ME and Ophelia

SUDAN AWARENESS DAY
BBC's Panorama documentary The New Killing Fields

Last night on television, I watched the BBC's excellent Panorama programme "The new killing fields". It asked if the first genocide of the 21st century is occurring in Darfur.

Today, in my post at the Passion, I've put together a summary of the documentary and some key quotes from people connected to the disaster and a link to viewers' comments.

In a further post I've highlighted that analysts are fearing Sudan's ceasefire and peace agreements are written in disappearing ink and not worth the paper they're written on, and that Sudan's government forces will return with a vengeance to retake territory they've lost to the rebels.

Also, I've pointed to an interview with John Danforth who was asked if the US should send troops to Darfur. And I've posted this photo (see below) of some Yale students in America participating in a vigil to kickoff today’s Sudan Awareness Day.

SUDAN AWARENESS DAY



Yale Daily News: Students urge action against Sudan violence.

Bearing candles and green ribbons, nearly 30 students gathered at a vigil Sunday evening to raise awareness about the ongoing violence in Darfur.

The vigil was an opportunity for Yale students to think about the meaning of genocide. It introduced Monday's Sudan Awareness Day, when student representatives from Amnesty International and Students Take Action Now: Darfur will be tabling on Cross Campus and in dining halls. Those tabling will encourage students to write letters petitioning U.S. and UN representatives to take action to stop what group members described as a genocide.

At the vigil, students circled around a chalked silhouette of the African country to read aloud Sudanese refugees' testimonies about the rape and violence they have experienced at the hands of the Sudanese government and the government-backed Janjaweed milita. They also read testimonies from survivors of the Rwandan genocide and the Holocaust.

Note, Eleonora Sharef '07, who helped set up the vigil, urged those who attended to spread the word across the campus. "We think that with pressure from the U.S. something can change," Sharef said. "Spread the word about this to your friends."
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Some catblogging from Instapundit's daughter with a link to the digital camera used.
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Intermission

Sorry, I cannot post anymore today or catch up on responding to comments and emails. I need to rest up, and pace myself for keeping an eye on the news following the historic UN Security Council meeting taking place in Nairobi on Thursday and Friday. If you check out the two posts above, you will see I've posted several photos. Flickr is superb and very easy to use, but it all takes a lot of time and concentration. Must take a blogging break for a day or two to catch up on things and replies to emails. Bye for now. Love from Ingrid and Ophelia

PS Ophelia got through the week of fireworks. For the past two nights in a row she disappeared out at night for five hours during what seemed like hours of horrible fire crackers and loud rockets. Could smell the stench of gunpowder in the air. Felt so bereft and worried because I knew she was huddled up and terrified in the cold pitch dark somewhere. Thank goodness she got back safe and sound. Everything is back to normal now and she is here by my side licking her fur. Her vet says cats have anti bacterial in their saliva which is why their coats always smell clean and new. Heh. I'm off to give her another kiss on her head.