UN Photo/Albert Gonzalez Farran

Take the African Union/United Nation Hybrid peacekeeping operation in Darfur – UNAMID. Established in 2007, with the overall objective of protecting civilians. UNAMID has largely struggled to do so, and instead continues to operate within a weak mandate and among a hostile and dangerous environment that lacks sufficient infrastructure and support from local stakeholders. Why? Well, the Government of Sudan (GoS) remains resistant in allowing their effective deployment and operations. Under the influence of the GoS, the UNAMID mandate was designed to dilute and diminish the peacekeepers’ role and their ability to move around the region. In reality, UNAMID is under control of the GoS. The GoS actively prevents UNAMID from visiting certain areas in Darfur, which considerably reduces its ability to assume its function effectively and to generate the required change and protection on the ground in Darfur. In turn, war-affected populations and IDPs in Darfur are losing confidence and trust in UNAMID. UNAMID has been subject to angry encounters, demonstrations and victims of violence. Nevertheless, the UN Security Council continues to mandate the extension of its operations in the region, all the while the GoS remains in power and in control.

Yes, we can all agree that the presence of a robust and capable UNAMID would have a hugely beneficial effect on the vast amounts of victims of the armed conflict in Darfur, but the GoS does not allow them to be robust or capable. Therefore, as we honor the UN Peace Keepers, let’s also reflect on the reality that a force has been deployed that has not made a difference, that does not have the capability to defend itself and that carries the risk of tragic failure for the people of Darfur. And when will we stop allowing the Government of Sudan to continue to control and manipulate the situation and the deaths of a people?

The last blog I wrote was about healing, self-healing and the opportunity for humanity to be healed. On a very personal level, a great amount of healing can come to us – and through us to others – as we truly learn to love who we are.

Personally, I spent many years not loving who I am and spending that time telling myself that I was simply not good enough. Even at the age of 37, I am still learning to have an appreciation and respect for all that I am. Not in an egotistic way, one that is boosted up by the material and earthly things, but in a deeper, spiritual way.

Your mother and I are always sharing our love with all of you and reminding you to love who you are. Despite this, there will be chances to practice self-forgiveness, self-healing and self-love.  Besides, it seems to be some sort of right of passage for humans. At first it may seem difficult, it may take time as it has in my case, but it is a focus worth pursuing.

So why I am writing about self-love on a blog that is concerned about ended the genocide in Darfur and healing our African brothers and sisters? Well our love towards humanity, towards others, is limited by the amount of love that we have internally. If we can learn to remember who we are, to deepen our love and respect for who we are, then we can share a greater love towards others. Loving ourselves is loving others.

Learn to love who you are and create a deep respect and appreciation for who you are and the go and spread that love towards all of those around, to all of humanity.

I love you so much. You have taught me so much. Because you have come into my life, my love has not only deepened towards who I am, but towards all of humanity. Thank you, thank you, I love you!

In April, Jeremiah and his wife, Jessica, took  Boston, Capri, and Cayman to help make bones for the One Million Bones project. Their art pieces will be laid on the National Mall in honor of victims of mass atrocities everywhere.

As I write this, I wonder where you will be when you read it, how old you will be, and what your lives will be like. I wonder what the state of the world will be when you read this. One thing I know for certain, you are reading this at a perfect time and place. Even if it isn’t your first time, you are being called to read it, and there is a reason why.

One of my deepest desires is that this can be a real positive source in your life; a place where you can come for learning and healing.

Healing has been on my mind lately. I know for me personally, I have had a lot to heal over the years. The last four or five years have been actually quite challenging. Definitely the most challenging and trying times in my life; however, I am so grateful for the wonderful forms of healing that have come my way. Boston, when you were 5, I went through one of these difficult times, and I decided to spend every morning walking and watching the sunrise. I don’t know how it happened, but you wanted to come with me every morning. It was cold and it was early, yet you came with me, helping me heal – you saved my life.

As humans, we always have opportunities for healing. In this moment, I am sure there is an opportunity to heal internal wounds for you. I hope these words can help be a catalyst for your healing and that you can take the steps to be healed.

