The Darfur Olympics
Posted by michellemoquin on 17th August 2008
Women are strongly on my mind this week. Can you tell? Unfortunately, I have even more disturbing news when it comes to the women of this world. And I must blog it. As much as I like to talk about the good happening, this is a part of life too. Lately it seems that abuse has gotten worse, escalated…but maybe I am just more informed. Actually I am more informed. I am reading more and there is no excuse not be with the power of the internet.
I wish that I had something more cheerful to report but like everything there is usually a rainbow somewhere even if we can’t see it immediately….there is always hope….a dream of something better.
So…women and girls of Darfur….I wonder about you. I wonder how you live on a daily basis in the refugee camps. I wonder how many of you have lost your men while they try to collect firewood only to be captured or killed leaving you to fend for yourselves and your children. I wonder how often during the day when you go out to collect the firewood yourselves, you get raped by the Sudanese militia. I wonder what you do in the middle of nowhere and how you deal with boredom. I wonder how you live with the constant fear. I wonder what your thoughts are. I wonder how I would survive if I were you.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6JVKk0DpLs&hl=en&fs=1]
The Janjaweed, government sponsored militia, are on a campaign of slaughter, rape, starvation and displacement in Darfur. Since February 2003: ’200,000 people have died due to violence, starvation and disease. More than 2.5 million people have been displaced from their homes and over 200,000 have fled across the border to Chad.’
Sexual Violence in Darfur is not just a series of random acts. Just as in the ‘honor killings’ that take place, they are not just domestic violence acts, they are something more. In Darfur, these rapes are a weapon of genocide. These women need protection. They live in constant fear. The Peacekeepers that are there are failing because there isn’t enough resources and they are being stretched too thin to really protect these women.
While China hosts the Olympic Games touting peace, harmony and brotherhood, they blindly back the Sudanese Government and allow the brutality of these women to continue. And while the Chinese Government relishes in the delight of the Olympics, they continue to sell Sudan weapons that enable these horrific acts of violence.
These women could probably care less about the Olympics. But the one thing that they may dream about…something that gives them hope…is the Darfur Olympics. What? Yeah that is what I asked. I wish that I had heard about this earlier but better late than never.
Since August 8, the Save Darfur Coalition held their own Olympics, ‘dream for Darfur’, and each day showed a different part of life in Darfur, from ‘How the refugees live’ to ‘Women in Darfur’, my topic for today. Although the ‘Darfur Olympics’ ended yesterday with their ‘Closing Ceremony’, a video showing juxtaposing images revealing the anguish underwritten by China – with images from the promo materials for the Olympics….the atrocities are far from over.
How can you help? Go to the website, read and learn. Write to our Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and ask her to help deploy peacekeepers for Darfur. Help the women in Darfur to be able to protect themselves so they can go back home with their families and return to their lives. We can not sit back while sexual violence rages the women of this world. We need to demand protection.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Hello Affah: I agree with you about Moslem women and I even extend that to all of the women of this world. We do need to be heard and it is venues like this that we can talk and release the stories that need to be told. Thank you for telling yours.
I am sorry about your sister – how devastating for you. I can not imagine having to put a smile on your face in celebration of ‘saving honor’. The warnings are not to be alone with men and yet it is the woman’s fault when she is raped?! How backwards is that? It is disgusting. The women have no choice.
Hi Al Zhahra: Thank you for sharing your thoughts, your life. You are correct. I can not imagine what it is like to be a prisoner and to live as you do. What we see on TV and what your life is actually like are far different.
ZL: Hey – Thanks for chiming in. Good to hear from you. I feel the same way that you do….I have no answers….and it is very frustrating. I feel helpless. And I imagine that the women of Islam and many other parts of the world such as Darfur and Chad feel the same way…
Islamic Woman of Saudi Arabia: Hello. Evidently you feel the same way too. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I hear you loud and clear. My heart goes out to you, to all of the women that have written in to me, and to all of the women that are unable to but still suffer daily. I hope that the reach that I have through my blog will help…that people will do something.
Readers: What will you do today to protect the women of this world? What will you do to say ‘no’ to the violence against women?
Peace out….
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle ?
Aka BABE: Your Bad Ass Bitch Editor
For archives dated before January 17, 2008 click on my Blogroll:
or click here: “A Day in the life of…”
All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2008
" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"
Posted in Health & Well Being, Journeys within, Long Live Planet Earth!, Love, Sex & Relationships, Political Powwow, Uncategorized | 7 Comments »





