U.S. Diplomat and Sudanese Driver Killed in Khartoum

On January 1, 2008, a USAID diplomat and his Sudanese driver were shot and killed in Khartoum, happening just one day after peacekeeping duties were transferred to UNAMID, a hybrid UN/African Union force. Details here.

UNAMID Assumes Peacekeeping Duties in Darfur

On December 31, 2007, the United Nations joined forces with the African Union to provide peacekeeping in Darfur. UNAMID is expected to be the world's largest peacekeeping force with 26,000 troops, although estimates are that it will take months to reach that troop level.

Bush Signs Bill Allowing States and Localities to Curtail Sudanese Investments

As horrific as I have found the current U.S. administration to be on the world stage--let alone at home--President Bush has at least for the most part taken up the cause of trying to stop the genocide in Darfur. On December 31, 2007, he signed into law the Sudan Accountability and Investment Act that will allow state and local governments to cut investment ties with Sudan.

To track progress in the divestment movement, check out Genocide Intervention Network's Sudan Divestment Task Force website. Thanks go to Genocide Intervention Network for their hard work in getting this law passed.

Miraya 101 FM

Thanks to Isadora for the link to Miraya 101 FM for news about Darfur and Sudan, in general.

Darfur Peace and Development Organization

While searching today for information about what people in my city (Pasadena, CA) are doing to help people in Darfur, I found this story about a local high school student raising money for Darfur Peace and Development Organization (DPDO). Here's the beginning of the DPDO mission statement:

The mission of Darfur Peace and Development Organization, which is a 501 (c ) 3 nonprofit and nonsectarian organization, is to restore reconciliation where conflict exists in the Darfur region of Sudan through humanitarian aid and services to the needy people in the Darfur region, without regard to race, religion, sex or national origin. DPDO is an international organization of persons committed to working with indigenous people in Darfur to overcome hunger and poverty through integrated self-development and relief programs and where possible to encourage conflict resolutions as the preferred method rather than resorting to violence and terror. (link)

Check out some of their projects, especially the Schools Sponsorship project, which helps students "[play] a vital and pivotal role in rejecting the notion of passivity and inaction, responding to the desperate calls from children around the globe in Darfur to actively participate in building a better life for all." (link)

BlogHers Act - Vote for Darfur!

BlogHer has unveiled a new community: BlogHers Act. They're asking their 11,000 members to choose one global issue to be the focus of a year-long campaign. Here's your chance to speak up for Darfur! Britt Bravo started the conversation on behalf of Darfur at BlogHer--if you'd like Darfur to be the global issue those 11,000 bloggers support for the next year, add your comment HERE. (BlogHer is a blogging community open to everyone--no member fees involved.)

Google Earth Shows Atrocities in Sudan

This story has been all over the news this week--with Google Earth satellite mapping service, we can now zoom in on the 1,600 Sudanese villages destroyed as part of the genocide that's been occurring in Darfur since 2003. Keep in mind that the images are not in real time. This article says that the images were captured between 2003 and 2006. But it's a start. And as the article states, it's one more critical tool in spreading awareness as reporters in Darfur are losing their access there.

Google Earth

Global Days for Darfur - April 23-30

Click here to go to the Save Darfur site to find a Global Days for Darfur event near you. It's hard to believe that Jill and I created Bloggers for Darfur a year ago already--in response to last year's Global Day for Darfur. Another year gone by...and no real progress. PLEASE GET INVOLVED TO HELP RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE GENOCIDE IN DARFUR!

China Finally Takes Action in Sudan

From the April 12th New York Times - In response to cries from Hollywood (of all things - Mia Farrow and Steven Spielberg), China sent a high-ranking envoy to Sudan to push the government to accept a U.N. Peacekeeping force.

[I apologize for the big gap in posting here. Life got kind of crazy-busy. Will try to post more regularly here. ~Marilyn]