With Darfur, there is a serious amount of healing to be had. They are such harsh circumstances and even after visiting half dozen camps, meeting many refugees and knowing so many stories, I still can’t even comprehend the healing that must go on.

On a global level, the world is in much need of healing as well. The fact that this genocidal conflict has gone on for ten years shows the state of pain that the rest of the world must be in. It’s in such a state of pain that we are paralyzed in our efforts to help end the genocide in Darfur.

A Buddhist monk named Thich Naht Hanh has written that with true service, it difficult to see who is serving whom. During this exchange of service, both of the parties are being healed and being healers. You can’t have one without the other. Whatever your pains, whatever your sorrows, I invite you to become a conscious healer and allow for your own self-healing.

My trips to Darfur have always come at the heels of my biggest struggles in life, and both trips gave me incredible strength and healing. And as I’ve been healed, I only hope I have made a difference for one of my brothers or sisters there.

The world is in an interesting place. Millions of people are suffering from the most extreme horrors that can ever be imagined and here in the western world, we have our own sufferings. Yes, they are remarkably different, but healing that is needed nonetheless. If only we could see how in this cosmic dance of humanity, how these two parties could come together, heal one another, and create such a cosmic shift that it actually does change the world.

I love you. During those dark moments of your life, take a deep breath, look around and be a healer and your heart will be healed.

My last blog was about the infectious disease of the indifference that is affecting humanity. There are so many reasons why this happens, and maybe we can touch on many of those, but one reason is due to our desire to remain comfortable.

“The world is full of miserable places. One way of living comfortably is not to think about them or, when you do, send money.” – Tracy Kidder

I came across this quote this week, and for me it truly sums up the Genocide in Darfur and the world’s reaction to it. Darfur is a miserable situation and one that is extremely difficult to even think about. Maybe at times this is due to our selfish desires to remain in or own comfortable bubble, maybe others it is due to our fear or the doubt of our inability to do something about it.

As a parent, I will always try to make your life comfortable. To give you the things that you need to learn and grow in this life. Most importantly, I hope to give you a foundation that is needed so that you can go out and make a difference for humanity. At the same time, my focus and desire is that this is possible for all children around the world.

Though I strive to give you the comfort that you deserve, I also hope to give you a real sense of the world and what is going on. I hope by looking at situations such as Darfur that it makes you so uncomfortable, that it actually moves you to do something about it.

The reality is, whatever sense of comfort we may have about life, there is an illusion about it. Our lives can never fully be complete and whole while genocide is happening on the planet. We can never fully achieve greatness as individuals, or humanity while genocide is taking place. These false senses of comfort will eventual catch up with us if we don’t extend our hands to give basic human rights to humanity.

I read a quick story of Suad Ahmed this week, a 25 year-old Darfuri refugee that was out collecting firewood with her sister Halima. Upon seeing the Janjaweed militias close by, she told her younger sister to run while she created a diversion that drew the attention to her. She saved her sister, at the cost of being captured, beaten and gang-raped by eight men.

The story pulls at you, a reality that is sure to make you feel uncomfortable. Our choices are to ignore it, as the world has, or realize that we can do something about it. This isn’t happening to a person on the other side of the globe, this is happening to us, humanity. Don’t allow these atrocities to happen to the collective us.

The quote is from author Tracy Kidder – the book Mountains Beyond Mountains  – and it is the story of Dr. Paul Farmer a Doctor of diseases who has labored with people whose lives are lived in poverty.  His philosophy is “the only nation is humanity.”

The story of Suad Ahmed is from Nicolas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn’s book, Half the Sky.

During the last 10 years, Guisma went from living with her brothers and parents in their village in Darfur, to seeing two older brothers killed during the brutal attack on their home, another younger brother die during the escape to Chad, and a little sister die in the refugee camp that is now Guisma’s home. She became a refugee during the Bush Administration and is now still a refugee, as Obama begins his second term. Both Presidents promised to make Darfur a priority and find a way to help stop the violence, but Darfur continues to burn, as we commemorate its 10th anniversary. We’ve seen Guisma grow up over the years. She is a beautiful girl, but her eyes have seen much more than what any girl should have seen. 10 years is enough for her and Darfur.

