Help by rocking with Darfur Musicians plan to donate percent of concert sales to crisis
Help by rocking with Darfur Musicians plan to donate percent of concert sales to crisis relief
By Amanda Slater / Assistant Entertainment Editor MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2006
Darfur. The region's name has become synonymous with "humanitarian crisis." About 400,000 people have been systematically killed and 2.5 million people have been forced to flee their homes in the tumultuous area. The conflict stems out of the Sudanese government's attempt to pure the nation of non-Arab Africans. In fact, a document seized from a military official contained orders to change Darfur's demography, making it void of African tribes. The document stated this goal should be obtained through killing, burning villages and farms, torture and the confiscation of African tribe members' property. Black men who leave their homes are regularly killed and castrated, while black women are regularly gang-raped. However, people who would instantly declare an event such as the Holocaust to be horrendously and grossly wrong have turned a blind eye to this modern-day genocide. Although diplomatic efforts have been taken to deal with the conflict, an inability to intervene and lack of financial support has brought most progress to a halt. The Sudanese government has even refused to allow the United Nations to aid in the peacekeeping process. Meanwhile 2.5 million people are left without homes, food or other basic necessities. Relief camps have been filled beyond their capacity, and the future looks dim. Thus, the question is what can we do about it? Enter "Rock for Darfur." "Rock for Darfur" is the product of Citizen Cope, RCA Records and MySpace. In this humanitarian campaign, a portion of ticket sales from any participating band's concerts will be contributed to Oxfam's Sudan Crisis Relief and Rehabilitation Fund. Oxfam is a non-profit organization that works on the scene of such disasters through advocacy, public education and emergency assistance programs. A number of "Rock for Darfur" shows take place this Saturday and will be held by a variety of bands across North America. Among the artists involved in this project are: Teddy Geiger, The Lost Trailers, the Insane Clown Posse, the Wood Brothers, Amos Lee, Bob Weir & Ratdog, Benevento Russo Duo, Jars of Clay, Alice in Chains, the Fray, TV on the Radio, Secret Machines, ( 44), Switchfoot, Atreyu, Slightly Stoopid, Pepper, Jamie Cullum, Citizen Cope and Ziggy Marley. These benefit concerts will be held in: Wisconsin, North Carolina, California, Kentucky, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, California, Idaho, Maryland, California, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Florida, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and Washington D.C. and Toronto. The situation in Darfur is an issue that both Democrats and Republicans can agree. Even President Bush and Colin Powell have classified it as "genocide." Celebrities like George Clooney have especially increased public awareness of the crisis. Clooney is quoted in Relevant magazine as saying ,"If we turn our heads and look away and hope that it will all disappear, then they will -- all of them, an entire generation of people. And we will have only history left to judge us." