health & civil war conditions.
The Tragedy of Sudan:
The Darfur area of western Sudan is almost the size of Texas. The "Janjaweed", an ethnically Arab militia of bandits roam the plains on camels and horses or in pickup trucks mounted with machine guns. Bands of these men ride into a village, shoot the men and boys, rape the women, loot and burn the huts and mosques, rip up crops and slaughter or steal the livestock. This violence has convulsed Sudan since February of 2003. By October , 2004 more than 2 million Africans have been slaughtered, 1.4 million Darfur people had been forced from their homes and more than 50,000 had died of hunger and disease as a result of fallout from the violence. The Sudanese government is behind the Janjaweed, giving them military and financial support to kill the area's non-Arab Muslims.
Although what's happening in Darfur is recognized as genocide, no other country has come forward to help the Darfurian people.The international community has refrained from imposing sanctions on Sudan because other Arab countries are sympathetic to Khartoum, and Security Council members like Pakistan and China are heavily invested in Sudan's emerging OIL INDUSTRY. China, Russia, Pakistan and Algeria all have abstained from any resolution to halt the killing. The US has done little more than think about penalties.
Darfur is the modern day Rwanda.Displaced persons make their way to refugee camps where international aid workers try to staunch the hunger and illness. The Sudanese government tries to force the refugees to go back to their burned and gutted villages, where they may face new attacks.
Although the Sudanese goverment may have had good reason to call on local tribes to crush a rising rebellion in Darfur in the 1990's when turf wars errupted between Arab nomads and African farmers, the nomads who joined the Janjaweed saw it as an opportunity to grab land and livestock under the banner of a state-sanctioned military operation. By August of 2003, the Janjaweed were attacking not only SLA fighters, but also Darfurian civilians, and the violence soon descended into ethnic cleansing.
The only hope for peace is an international protection force. But so far, only Tanzania, Nigeria and Rwanda have offered troops, and the size of that force won't deter attacks until major powers get involved.
Last December the long-awaited hybrid United Nations-African Union mission (UNAMID) took control of peacekeeping operations in Darfur. But the transition from African Union peacekeepers to the new hybrid mission was largely ceremonial. Only 9,200 uniformed personnel, including military peacekeepers and police personnel, are currently in Darfur – a third of the total uniformed force promised. The people of Darfur are still waiting for protection after five years of death, displacement, rape and broken promises..
The international community must provide UNAMID peacekeepers with helicopters and other necessary equipment. We must pressure both the government of Sudan and the fractious rebel groups to get to the peace table. And until they reach a peace agreement, the nations of the world must impose strict travel sanctions and enforce arms embargos on both the government and rebel groups.
Africa
Click on the hunger site every day.
Hate Crimes Affect More than Just the Individual Attacked.
All violent crimes are reprehensible. But the damage done by hate crimes cannot be measured solely in terms of physical injury or dollars and cents. Hate crimes rend the fabric of our society and fragment communities because they target a whole group and not just the individual victim. Hate crimes are committed to cause fear to a whole community. A violent hate crime is intended to send a message that an individual and "their kind" will not be tolerated, many times leaving the victim and others in their group feeling isolated, vulnerable and unprotected.
According to 2001 FBI statistics, hate crimes based on sexual orientation constituted the third highest category reported and made up 13.9% of all reported hate crimes. Only race-based and religion-based prejudice crimes were more prevalent than hate crimes based on sexual orientation.
What is a hate crime?
A hate crime is an unlawful act motivated by bias. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act — hate crimes legislation pending in Congress — broadens the legal definition. It describes a "hate crime" as a violent act causing death or bodily injury "because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender or disability" of the victim. Current law does not include sexual orientation, gender or disability.
How often do these crimes occur?
Hate crimes based on sexual orientation make up the third highest category after race and religion.
Evidence indicates that hate crimes are underreported. Yet statistics still show that nearly 75,000 hate crimes have been reported to the FBI since 1991, with 9,730 incidents reported in 2001, the FBI's most recent reporting period. Race-related hate crimes were by far the most common, representing nearly 53.8 percent of all reported cases. Hate crimes based on ethnicity/national origin represented 21.6 percent and those based on religion represented 18.8 percent. Hate crimes against gay, lesbian and bisexual Americans constituted about 14.3 percent of all reported hate crimes, with 1,393 reported in 2001.
— Judy Shepard, HRC board member and mother of Matthew Shepard, slain University of Wyoming student
Anybody who knows me, knows that I've done a fair amount of animal rescue over the years. I nearly always have a houseful of pets, made up mostly of the "problem" animals that we couldn't find homes for. "Problem" pets or not, they've all turned out to be a great in their own individual ways.
Animal "rescue" wouldn't be nearly so important in our society if more people were just responsible pet owners. Before you get a pet, remember that it's FOR LIFE. A dog's normal lifespan, depending on the breed, is 7 to 14 years. Cats can live to be 20!!
Next, be prepared to spay or neuter your pet. There are far too many unwanted animals already - there's no need to add to the surplus. Besides, your pet will be happier and healthier if it is spayed or neutered. Following are some tips on responsible pet ownership from Noah's Bark.
Choose a pet that fits your lifestyle. Don't get a high energetic dog, if you don't have the time to exercise him. If you can't afford grooming or can't do the grooming yourself, pick a low maintenance dog.
Spay or neuter your pets. There are too many homeless animals without adding to the problem.
Don't make your dog a "backyard dog". Dogs strive on companionship and need to be with their human pack.
Be aware of weather conditions. Leaving your dog in the car on a hot day or in the yard without shade or water is risking your dog's life.
Make sure your home is "pet" safe. Pesticides, medications, household cleaners and some house plants (dieffenbachia, philodendron, hyacinth, and mistletoe) can be deadly to your pet. Keep them out of reach.
Provide veterinary care for your pet. Keep their vaccinations up to date and make sure they have an annual checkups.
Don't let your pets run loose. Dogs should be walked on leashes. Any outdoor off leash access should be secure in a fenced area. An outdoor cats average lifespan is 3 years, an indoor cat's average lifespan is 14 years.
Provide your pet the proper diet. Obesity can be as deadly as malnutrition. Be aware that some foods can be deadly, such as chocolate, and fatty foods can cause pancreatitis.
Make sure your pet gets the proper amount of exercise.
Take extra precautions during holidays like Fourth of July. It is the scariest time for pets, make sure your pets are secure indoors. Also protect your pet during Halloween.
Be kind to your pet and show him with love... remember you are his world.
Take special care of your pet during their senior years.
CHECK OUT MY AMAZON AUTHOR BLOG TO READ MY THOUGHTS ON OTHER PET ISSUES.