To honor Guisma and her famiy, i-ACT is launching the 100-Day Fast for Darfur. It will begin on April 6, the anniversary of the day the Rwandan Genocide started, and end July 14, 2013. We hope people will join by fasting water-only or refugee rations (1,000 calories or less) for a day or more.

To see Guisma’s full story, please go to: https://vimeo.com/24404833

The SGN Team

It is February of 2013 and we are hitting the 10-year mark of the genocidal conflict in Darfur. It is easy to say that atrocities like this begin because of evil men doing evil things in the world. It is much more difficult to say that they go on for 10 years because the world simply does not care.

For the most part, the world rests in a very large state of indifference.  Darfur is a huge manifestation of this indifference. How else can you explain humanity allowing genocide to happen, with millions of our brothers and sisters continuing to suffer from these atrocities?

This indifference arises because humanity, as a whole, fails to realize how powerful we truly are. When it comes to Darfur, we see how governments are failing, hence the question arises, if they can’t do anything about it, how can I? Such thoughts create a lack of responsibility, because if we think we can’t do anything about it, then we no longer have the responsibility to do so.

Whatever the excuses, please remember to be mindful, be responsible. The world is your responsibility. Not more so than anyone else, but equal responsibility inside the whole.

Boston, Capri, and Cayman, I really love talking to you about Africa and especially telling you stories and showing you pictures of the children of Darfur. There is such a simple and powerful understanding that you hold in your minds. You say things like, “Dad, shouldn’t we get them food” or “Dad, why can’t we just build them some schools.” In short, you accept the responsibility. You get that it is our responsibility to do something.

Your minds don’t let things get in your way yet. You haven’t had enough life experience that you use as stories or excuses to why things can’t get done.

As you get older though, things happen in life. They always do. You may have some struggles, or “failures” that you hold on to. As you do this as an adult, this actually starts to hinder your progress and really begins to cloud your mind as to what is possible in the world. Instead of seeing life and obvious solutions to helping others, like in the case of Darfur, you begin to look at all the reasons why it can’t happen. All the reasons to why it is too hard, we don’t have time, or that we simply aren’t powerful enough to do anything about it.

These things quickly lead to indifference in the world. We often complain, blame, point fingers, but rarely do we really care about something. Rarely, do we focus the time and energy to the things that are truly important in this world.

As you grow older, I ask you to be mindful of these things. Love what you do. Love life like you do now and love humanity in such a way that you take the responsibility to make the world a better place. It only takes a little time and attention from each of us.

I’ve been resisting writing this blog. I’ve started it a few times, but each time my hands touch the keyboard, I get nothing.

It has really been a struggle for me, this process of figuring out what to say. What does one write about when it comes to Darfur?  What could I possibly say that hasn’t already been written? It’s a huge dilemma, as I begin to blog about Darfur.

I’ve been involved in the fight for Darfur since 2007. In the beginning of 2008 I visited the refugee camps of Eastern Chad. For the next several years I continued to be involved in the work. I tried to really spread the message about the conflict and even went to the extremes of a month long fast for Dafur; where I lost 20 pounds in 30 days.  And even though I had the opportunity for a second trip in November of 2011, things changed for me personally. Life happened and I began to put less and less focus on Darfur.  A piece of my heart was there, but I was beaten down by life and also pretty dejected that my personal work had accomplished so little. A life of activism and drawing attention to the conflicts of the world can be a very lonely and frustrating road.

So why starti blogging and pick up the effort again now? I have already failed miserably, so why try and draw attention to Darfur when all of my previous efforts fell short? Why try and convince people of what I know to be true in my heart?

Well, I am not going to.

I have decided to write this blog for my children. Not only for my children, but to my children. While this blog is about ending genocide now and healing from the conflict in Darfur, I write to my children who are 6, 3 & 2. This may seem counter-intuitive, but I do this for a few reasons. First of all, it is for my kids. I hope this can be a piece of me that they can cherish their whole lives. I also think I can give more in my writing, coming from my heart, if I am writing to my children. I can give an honest, authentic look and maybe this can be a mirror for you and an opportunity for you to learn something about yourself.

