ME and Ophelia

WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD:
Stand and unite against mans inhumanity

Ethan Zuckerman, at Harvard in America, blogs about some of the most horrific aspects of the violence in Darfur. The gang rape of young girls. Rape as a tool of war. Families in Darfur face a terrible decision in choosing who goes to the well for water - men or boys who are shot by the Janjawid, or women or girls, who are raped by them.

The United Nations last month described war in Darfur as the "world's worst humanitarian crisis." There have been almost daily reports of atrocities against civilians. But it appears only a tiny minority of bloggers care deeply enough to do something about it.

Last November, I wrote several posts on the genocide in Bosnia. Not many bloggers cared to comment or pick up on the story - apart from Shelley Powers and Danah Boyd who kindly wrote posts and linked to the shocking Cradle of Inhumanity story.

The genocide and horrific mass rapes in Bosnia, had taken place some ten years before. Some bloggers commented here that there wasn't a lot they could say about it because they felt there was nothing they could do to help - apart from donating money to the women and children of Bosnia whose lives were devasted by rape.

Now, there is genocide happening in Sudan. And rape is being used as a tool of war. Today. Right at this very moment. And yet, still only a tiny minority of bloggers care enough to do something to try and help.

Here's some proof: I typed Sudan into Technorati and found less than three hundred posts. Mainly by male bloggers. What is it with females, do they not care or what? I wish someone could help me to understand. It's beyond my comprehension why so few post on such serious issues. Blogging is a tool with which to communicate, educate and inform. The indifference by bloggers - especially females - is shameful and depressing.

I recall one time when women did unite to make a stand against mans inhumanity. Can't recall the details. It was years ago. Maybe it was the women and mothers in Northern Ireland. Across the land, at a certain time and date, they made a stand and linked together by holding each others hands, united in a silent protest against the fighting. It made a strong impression. And spoke more powerfully than words.

With the internet and telcoms of today - and the countless number of womens organisations throughout the world - it could be possible for all the women in the world to pull together. Collective organisation. Every woman could have a voice by making a stand - uniting together and holding hands, at a certain time and date, in protest against mans inhumanity. A silent protest. No words needed. The message would reach every man on the planet. We have the technology to stage such a global event.

Bloggers who do not care to do anything about the Sudan (and there are simple things that can be done to help) ought to take a look at this cartoon - and think again.

For those following the events in Sudan, All Africa is an invaluable resource - their Sudan newswire gives an overview of some of the major stories coming out of the country.

In an effort to spread the word on Jim Moore's important posts, along with The Passion of the Present, I'm pinging here - via technorati - some female bloggers that I read:

Danah Boyd - USA
Shelley Powers - USA
Anita Rowland - USA
Jeneane Sessum - USA
Halley Suitt - USA
Tracy Kennedy - Canada
Wendy's Allseasons - Canada
Adagio - Wales
Wendy Callan - Scotland
Suw Charman - England
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Update Monday 25 April:

Sudan: Should the world do more?

"The World can do something if it chose to. However we Sudanese have been left alone. Our hope is God not mankind. Kajobinyi, Egypt/Sudan"

Read other comments posted at BBCs Have Your Say re "Sudan: Should the world do more?"