Proud to Be a Sudanese-American

This is a man who has seen way too much, and in the end (as of now, but his story still isn't over) his story brings him to Beijing, China to the Olympics; not only that, but he is the single American (only been a citizen for 13 months, by the way) representing our country in the Olympics opening ceremony by carrying our flag. I am proud to be an American, but I am first a citizen of God's Kingdom, before anything else; but I still understand the blessings I have simply being born in this country. And Lopez Lomong understands that all the more.

You see, he grew up in The Sudan, through conflict, war and genocide, and landed in Tully, New York, USA and on to graduate from the University of Arizona after a journey that I can't even imagine. Lopez Lomong was one of 3,800 of The Sudan's Lost Boys. These boys were seperated from their families and everything they had ever known because of the conflict and war they found themselves in the midst of. These boys wandered together throughout the region avoiding everything they could, scraping for food, and simply trying to survive. The older boys took care of the younger and they watched out for one another. For months they wandered and thousands died of hunger, disease or attacks by bandits or wild animals. It is not the childhood that they deserve at all to have.

Lomong is also a member of Team Darfur who are seeking to raise awareness of the violence and genocide in the Darfur region of western Sudan. He wants the world to know what he witnessed first hand.

Regarding the honor of being chosen from among his fellow American Olympians, he said through a USOC statement, "this is the most exciting day ever in my life, I'm here as an ambassador of my country and I will do everything I can to represent my country well."

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.

Rock on Spielberg, Rock On

Stephen Spielberg dropped out from helping with the Beijing Olympic Opening and closing ceremonies on Tuesday. He had been acting as the atristic director for the shows, but dropped from the gig this week, blaming Chinese/Sudanese relations.

You see, as I've said before, the Chinese are more interested in making money than in the lives of the innocent, than in humanity. China has oil interests in the Darfur region of The Sudan. They are making deals with the Khartoum regime in Sudan, providing equipment and weapons and funding them through their deals with oil revenues. This is just plain wrong. They are putting their pocketbooks before their hearts.

Spielberg saw this and spoke up.

I laud Spielberg right alongside the rebels in Darfur. He rocks in my book.

Darfur...

I don't know what else to do than help spread the word to get others aware of what is going on over there and to pray for these people, to pray that God protects them and that He is in that place, however possible.

I get the Sudan Divestment Task Force newsletter from the Genocide Intervention Network on a weekly basis. This was the article in this morning's newsletter...

Warren Buffett Dumps PetroChina
Berkshire Hathaway, the holding company for Warren Buffett, recently reported the massive sale of additional shares in PetroChina, the listed arm of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), Sudan's largest oil partner. Since July, Berkshire Hathaway has sold over 1 billion shares in the company and has reduced its holdings in the company by over 50%. It has been speculated that Berkshire Hathaway may be completely shedding its ownership in the company.
The massive sale of PetroChina follows robust engagement by the Sudan Divestment Task Force and its partner organizations, the Save Darfur Coalition and Investors against Genocide, with Berkshire Hathaway. At this year's annual meeting Mr. Buffett's position on his PetroChina holdings was that the investment had no links to the atrocities occurring in Sudan. At the time Berkshire Hathaway was second largest investor in the company, after the Chinese government. A Sudan Divestment Task Force report, PetroChina, CNPC, and Sudan: Perpetuating Genocide, released in April clearly demonstrated the indistinguishable connection, both legally and otherwise, between PetroChina and CNPC, and the destructive role of the companies in Sudan.
The Sudan Divestment Task Force commends Berkshire Hathaway's recent sale and encourages the company to issue a public announcement addressing concerns about PetroChina's connection to ongoing conflict in Sudan. Click here for a press release.