other speakers created an very varied programme. We heard about Quaker practice in Kenya, where there are more Friends than anywhere else in the world, from Hazel Morris who worked in Zimbabwe for 2 months last year and Robin Robison who lobbies huge international institutions for fairer trade and debt relief.

There were connections at many points. Hazel Morris painted a bleak picture of Zimbabwe, where people feel, she said 'very, very isolated'. On an international level the country is isolated, which is why the currency has been able to collapse where inother countries it would have been rescued by the IMF to avoid scenes reminiscent of 1930s Germany. Money needs to be transported in huge bags and nobody can predict prices or goods supplies from week to week.

The school at which Hazel taught operates a feeding programme for all the children and she said that many children had no food over the weekend - these children came in on Monday quiet and apathetic.

Just as Hitler was defended for his strong leadership, so Mugabe is now defended by many Africans who may be letting their anger at the West blind them to the cost of his failure to protect people.

In Kenya church-going is an occupation that takes all Sunday as people socialise and study the Bible. Nairobi has silent (unprogrammed) and programmed evangelical Meetings running in parallel so that people can join the worship they prefer for as long as they feel comfortable.

Various people at the talk were able to offer advice - and in many cases their children! - to Never Again. A Kenyan member of a London Meeting suggested that we work with the Friends Committee for Consultation, who have an office in Nairobi. Another Kenyan said that there is a lot of tribal conflict that still needed addressing and that Never Again's ideas would be welcome there.

In Britain, it was suggested that the Woodcraft Folk might make good partners, I know them from my childhood but hadn't realised they run projects around the world. Other connections were suggested that could see us reaching out to India and the Middle East.

The day was inspiring and its high attendance showed the level of interest in Africa and the willingness of Quakers here to reach out and learn more from their African Friends, Quakers or not.

Quakers in Britain have already supported Never Again generously, specifically helping to fund our Kigali office and a meeting between clubs. I hope we can call on them for help and support in the future - we have a lot to learn from their strong structures, core beliefs and practices like discernment and, in the words of George Fox 'Walking cheerfully over the word, seeing that of God in everyone'.

The Never Again wiki now has over 100 registered users! Exciting as this is, the challenge now is to turn more of them into active participants, in the wiki and Never Again’s work as a whole, which is why they came in the first place (apart from the spammers, of course).

I was able to catch an interesting discussion last night on open source & non-profits with Boris Mann from Bryght. Since I don’t entirely understand exactly what Open Source covers, I was pleased when the conversation turned to wikis and how to involve volunteers in the tasks needed.

Never Again is a very empowering network and the wiki has a lot of potential (as I have been saying for nearly a year now). But it is hard to communicate to people that they really can be bold on it, that it is a place for collaboration, for adding ideas, for brainstorming. But the wiki is just one of our tools and it has become clear that it doesn’t function effectively as a way of channelling action, for that other tools are needed.

I’d like to share the tip from Boris that I found most helpful, which was to have a Gardener (I can’t remember the exact phrase he used, it was late in the UK, but the whole transcript should be online by the end of the week). I see the gardener’s role in a wide sense. Boris suggested that he/she would blog regularly to highlight the important areas of work on the wiki, or in other places in the network, and to ask for help where it is needed. Lots of links from the blog would make it easy for people to get to where they are most needed. With this sort of communication, hopefully ideas would be able to take root and blossom into something connecting lots of people. Of course, this doesn't have to be on a blog but also covers regular email communication and communicating updates to the clubs that meet in person.

There are lots of gardening jobs to do at the wiki too, of course. Pruning, tidying up, creating clear pathways, raking the lawn to keep it fresh and welcoming. Having an idea of what’s in the back of the shed so that it can be brought out at the best times. Holding regular barbeques, perhaps by Skype or IM - an empty garden may look lovely but it takes a lot of time for one person to maintain and isn’t much good unless it’s creating the connections and provoking the critical thinking that is our goal.

I thought this was a very helpful analogy and one I will be trying to use. Hopefully simply being a gardener would also give more people a role and a way of getting to know the network and what is around the wiki.

If I can only find my old watering can...

