The Question of Darfur

Manchester Guardian: Darfur's children deserve our protection

What puzzles me about Darfur is that most people agree that something must be done about it, but very few people really seem to do anything about it. There are signs saying "DARFUR" in the windows of the dorm rooms in my residence, and a few fundraising drives organized by students from my university in general, but not really, it seems, a broad and concerted effort directly against it.

As for the media, aside from the occasional earnest editorial, comment, or article, there also doesn't seem to be a real drive to do anything about it, or even to show what's going on. Shouldn't there be coverage about it every day or every second day over a longer period of time? I was very young while the Rwanda genocide was going on, but as far as I remember the media response was less lethargic.

But even if the media were to make us more aware, can we -- individually, and our governments -- really do anything to help? Is the response more sluggish because we do not have a President Clinton to sincerely take up the issue and engage with the Sudanese and rebel leaders in a decisive, long-term way? Is the response more sluggish because the US government's credibility and resources have been drained by the Iraq War?

More importantly, how should we respond? Is it really the Sudanese government that is wholly at fault? If so, or if not, what can we do to improve the situation? As far as I see, the best thing to do is to give money to humanitarian organizations who work in the Sudan. In the article to which I've linked the author says that Oxfam, for instance, is doing really good work there. Another thing to do would be, I guess, to stay informed. So, here are more links:

Links: Amnesty International
Human Rights Watch
Oxfam