The flag of Sudan has become infiltrated with the color red because of the genocide of 200,000 Darfurians. Hollywood is sporting this fashion today and is keeping this trend of political awareness alive. Before Hollywood became actively involved in this situation most Americans did not even know it existed. Through celebrity adoptions, humanitarian visits and public awareness campaigns Africa has become the latest fashion trend. Politics have become fashionable for many celebrities and this is influencing the American public. Hollywood has joined the political campaign to force other governments like China to evaluate their roles and actions in the Darfur conflict.
If you have not joined this trend yet, here is some background on the issue. In 2003, two rebel groups in Darfur formed an alliance; the SLA and JEM and they united to attack military bases. The Sudanese government responded by releasing the Janjaweed on the rebel groups including civilians. The term Janjaweed translates to “demons on horseback”, and they are armed nomadic Sudanese being paid by the government to attack rebels and innocent African villagers. When Sudanese planes fly over the soon to be attacked camps, Janjaweed warriors are the ones to follow the sound and kill the innocent. Sudan is now experiencing heightened political tensions with Chad because they allow these rebels to attack and set up bases. Chad has a similar point of view because Sudan allows rebels to base on their land. This hostility between the two countries has created a circuitous cycle of violence and bloodshed.
Recently, the United Nations has reduced their humanitarian staffing by about 50 percent because of the attacks against the international workers and facilities in both Sudan and Chad. According to a recent statement by the United States State Department and U.N., it is estimated that there are 230,000 Sudanese refugees and up to 140,000 internally dispersons currently residing in Chad. In the past five months these numbers have doubled. The increased number of Sudanese refugees in Chad is straining the already limited resources of the area, leading to more tension and competition for food and water, the source of many international emergencies. Chad is already having trouble feeding their own people and with the Sudanese refugees it has become even more difficult.
These atrocities occurring in Darfur challenge the 1949 Geneva Convention itself, which prohibits attacks on civilians. Sudan broke their agreement with the convention by sanctioning the Janjaweed militia to rape women and kill civilian men and children. Darfurians are supposed to be safe in the refugee camps. However, this is not the case for women when they collect firewood. The enraged Janjaweed are waiting for them; when the women leave the camps, they are met by men who will rape them. Sometimes when attacking a village the Janjaweed will rape women publicly to shame the female and her family. At all of the refugee camps there are significantly fewer men then women because most men have already been killed, while the camp is filled with women who have been raped. The Sudanese government sponsors the Janjaweed and is making it very difficult for the UN and other relief workers to help those in need. At this point, President Bashir hasn’t taken action to alleviate the situation.
The Janjaweed is also using a strategy of “organized starvation,” another main cause of death in Sudan. President Bashir said he would disarm the Janjaweed but as of now there is little evidence that this has happened. The latest peace agreement was signed by the Sudan Liberation Movement on May 5, 2006, but was soon to be broken. Despite the denials of President Bashir, Google maps show the region and the heavy destruction in the area.
This blood bath has been going on for too long and the U.S. and UN are finally implementing sanctions. Recently, President Bush placed sanctions on Sudan because of increased frustration at Sudan’s refusal to end the violence in Darfur. Sanctions include banning any business or communication with Sudan’s 31 companies who do business in the U.S. financial system. Bush wants the sanctions to prevent the transportation of weapons from these companies to the rebels and their government.
Sudan’s biggest buyer of oil is China, a newly industrialized nation. They are desperately in need of oil and petroleum suppliers in order to continue the process of industrialization. Thus they are not in a position to be particular about their trading partners or suppliers. While other developed or industrialized nations are placing sanctions on Sudan, China refuses to do so. Special Chinese government envoy, Liu Guijin, recently visited the region and reported that he witnessed no desperation in the refugee camps. He also claimed that he found international and Sudanese groups were working cooperatively to solve humanitarian problems in the villages and refugees camps. Gujin’s comments are hard to believe considering 50% of the UN relief workers have evacuated the area because of recent attacks on them. China wants to protect their economic interests, so they are deliberately being oblivious to the seriousness of the situation. The government of China is providing aircraft and weapons to the nation of Sudan as well as the Janjaweed. Recent pictures have been taken of Chinese made aircraft which are camouflaged to hide the identity. This breaks U.N. sanctions against selling arms or related goods to Sudan.
Hollywood has become an important ally in the Darfurian conflict. Recent movies such as Hotel Rwanda, Blood Diamond and The Last King of Scotland are bringing African political situations into our American pop culture. Washington D.C. has successfully combined forces with Hollywood using celebrity representatives. Political activist and actress Mia Farrow is responsible for getting China involved recently in the Darfurian conflict. She ignited the growing use of the term “Genocide Olympics” and its campaign. Farrow has encouraged other celebrities to get involved as well. In a March op-ed entry of the Wall Street Journal, Mia Farrow warned Steven Spielberg to get involved in this crisis. She shamed him, suggesting he could “go down in history as the Leni Riefenstahl of the Beijing Games.” (She is referring to the Nazi propaganda filmmaker during World War II). Spielberg is an artistic adviser to China for the Olympic Games and since Mia Farrow’s warning, he sent a letter to the Chinese president asking him to stop participating in the suffering in Sudan and the surrounding area.
Hollywood has created a strong buzz by calling the 2008 Summer Olympics, “The Genocide Olympics.” This has finally sparked China’s attention. It seems the only reason China is taking actions, such as sending a special envoy to Darfur, is because of the pressure Hollywood and other nations are creating. China appointed Liu Gajjin as their representative and according to Mr. Gajjin, “China has provided $ 30 million dollars in development assistance to Sudan, and that investment by its oil companies has helped Sudan to develop more sophisticated oil exploration and refinery businesses.” While this assistance seems altruistic, it is not. Sudan is expanding its oil business, but the money is not being used to help the people of the nation as China claims it will be. Instead the money is being used to fuel the war.
China needs to be forced to take action in the Darfurian conflict. Hollywood is leading the campaign. The longer China waits, the more Darfurians will suffer. There are already 200,000 people dead and 2.5 million people displaced from their homes, numbers likely underreported. If China wants to gain the respect of other nations, they need to join others in the U.N. in pressuring Sudan to take action. China should place conditions on their oil purchases and clearly dictate the repercussions if the conditions are not met. This will encourage Sudan to take action and to become more economically responsible. Hopefully, Hollywood will continue to use their powerful influence to encourage citizen to take action and keep this new trend of political awareness a part of pop culture.
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