Darfur Watch

Last Tuesday: Security Council unanimously backs Darfur pact

"New York The UN Security Council unanimously approved aresolution Tuesday calling for strict observance of a new peace accordin Darfur and an acceleration of arrangements for a United Nationspeacekeeping force to replace the strapped African Union force now there."

Today: Outcry over Darfur a reaction to Rwanda, Nobel laureate says

"Mr. Wiesel, the world's best-known survivor of the Nazi genocide against Jews, said in an interview the great difference between Rwanda and the slaughter of people in Sudan's western Darfur region is that "Darfur came after Rwanda." People know, said Mr. Wiesel, that the one million killed in Rwanda could have been saved if there had been outside intervention. And they know that the hundreds of thousands killed -- and still being killed -- in Darfur could likewise be saved."

Netsquare Conference

The Netsquared conference kicks off this week, with our own Heddy Nam in attendance and speaking at one of the panels (see links on the left). There will be lots of ways to participate online for those of us who will be looking wistfully towards California. It should be an exciting opportunity to bring technology and online communities even closer to the world of peacebuilding, with an emphasis on bringing in countries with less access to technology.

One World U.S.

Should have posted this earlier but just getting around to it now.

May 2006 issue of One World US's E-Zine focuses on genocide. There are a lot of great articles and I highly encourage all members of Never Again to take a look at it. I especially recommend the article entitled "Capability to Protect". Yes, R2P is a great advance in thinking about our responsibility and building up political will among nations but to make "Never Again" a reality- we must build up our capability to protect... otherwise, R2P is rendered meaningless.

I also recommend "Interview with Amnesty International" in which our Crisis Prevention and Response Director. at AIUSA. AI has been doing great work on using satellite technology to develop an "early warning" response system to violent conflict. With politicians always citing "not enough evidence to use the term genocide" in their rationale for not stopping genocide- now we can use satellite pictures to provide evidence of violence on the ground. Hopefully all of this will be folded into genocide prevention work as a core strategy in both amassing political will and figuring out the best intervention strategy.

One World US is planning a Genocide Prevention Forum with UN Special Advisor Juan Mendez to take place in Washington, DC on September 27th. I will be on the planning committee representing Never Again. This forum will bring together experts in the field of genocide prevention to discuss how we can (physically) prevent and stop genocide as it is happening, using latest technologies and other capabilities the world has at our disposal. It is not really focusing on Never Again's expertise and current work of on-the-ground peacebuilding between individuals & communities putting youth at the forefront & center. Of course our work is an important component of "Never Again" but this is focusing on solutions that can, for example, stop the crisis in Darfur. I hope this will be a learning experience for Never Again as the planning committee has already indicated interest in mobilizing youth in this important endeavor. I will be reporting back with more information.

For now, check out my comment on: Community Space.

NGO Statement on Darfur

The following organisations:

Aegis Trust

American Jewish World Service

Armenian National Committee of America

Collectif Urgence Darfour France

Comité Soudan

Darfur Relief and Documentation Centre

Human Rights Watch

International Crisis Group

JP Diplomatic Consultancy

Liberal International

MedBridge Stategy Center

Minority Rights Group International

National Association of Seadogs International

Never Again International

One World Trust

Save Darfur Coalition

Society for Threatened Peoples International (Gesellschaft für bedrohte Völker International)



· Commend and thank the African Union for the work it has done in Darfur.

· Welcome the African Unions Peace and Security Council communiqué of the 10th of March 2006 where it reiterated its support for transfer of its operations in Darfur to the United Nations.

· Hold the view that the donor community could do more in supporting the African Union Mission in Darfur with the required financial and logistical support.

· Maintain that the African Union is a vital institution in the furtherance of peace and stability in Africa.

· Note that over 200,000 people have died due to the conflict in Darfur.

· Condemn the targeting of civilians and the acts of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.

· Are alarmed that the humanitarian situation in Darfur continues to deteriorate with over 3 million people reliant on humanitarian aid.

· Denounce the banditry, insecurity and violence that continue to dramatically hinder aid operations.

· Are anxious that hundreds of thousands of civilians cannot be accessed by humanitarian agencies due to the increased insecurity.

· Is concerned that the World Food Programme, due to donor under-funding, has had to cut its rationing levels to semi-starvation levels.