Lastly, (and this is really hard to write) but we are hitting the 10-year mark and maybe if I prepare my children now, they can do something about it later. I hope and pray we end this sooner, but I would‘ve never guessed it would have gone on this long.

To you, the reader, I will tell you that I know this conflict will end. I know that the people of Darfur will return to the place of their villages and begin to rebuild their lives and heal their wounds. I invite you to pay attention to this moment when it arrives, for this will be one of the greatest feats in all of human history. Better than any Hollywood script, you won’t want to miss it.

To my children, Boston, Capri and Caymen, at this point I just want to say that I love you. I love being your Dad and I want to give you a full and complete life. In doing so, I want to give you the world exactly how it is.  And while this at times may be scary, I would want you to remember that you can do something about. You do make a difference.

Look for monthly blogs by Jeremiah Forest dedicated to his children.

Adef, Abdelmounim, and Gabriel

One of the very first campaigns I helped create and organize was a 100-Day Fast for Darfur. My sister Rachel and I thought fasting would be a good way to connect people with the issue, while at the same time fundraise for direct assistance for the survivors. I had no idea how deep of an experience it was going to be for me and for the many people that participated in that and other fasts we organized since.

2013 is considered the 10th anniversary of the start of the crisis in Darfur. After ten years, millions of people continue to live in internal and refugee camps, with new generations of Darfuri children knowing no other life than the life of a refugee or IDP. Fighting, killing, and displacement continues in Darfur and is also happening in other areas of Sudan. When I started working on the peace for Darfur movement, I never thought that in 2013 I would be organizing another fast to offer hope and support to a population that continues to be besieged.

Approximate Daily rations of a Darfuri refugee.

Fasting can be powerful. Clearly, for us in the United States and other well-off countries, it is not necessarily dangerous or even a sacrifice. We know that at any moment, we can walk into our kitchen or direct our car to the nearest drive-thru, and our “hunger” will be taken care of. It is meaningful, though, because it makes us think about something we take for granted, when our next meal will be. For those that fast without an option, the question is much more urgent: Will there be a next meal for me and my children?

I am lucky that over the years I have also been able to focus on the beauty and hope that exists in the communities of survivors from Darfur. They are hopeful and actively involved in creating a better future for their children. They value education and sports, and they are excited about connecting with the rest of the world.

The 2013 100-Day Fast for Darfur is about connecting. It’s about connecting as communities and as individuals. It’s about saying “10 years is enough.” Join me in fasting and connecting with our Darfuri friends that have lost so much–but who have so much more to offer. I promise you it will be an experience you won’t forget.

Please join our 100-Day Fast for Darfur.

Peace,
Gabriel

I had the privilege to meet the International Criminal Court’s first Prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, not long ago. I told him that he was greatly admired in Darfuri refugee camps, where he was seen as a hero, and there are many children in the camps named Ocampo. I also told him that they would not compromise when it comes to justice. They do not believe that peace can be achieved, if it does not come with justice leading the way. They still believe this even years after the indictments came out against the President of Sudan and others involved in the violence in Darfur. Moreno-Ocampo told me that it’s the international community the one that wants to ignore justice. That it’s like the battered wife syndrome, but in this case it’s not the victim that is hoping the abuse will just go away, if they hang in there long enough. It is the world that is ignoring and forgetting, only to be confronted over and over with the same abuse.

That morning, he also said something that I had thought about often. He talked about criticism of the United Nations. He said, “The UN is a building! It would be like New York complaining about Madison Square Garden because they don’t like how the Knicks are playing!” He said this with a very thick Argentinian accent, of course. But yes! The UN is a place where individual nations come together, and they all bring their own special national interests. The nations don’t leave their egos at the door! It is far from perfect, but we must work to make it better.

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i-ACT 14 is currently underway in Eastern Chad. We’re laying the foundation for Little Ripples, an early childhood education program that we hope to expand to all 12 refugee camps. You can follow the journey here and donate to this and our other programs at iactivism.org.