The Olympics, China, Darfur and Genocide

I heard this Olympian's story on the news this morning while I was straightening my hair. This is the genre of newstory that I perk up, stop and watch...Africa, humanitarianism, philanthropy, genocide, international African relations. I am very interested.

So, there are a group of Olympians, former and present, who have come together to form "Team Darfur". Their goal is to bring awareness to the current Chinese-Sudanese relations, oil interests mainly, because basically, the Chinese are fueling 2 sides of a war, including genocide, and the international community isn't doing enough to stop it. (Here's what I've studied, learned, read, and think about this subject.)

Former Olympic speedskater Joey Cheek, planned a trip to Beijing this week to promote the effort of Team Darfur during the Chinese-hosted World Olympics. He was denied a visa by the Chinese government, the night before leaving on a jet plane. He isn't allowed to go into China and speak encouranging China to help make peace in the war-torn Darfur section on the Sudan. Now, I say that they didn't allow him into the country becauase of his plans to speak against the government's relations with the Sudan, but that's not the reason the Chinese government gave Joey. They claim to have denied his visa and they are not required to give an explanation. But what better explanation for a formally closed country to deny someone acess into their capital city at such a time as hosting the World Olympics than to shield themselves from potential protest in the streets. It just wouldn't look good. And governments don't want to not look good when the whole world is watching. And that's what they're worried about, themselves looking good...not the millions of people dying in Darfur. Their proiorities are screwed up.

But not being able to plant his feet on Chinese soil this week isn't stopping Cheek. He is speaking in the US to as many venues as he can to keep his cause out in the open and in the public eye as they public watches intently the happenings in China this week.

Kenya and My Presidental Vote.

I read an article on the BBC News Website this morning that made me a little sad.

The top US official for Africa, Jendayi Frazer, and four former African presidents have also been in Nairobi, trying to seek a solution to the crisis.

...but that's all they agree on.

Mr Kibaki maintains he won the election fairly, but Mr Odinga says it was stolen.

This situation is no good. Kenya is supposed to be an example of the possibility of a stable African government.

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Obama is on the campeign trail, no doubt very busy on the road with all he has to get done, and being a husband/father and Senator at the same time, but he also managed to show some love. Read about it here. He has been in negotiations with Kenyan leadership on both sides of the dispute to convince them to attempt peace and to repair the brokenness that has been caused in the last few weeks. To me, that is what a President of the United States should be; someone who will talk peace, live peacfully, and seek to help where his influance can be helpful. I will be voting for Obama. I respect him, I respect his heart for change and peace.

Delivering Relief in Kenya

This BBC article is a diary from an aid worker in Kenya right now. It's pretty eye-opening what he is describing aout the happenings in that country after the unrest that has occured after the recent rigged Presidental elections. Check it out.

The Current Kenyan Crisis

Here, where I live, if somone's preferred candidate loses a political race of somekind, no matter how/why they lost, we get upset, we show dissapointment; but never this. Kenya recently had national elections for a new President. Nearly 300 people have been killed in a clash of ethnic violence in the country in only a week since the elections, which are claimed to be rigged. msnbc.com described the events as "violence that has killed 300 people and displaced 100,000 in what was once lauded as among the most stable democracies in Africa." That is sad, not only that it is such violence and so many people are being hurt, killed, and negatively effected, but also that Kenya, once considered to be a stable democracy in Africa (which in itself are few and far between) is now expierenceing the atraucities similar to it's fellow African counrties, the Sudan and Rwanda, for example. BBC is claiming that over 180,000 people have been displaced due to this violence and over 350 have been killed. The UN's World Food Programe is despertaly trying to provide food for the 100,000 displaced people in the Valley Rift Area alone.

The church needs to step in.

These people desperatly need to be shown some love.

I don't know what I can do.




Here is a video of the violence. It is devestating.

Here is a article I read about the subject that got it on my mind, again. And here is another.

A ray of Hope

I randomly came across a little seed of hope.

Ethiopia's President Girma Wolde-Giorgis is a good man. The Ethiopian presidency is largely a symbolic office with little power, but the man holding that symbolic office is a good man. I found not an ounce of corruption nor anything negative about Girma Wolde-Giorgis. Actually the oppisite is conveyed in his wikipedia article.

Girma is a married fater of five. He grew up in Addis Ababa where he attended the Ethiopian Orthodox Church school and later an Itialian schhol in town, after the Itialian invasion of his country. He worked as an air traffic controlmen, undoubtably one of the most stressful jobs! He speaks 6 languages, obviously a very educated man. He has been in the military, the air force, served as director of Trade, Industry, and Planning, was a member of Parliment, and later to become speaker of parliment. He has served as director of Ethiopia's Peace Programme which was set up in 1977 to handle the Eritean problem peacefully. He was a member of the House of Peoples' Representatives of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE).

In addition to his political and career achievements, this man has been awarded for his various humanitarian contributions and initiatives. I like to hear that in anyone, especially in a political African leader. It is encouraging. The UNAIDS' Medal was given to him in October of 2004. That is a beautiful thing. He was President of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society- Eritrea Branch (Asmara) as well as Board President of the Cheshire Home (It is an extended care hospital with 296 beds providing infirmary care for the severely disabled patients who need long-term treatment / care and infirmary patients from the Central Infirmary Waiting List...Cheshire Home encourages patients to actively participate in community, recreational and religious activities run with the assistance of volunteers. Some residents are working in sheltered workshops.) and Managing Director of The Leprosy Control Organization. He served as Board Member of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society and Head of its International Logistics Department. He launched an environmental protection association called Lem Ethiopia in 1991 to date serving as Vice President of the Board of the Association.