· Is anxious that this humanitarian crisis could deteriorate to such an extent that monthly deaths could rise into tens of thousands a month.



Call for:



· The African Union to undertake the proposed transfer of operations from the AU to the UN no later than the 1st of October 2006.

· The African Union to actively call upon its composite members to increase troop contributions for the AMIS force in Darfur.

· The African Union to assist in the protection of humanitarian convoys on the ground and urge the government of Sudan to guarantee free and unfettered access for humanitarian aid agencies.

· The donor community to immediately meet the financial needs of an increased contribution of troops to the AMIS mission.

· That the donor community should review in consultations with the African Union its mechanisms for supporting future African Union missions.

Poppy Sebag-Montefiore, Chair, Never Again International, said:
"Youth from around the world have been horrified to stand by while a crisis ensues in Darfur. African Union troops have worked hard to protect civilians in Darfur and it is time now for leaders from every country to protect people."

Say Never Again to genocide

As Rwanda remembers the dreadful Genocide for the 12th year, one expects the nation to have had enough bitter lessons of what happened and have a resolution to avoid and prevent any thing that couse another Genocide in the world.

The couses of Genocide are wide ranging, though for Rwanda it was mainly due to poor political ideologies, injustice and brutality of the state power machinery and indifferences to the plight of the common man.

However, this implies that failure to redress injustice created by dangerous politics which has left almost the whole community impoverished. This lead to many Rwandan being not settled, though the Government is trying all the means to solve their basic needs while assisted with different NGOs beside the fact that some of the societies still facing the outcomes of Genocide which is living in a poverty situation.

The Government of Rwanda, NGOS and donors have done much in rebulding the country from ashes of despair, but the root couses of Genocide remain latent and the protracted social conflicts are unresolved. The Genocide of the 1994 has reframed the lives of all Rwandans. Life in contemporary Rwanda is considered in terms of its status as before, during and after the Genocide in 1994.

After witnessing the consequences of Genocide in Rwanda,it should be a lessons to everyone to avoid any possibility of any thing close to killing. It should not be seen as a sole responsibilities of the army or a certain leader but everyone's obligation to prevent the couses of Genocide.

At such point one would expect leaders from their societies like religious leaders to play their role of shepherding their natives. And anyone discover where is human right abuse let him or her speak out on this. They should take a firm step bringing people together and not dividing them.

They are expected to be custodians of morals, therefore they should be ready to resolve conflicts not to have sides, they way it happened during 1994 Genocide in Rwanda.

The consequences of the genocide in Rwanda are immeasursble, legacies of the 1994 Genocide include the problems of orphans, widows, street children, poverty, destruction of social and economic infrastructures, AIDS, trauma and mistrust among Rwandan themselves.

We can not afford to watch another horror like it, we should say Never Again to Genocide with one voice in our world.

Frank, RWANDA

Ideas for Darfur

A few weeks ago, I asked Frank, a friend, Never Again member in Kigali, Club coordinator and hopefully soon to become a blogger here, for his ideas about what could be done about Darfur. I've been meaning to put it here for some time, and now it is especially timely as the AU will meet next week:-

I think some of these procedures can be done at least we reduce their tears;

Starting by proposing youth committee from our club, hence we go to Sudan and meet with the groups of youth (eg: students) and sometimes their leaders , then we discuss with them on the mission we have as Never Again club. Finally we ask them while looking for the resolution on what they are facing.

Secondly is to organise forum discussing problems facing Sudan especially Darfur region, hence we find the solution together when we have Sudanies youth, representative of UN, AU and parts leading conflicts.Not only attending the forum but also we can give them the motion as discusant. Here is where as Rwandan Lion's share group [Frank's club that produces art and theatre to educate on genocide] we can pass to them the message through art what happened to our country, baden of Genocide and where we are currently.

Lastly for today is teaching Sudanies baden of divisionism (tribalism).

As Rwandan we enter in the 12 commemoration since Genocide happened to our country we don't will any other place to get the tears, we cry & commemorate what we do because of divisionism; let's remember 'only loving each other is where problems can be solved' and being notorious by killing each other will never bring peace and happiness of this world, let the peacekeepers take stong measures upon those who don't will to bring peace to Sudanies since I think UN & AU are huge body if they will and put in action what they can plan, eg disarming these killers.

