Mia Farrow Takes On China in the Struggle for Darfur Print E-mail
Written by Ashley Bagan   
Tuesday, 18 December 2007

In the midst of a violent, afternoon sandstorm near the Darfur border, Mia Farrow and a young refugee lit the Dream for Darfur symbolic Olympic torch.  As this flame was ignited, so was a bit of hope that the Darfur disaster would one day come to an end.

Image
Mia Farrow carries the Dream for Darfur torch.
It has been four years since the Sudanese Khartoum government declared a genocidal campaign against the people of Darfur.  Four years since the Janjaweed began raping women, burning villages, and shooting children clinging to their mothers.  Four years of violence, destruction, and terror. And what has the international community done to help? Practically nothing.  That is why actress Mia Farrow, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Ruth Messinger, President of American Jewish World Service, and Jill Savitt, Director of Dream for Darfur, embarked on a mission to wake up the world.  In August of this year, this determined group traveled to eastern Chad and Rwanda to launch a grassroots campaign, known as Dream for Darfur.  The mission of the campaign is to use the 2008 Olympics to focus attention on the perverse relationship that exists between Sudan and China—a relationship that is as dangerous to the people of Darfur as its disappearing food supply.  

Farrow asserts, “Governments and institutions have failed.  Even our best institutions, including the UN, have utterly abandoned the people of Darfur.”

The People’s Republic of China has been particularly culpable in the plight of the people of Darfur. China has not simply ignored the issue, but has actually been supporting the genocide through special relations with Sudan.  Time after time, China has protected the Khartoum government when the UN Security Council considered sending in peacekeeping troops.  China directly fosters the genocide by selling weapons to the Khartoum government and by buying massive amounts of oil from Sudan.  These weapons are used to arm the Janjaweed and this money is used to bomb the villages.  

Dream for Darfur, along with Farrow and the American Jewish World Service, believe that China is the key to ending the genocide.  Rather than contributing to the crisis, China could use its leverage with Sudan and its glorified position as an Olympic host to help the victims.  Dream for Darfur is using public education and grassroots mobilization to urge leaders to intercede with the Chinese government.  They are using private advocacy to urge individuals associated with the Olympics to channel their power and call attention to the situation in Darfur.  For example, Steven Spielberg, a man who has devoted much of his life to insuring the term “never again” has concrete meaning, has reconsidered his role as the production director for the Olympic ceremony.  Also, the symbolic Olympic torch relay plans to travel through Rwanda, Armenia, Bosnia, Germany, and Cambodia—all countries that represent the horrific practice of genocide.  This relay will hopefully focus world attention on China’s role in facilitating the Darfur crisis.

Of all the nations in the world, China is in the best position to convince the Khartoum government to stop the slaughter of the people of Darfur.  The Olympic games are a longtime symbol of international peace and cooperation.  China’s position as host will contradict everything the Olympics stand for unless they step up and act responsibly.

Farrow asserts, “Most people are good.  Now we look toward caring people to join together in one voice.”

Mia Farrow has been to Chad seven times.  Every time she enters refugee camps, she is greeted with inquires.  ¨Have you heard anything? What does the radio say about us? When are they coming to save us?” Isn't it time she had a reply?
Comments
Add NewSearch
charles liu (207.162.229.xxx) 2008-04-30 10:28:11
Mia Farrow's logic:

China has been supporting the genocide in Darfur by having this relationship with the government of Sudan.

The whole world has been supporting the genocide in Sudan by buying everything made in China.

How idiotic!
Reply
Write comment
Name:
Email:
 
Website:
Title:
Security Image
Please input the anti-spam code that you can read in the image.

Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved.
 
< Prev   Next >
[ Back ]