Take action on genocide around the world

Not many people do not know that five genocides, resulting in more than 15 million deaths, have anniversaries in April: Bosnia, Rwanda, Cambodia, the Holocaust, and Armenia. Sadly, April also marks the anniversary of the ongoing genocide in Darfur, Sudan, now in its seventh year. Thus far, in Darfur, over 400,000 innocent civilians have been killed and more than three million people have been displaced. Since the Sudanese government expelled 16 humanitarian aid agencies nearly a month ago, millions of people (mostly women and children) are at immediate risk for starvation, violence, disease, and death. As part of a nationwide campaign to promote awareness about the genocide in Darfur and to provide opportunities for Orange County residents to take action, several collaborative events are scheduled throughout the month of April. For more information about these or any upcoming events, please contact(949) 235-6200 or email: info@ocfordarfur.org:

April 4 (Sat.) – 7:00 am – Noon: Rummage Sale sponsored by STAND and Woodbridge high school student, Maia Boitano. Woodbridge High School, 2 Meadowbrook, Irvine, CA 92604. All proceeds will be donated to STAND, Doctors Without Borders, and Steps of Hope Orphanage.

April 4 (Sat.) – 9:30 am – Noon: Great American Write In. Take this opportunity to write to your legislators about ending the genocide in Darfur as well as other important issues. Lakeview Senior Center, 20 Lake, Irvine, CA 92604. Free.

April 11 (Sat.) – 11:00am – 2:00pm: “Compassion and Action.” Discussion with Gabriel Stauring and Khen Rinpoche on Compassion & Action. Sponsored by Stop Genocide Now and Tashi Lhunpo Monastery (in exile). Free to the public. Donations are welcome. Community Church, Mertz Hall, 611 Heliotrope Avenue, Corona Del Mar, CA 92625. For information, contact: https://tinyurl.com/cmwb5f

April 16 (Thurs.) – 6:30 pm – 9:30pm: “Ghosts of Rwanda” Screening and

discussion. Sponsored by OC for Darfur and Amnesty International – Irvine Chapter. Light refreshments served. Irvine UnitedCongregational Church, Plumer Hall, 4915 Alton Parkway, Irvine, California 92604. Free. Donations graciously accepted.

April 18 (Sat.) – 9am – 5pm: 5th Annual Social Justice Summit – Sponsored by Cal State University Fullerton, Orange County for Darfur will be participating by offering a workshop entitled, Darfur: Genocide in the 21st Century. The event will take place in the Cal State University, Fullerton, Titan Student Union, 800 N. State College Blvd.

Fullerton, CA 92831. Free.

April 19 (Sun.) - 6:00 pm: “In Darfur” – Critically acclaimed play by Winter Miller about three lives intersecting at a refugee camp in Darfur. Sponsored by OC for Darfur and Moving Target Theatre. Tapestry UU Church, 25801 Obrero Drive, Suite 9, Mission Viejo, CA

92691. Free. Donations benefit Genocide Intervention Network’s Civilian Protection Project and Living Ubuntu’s project, Orange County for Darfur.

April 30 (Sun.) - Time TBA: “In Darfur” – Critically acclaimed play by Winter Miller about three lives intersecting at a refugee camp in Darfur. Sponsored by OC for Darfur and Moving Target Theatre. Chapman University. For details, call (949) 300-4100 or email: info@ocfordarfur.org Donations benefit Genocide Intervention Network’s Civilian Protection Project and Living Ubuntu’s project, Orange County for Darfur.

According to Jill Savitt, organizer of “Genocide Prevention Month,” more than 50 of the world’s leading humanitarian organizations have joined together to launch public awareness and education campaigns during the month of April. It is hoped that by promoting advocacy, Darfur and any future genocides can be prevented. “What we want (April) to show is that there is a support among genocide survivors (and) to try and prevent such crimes from happening by rallying support from the international community,” she said.

For more information about the genocide in Darfur, visit www.ocfordarfur.org or www.savedarfur.org.