Another is to add more troops for the sake of bringing peace if those who are there are not enough.

Rwanda Remembrance Day at the UN

I was at the UN headquarters in NY yesterday for an event commemorating the 12th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide.

First of all, I hadn't been to the UN for about a year now and I wasn't sure how I felt about going to a Rwandan genocide commemoration there- I guess that shows my cynical and unforgiving side. But when I stepped inside, finding my way around the different conference rooms was like riding the proverbial bike: it all came back to me suddenly why it was such an important institution. And I felt something I never thought I would ever feel- nostalgia (for the many days I spent at the UN as an intern during my college years). In the cafe where I waited, the air was electric- one could tangibly feel the energy- as people from both sexes, all races, all religions, all countries sat huddled at coffee tables in groups of 2, 3 or 4 discussing the most important issues facing humanity today.

The commemoration itself lasted about 2 hours and the theme was "Healing the Past to Provide Hope for the Future". There were many Rwandans in the audience as well as NGO and UN reps. The speakers list included the ED of We, the World, a representative from the Rwandan permanent mission to the UN, the Secretary-General of World Culture Open, the ED of Itafari, the ED of Women Beyond Survival, Imaculee Ilibagiza - a genocide survivor who just published "Left to Tell"- and a Holocaust survivor. Jean Paul Samputu's singing, dancing and drumming troupe also gave 2 performances.

The event was emotionally exhausting to sit through- but I told myself that it was the least I could do to just listen to those who had something to say on the day commemorating the commencement of an event that would leave an indelible mark on human history.

More thoughts

Some thoughts on the retreat, which may add to the frustration for those who could not be with us in Kibuye.

Personally, I found it a very stimulating, rewarding experience, and I felt very privileged to be in such interesting company amidst so much natural beauty, not to mention troubling history, complex present and impressive, moving hopes for the future. I was also intrigued to learn more about the origins of Never Again from some of the people involved in its continuing evolution.

I did struggle at the outset to accept the open-ended approach, wishing for more introduction, framing, focus and direction to our discussions. But everyone arrived with unique and valuable perspectives, and I learned something from that, too. I can certainly say I went through some important shifts of understanding in the course of collective and one-to-one discussions.

One of the reasons I was keen on the blog idea was to be able to report impressions as I went along, rather than building up a monumental backlog. It was really disappointing that the hotel's internet facility was on the blink (including the promising phone sockets in the rooms).
At this stage, I'm reluctant to attempt to report what other people said, but it would be great if some brave souls were to take up the challenge of producing summaries.

After some extra days in Goma, my spare time in Kinshasa has been devoted to writing up a particular idea that emanated from the retreat, so that a small working group can develop it further and plug some gaps before sharing it more widely (including, no doubt, this wiki). It's very exciting, very in synch with Never Again as I understand it, and it has to do with individual responsibility for genocide prevention.

The rest of the time I've been pursuing a job, continuing the process of self-installation/homemaking (domestic repairs, car, internet, etc), and cursing powercuts.

genocide memorial, Gisenyi

genocide memorial

On our last morning in Rwanda, three of us visited this memorial site in the hills above Gisenyi. It was established by a women's survivor group called LIDR, and is enscribed with a Kinyarwanda word for 'never forget'.

A hundred metres behind the memorial is a place where some of the victims of more recent FDLR invasions lie buried.

Creating communities

I've been thinking a lot about identity and belonging recently, amongst other deep things prompted by the Never Again virtual retreat experiment. And of course by That Cartoon Row.

Probably because I'm an only child, I've never been at all good at belonging to organised groups. Never Again, as an organisation in its very early stages, has given me a real sense of being able to act as an individual as part of a wider picture. I've learnt an emormous amount from people with totally different backgrounds from all over the world. I now see my own views as valid, but part of a greater tapestry of views and enjoy the challenge of engaging with perspectives that are totally different. I want to be part of a community that has one thing in common - its own humanity - and works to accept, even enjoy, different views and beliefs. Actions that infringe on others' human rights are indefensible but beyond that our different global systems are completely compatible if we accept that we don't have to be the same, we don't have to agree with each other and constructive conflict is natural, even healthy. Conflict, if partnered with dialogue, leads us to creative ideas that may never have been thought of in our own unchallenged worlds.

