Not On Our Watch, a Book Review

I just finished reading Not On Our Watch: The Mission to End Genocide in Darfur and Beyond. Co-written by a celebrity, the book received notable recognition. I got my copy for supporting a Save Darfur campaign. The authors, Don Cheadle (Crash, Hotel Rwanda, Oceans 11) and John Prendergast, create a balance in the book so that it is as personal as it is informative. Prendergast, a former official in the Clinton administration, has traveled and worked for peace and equality in Africa for many years and in many capacities. His knowledge and experience with African conflicts are vast, as illustrated in this book. Don Cheadle did not necessarily impress me with his writing, but he contributes a realistic perspective from a non-professional activist. The authors explain the background of the conflict in Darfur as well as their personal paths to being involved in ending the genocide. Sudan has such a long history of war, with many parties involved. The most difficult thing about the current situation is the ambiguity of information. To say the least, it is a confusing subject, with many disputed details. Still, the chapters in Not on Our Watch are succinct and informative. The main idea of the book is how to put activism in action to end genocide in Darfur and prevent it elsewhere. Prendergast gives great insight on why problems in Africa are so quickly ignored and why the United States imparticular is guilty of neglecting conditions violating human rights. “In order to win peace in Sudan,” Prendergast writes, “we must first win an ideological battle at home. We must show that combating crimes against humanity is as important as combating terrorism.” Not only are Americans less concerned with humanitarian needs, they are also apathetic toward yet another tragic story in Africa. After so many famines and wars, the world stops listening. This is called “conflict fatigue.” Prendergast concludes that in order to promote stability in Africa, “we need to build a popular constituency for Africa.” In other words, if people are aware of the positive accomplishments in Africa and the potential thereof, a response from the general public and consequently prominent world powers would meet problems in Africa with optimistic solutions rather than pity. The strategy of the Save Darfur Organization, as well as the authors of this book, is to encourage American citizens to take political action to end the genocide. Rather than just donating money to support the victims, Americans must use their voices to get to the root of the conflict by petitioning their representatives.

But it took me a few more years to figure out that while food and medicine were crucial, they were not the sole solutions. I began to see the political roots of the lack of response from my country and the larger Western world. – John Prendergast

The book outlines “Six Strategies for Effective Change:”

• Raise Awareness
• Raise Funds
• Write Letters
• Call for Divestment
• Join an Organization
• Lobby the Government

The authors illustrate how in the past these strategies have been effective in humanitarian crisis situations globally and in Sudan. I would recommend this book for it’s informativeness and readability. I think the message of this book can be summed up in this quote by Gerald Martone, International Rescue Committee:

In the public portrayal of humanitarian situations our profession has often reduced massive suffering to a charitable appeal. The depiction of reprehensible brutality is simplified to merely needing benevolent relief. Humanitarian emergencies are not merely health crises, they are epidemics of human rights abuses. We must communicate complex situations as moments for international action not merely remedied by Western do-gooders and the provision of supplies. Our communication should invite action, outcry, and engagement.

In Our World

There is so much happening in the world right now. I like to use this blog to inform my readers of things that might not get much coverage on CNN or Fox News. These things are significant and may be mentioned in the American news, but let’s be honest and admit that Obama and Hilary are dominating the headlines these days.
To the North of me, war could be possibly breaking out in Lebanon once again (see link under Headlines). I ask that you pray for the people of Beirut and Tripoli, the cities being affected. Lebanon has had so little time of peace in the last 20 years. In fact, the last war that broke out in Lebanon was during the summer I spent here in 2006. People poured into Amman to escape the violence and instability. The government desperately needs to negotiate with Hezbollah and bring peace to their country once and for all.
The situation in Sudan worsens by the day. A few weeks ago the government attacked a school, killing a number of children. The rebel forces, despite their name, are actually fighting for justice and equality in the region of Darfur. They are making progress as they gain momentum towards the capital, Khartoum, but of course the increase in combat brings more death and danger to the innocent villagers that are the greatest victims of the genocide.
Finally, there is Burma (Myanmar). I feel some sort of attachment to these people after working with many of them in Atlanta at World Relief. Their government has abused and discriminated against them with dictatorial rule. Peaceful protesters are jailed, and many people of minority groups find help only in refugee camps in Thailand. After the cyclone hit last week, the government proved to be even more heartless and irrational by not allowing aid workers in to help the one million displaced survivors. Over 100,000 people died from the flooding and lack of food and supplies in the days after. What disturbs me most is the lack of movement across the globe. Close to 2,000 people died from hurricane Katrina. It was broad casted all over the world. Various organizations, families, and individuals raised and donated money to the Red Cross. I just wonder how people are okay with putting a higher value on American lives than the lives of common villagers in a less significant nation like Myanmar. The loss there is so much greater, yet only a handful of people seem to really care. The Burmese people affected by this cyclone are intelligent people with lives and jobs and families. Their government won’t even help them, so we must. Please pray for the survivors of the cyclone and consider donating toward a relief fund.

More info on Helping Cyclone Survivors
Background info on Burmese Government
Map of Cyclone Damage