Letters to the Editor
Ignoring Darfur
July 17, 2008
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To the editor:
The recent G8 summit in Japan is an attempt by the leaders of the world's wealthiest countries to address several global crises that is, at best, weak and inadequate.
The commitment to cut global greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2050 has been much lauded in the press. However, for this to be realistic, there will need to be specific, short-term benchmarks along the way. The statement provides none.
Further, the commitment of $60 billion over the next five years to combat treatable diseases like malaria, AIDS and tuberculosis would barely be enough to make significant inroads on AIDS alone.
Perhaps most disturbing however, is the failure to address the genocide in Darfur. Now in its sixth year, hundreds of thousands of residents have been killed by government-backed militias, and nearly 2.5 million Darfurians have fled their homes and live in refugee camps either in Sudan or in neighboring countries. This is to say nothing of the hundreds of thousands more who have been raped, tortured and maimed in some of the most brutal and sustained violence the world has seen since the Holocaust.
The fact that the commanders of the world's most powerful military forces say nothing of a government that singles out its own people for systematic and brutal violence is unthinkable.
Last week's summit is a reminder that we need to exert far greater pressure on our leaders to use the resources and influence at their disposal to effect real change in the suffering of the world's poorest and most vulnerable people.
Craig Loya,
Lawrence
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17 July 2008
at 2:42 a.m.
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Daytrader23 (Anonymous) says…
Darfur is one of Chinas “partners” China owns enough American Debt that if they tried to sell it, it would completely destroy our economy. The U.S dollar would be absolutely worthless, inflation would sky rocket and that would just be the beginning. In other words China has the U.S by the balls.
So Darfur is a “touchy” subject politically. Yes something needs to be done, but it needs to come from China.
17 July 2008
at 4:47 a.m.
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bkgarner (Brent Garner) says…
Darfur is indeed a tragedy that cries out for a solution. Most of those involved with this would like to see some kind of significant military force put in place to protect the Darfur refugees and population. These same people look to the US for the lead on this. However, the US does not have the additional forces to deploy. At the same time, most of those calliing for some kind of military protective force are opposed to increasing the size of our military and the size of our defense budget. This is an unrealistic approach.
17 July 2008
at 5:36 a.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
Mr. Loya:
Why are you not writing to the Allthatisgreenandgreatandgood “United” Nations to resolve this problem?
Could it be due to the fact that the so-called “peacekeepers” in their Oh!; So Sexy!; blue berets are generally not even given loaded firearms when sent to quash rebellion and mass musder?
Could it be due to the fact that the only perceived value ot the “peacekeepers” in these tiny countries is that of a hostage to be redeemed for ransom?
Could it be due to the fact that the “United” Nations administration os so appalling corrupt that it eats its own?
The Left wanted “self-rule” and “self-determination” for the primitive tribal peoples of Africa, groups like the Marxist/Leninist ANC obtained those things and now you see the results.
You now have peoples bound by primitive tribal traditions and thinking running around with surface-to-air missiles, AK-47s, tanks and all manner of methods by which they might settle centures old tribal scores.
You now have runaway inflation, corruption on scales never before seen, mass murder, starvation and disease; all brought on by the peoples themselves and their primitive thinking and traditions.
I am now awaiting the cries of “Racism!” which will undoubtedly follow this post but this post is *NOT* racist; it is accurate, it is unbiased and merely viewing the facts as they are.
Africa is again reaping what it has sown and there is virtually nothing that we can do about it.
17 July 2008
at 6:09 a.m.
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Das_Ubermime (Anonymous) says…
African diseases and Sudan are a big load of 'Not Our Problem'.
Maybe you would prefer for the United States to go out and spend billions upon billions of dollars fighting other people's battles, but I would prefer that the U.S. spend more time looking into our economic crisis, our education problems and funding of new technologies to keep the U.S. economically relevant for years to come.
17 July 2008
at 6:12 a.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
Das_Ubermime (Anonymous) says:
African diseases and Sudan are a big load of 'Not Our Problem'”
Marion writes:
Nice post!