So that's my community, one that the internet makes more possible than ever before.

Hello again

Apologies to anyone who hoped for slightly more clues about how our discussions proceeded: sadly there was no working phone line, rendering our gathering barely more transparent than the average G8 pre-meeting.

I can't do justice in the time available to all that we've experienced and talked about here in Rwanda. Suffice to say that I'm glad I came, and some exciting ideas have emerged.

Thanks for the comments on the last post. Visitors from Chile (bienvenidos), please allow me to correct myself: Rwanda is certainly a place of hope and vision. It's full of challenges, but by non-permissive environments, I meant places where crisis may be looming, rather than past.

May I be excused? My head is full.

Information overload is always a possibility when combining lots of reading and conversation on weighty themes, trying to absorb multiple perspectives while evolving one's own ideas and convictions, weighing the tensions between principles, theory and practice in a complex reality.

I'm afraid I'm not in a position to give detailed reports of our key meetings so far: they have been fascinating, thought provoking and inspiring, but my secretarial skills are limited, and I need to reflect on what I've heard. Also, since we've touched on some sensitive issues, I want to be sure what is on- and off-the-record, and attributable.

However, what I can do is jot down a few Rwanda-centric questions which have arisen in various ways, and which might serve as food for thought for anyone out there who wishes to extend the conversation. (Please Google any terms you may be unfamiliar with.) As Groucho Marx said of his principles, if you don't like them I have others...

• Are there paradoxes in the requirements for justice (challenging impunity) and reconciliation in communities where perpetrators, bystanders and survivors live side by side? How can these be resolved?
• What are the different expectations and hopes for the gacaca system and ICTR? How do you evaluate their successes and failures?
• Whatever lessons are drawn from Rwanda's ongoing courageous social reconstruction project, how is it possible to apply them preventively in a non-permissive, highly politicised environment?

Getting to Kigali

I had a modern experience as I flew over the forest between Kisangani and Goma, listening to the speakers at the Aegis forum on the Responsibility to Protect, which had taken place a few days earlier in London.

Talk of the town in Goma was the renegade general Nkunda, and recent moves by the Congolese armed forces to dislodge him from Rutshuru. I arrived the same day as the Defence Minister, his entourage, an Antonov full of UN relief supplies, a businessman's private jet, and (on foot) hundreds of newly displaced people, joining an internally-displaced population estimated at 1.5 million.

Crossing the border was very straightforward, and my fellow-passengers' friendliness more than made up for the lack of knee room. I was soon hypnotised by the view of misty, well-tilled hills.

Yesterday was a public holiday - the government-decreed 'Heroes Day' - in Rwanda, and large crowds were gathered for special events in every town.

I was happy to find Poppy in Kigali, and we barely had time for a fruit juice before I found myself a bystander at a Bahai group meeting with 3-way translations. At supper with some young Rwandan doctors and a journalist, lively conversation ranged from HIV treatment to history curriculae.

We've started, then.

UN peace-keeping force for Darfur

UN prepares to send peace-keeping force to Darfur: replacing of the AU force with a UN one is "now inevitable", says Annan

Security Council meeting on Africa's Great Lakes

Security council to host ministerial session on Africa's Great Lakes

UNHCR Warns of Potential "Catastrophe" in Darfur

"Today, violence and impunity - never completely in check - are again everyday occurrences in Darfur" - Antonio Guterres address to the UN Security Council, Tuesday 24 January 2006

De.ici.us test

Temple blossoms

Temple blossoms backlit

A test for posting photos from Flickr.

How to send photos from Flickr:
1. go to 'your account' (top right)
2. go to 'your blogs' (lower left)
3. Click 'Set up your blog' and follow instructions

Setting up the layout:
1. go to 'your blogs' (as above)
2. 'choose layout' (for consistency, I suggest mid-size, with text below, as in this post)
3. Customise the layout if you wish to.
4. Preview
5. Save

Test

testing