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  • "Never Again" slogan is but a prelude to action

    The Santa Fe New Mexican (New Mexico)
    February 24, 2008 Sunday


    MY VIEW: 'NEVER AGAIN' SLOGAN IS BUT PRELUDE TO ACTION

    by HELENTY HOMANS


    The 20th century saw more than its share of genocides. Six million
    died in the Holocaust. More than a million died during the genocide
    in Armenia. Estimates of the number who died during the Cambodian
    genocide are around 1.7 million. Almost a million died in Rwanda.

    Now, in the first genocide of the 21st century, hundreds of thousands
    have died so far in Darfur. And although we have said "never again,"
    people are continuing to die in that region. How many more are we
    willing to let be slaughtered before we raise our voices in protest?

    Taking inspiration from Margaret Mead, who said "Never doubt that a
    small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world;
    indeed it's the only thing that ever has," the Darfur Action
    Committee and the organization Camp Darfur late last year brought to
    the Santa Fe Plaza an installation of five tents about these
    genocides.

    That weekend more than 800 people signed petitions asking President
    George W. Bush and United Nations Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad to take
    leadership in bringing peace to Darfur; asking the Beijing 2008
    Olympic Games Committee and Chinese President Hu Jintao to use their
    influence in Sudan to persuade Khartoum to protect civilians; asking
    New Mexico's congressional delegation to co-sponsor the Genocide
    Accountability Act; and asking all New Mexico managers of investment
    funds to refuse to invest in targeted companies doing business with
    Sudan.

    If we really mean "never again," here are four things we can all do:

    * Right now, the peacekeeping mission in Darfur does not have any of
    the 24 helicopters it needs to protect the people of Darfur, even
    though NATO countries have 18,000 helicopters they could contribute.
    Call 202-456-1111 to tell President Bush to lead the world in making
    sure the peacekeepers get the 24 helicopters they need.

    * This month, the organization Save Darfur highlighted its January
    heroes, a couple who on their wedding day asked their guests not to
    give gifts, but rather to donate to the organization Save Darfur. We
    can all do the same when we plan birthday parties, bar mitzvahs and
    anniversary celebrations. Go to www.savedarfur.org for more
    information.

    * We applaud the Educational Retirement Board for its commitment to
    divest from worst-offender companies doing business with Sudan. Call
    or write Thornburg Investment Management

    (119 East Marcy Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501, 800-847-0200) and Public
    Employees Retirement Association (1120 Paseo de Peralta, 87501,
    505-827-4700) and ask them to do likewise.

    * The Tent2Tent program is a variation of the sister city model. Any
    club, church, neighborhood, school group, or other entity can be
    connected with displaced Darfur refugees living in a tent, developing
    a relationship through videos, letters, photos and personal messages.
    Go to www.tentsofhope.org for more information.

    We can no longer claim, as so many who did nothing during previous
    genocides, that we are unaware of what is happening while others are
    being systematically slaughtered. Let's now take our awareness into
    action.

    This "My View" was

    signed by Helenty Homans and five additional members of

    The Darfur Action Committee in Santa Fe.
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