Saint Mark's Episcopal Church
Antioch, Tennessee
Violence and Suffering in Sudan's
Darfur Region
A preventable humanitarian crisis is raging in the
Darfur region of western
Sudan.
In Father Beasley’s sermon on February 6, 2005, he spoke of Jesus going into
exile among those in our community and world who are exiled—excluded and exposed
to rejection, even violence. There are more than a million people in Western
Sudan who have been “exiled” and are in danger of starvation due to the renegade
Janjaweed militia who kill, rape, burn and drive out the native population of
the region. So far the Sudanese government has taken no real action to prevent
the genocide. Nearly 100,000 have been killed and as many as a million are in
danger of starvation.
We at St. Mark can speak up. Sixty years go Auschwitz and
eleven years ago, Rwanda. Now it is genocide in Darfur. The Iraq war may overshadow this
genocide, but we can speak up and protest this ongoing atrocity. Jesus Christ
asks us in our baptism, “Will you persevere in resisting evil...? Will you seek
and serve [me] in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourelf? Will you strive
for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human
being?” (“The Baptismal Covenant” Book of Common Prayer, p. 304-305)
Learn about the Genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan
"Listen to Terry Gross' interview
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4539143
with John Prendergast, Special Advisor to the President of
the International Crisis
Group. This will help you to get a grasp of this terrible situation."
What is the situation in Darfur? A summary of the history of the situation.
http://www.savedarfur.org/go.php?q=situationInDarfur.html
What can we do about it? Action steps.
http://www.savedarfur.org/go.php?q=takeActionNow.html
For preaddressed letters you can send see below.
Episcopal Church action related to Darfur Genocide
Episcopal Church’s Executive Council Resolution concerning the humanitarian
crisis in the Darfur region of western Sudan 6/18/2004
http://www.dfms.org/1866_43096_ENG_HTM.htm
Never again: Presiding Bishop's statement on the crisis in Darfur, Sudan
April 08, 2004
http://www.dfms.org/1866_35901_ENG_HTM.htm
Resolution on the Continuing Crisis in Sudan
Adopted by the Executive Board (adopted 5/18/2004)
http://www.dfms.org/1866_40195_ENG_HTM.htm
Letters you can send: (Be sure to read them and make changes that make them
your own.)
Letter to President George Bush
Letter to Senator Lamar Alexander
Letter to Representative Jim Cooper
Contact information for key American leaders
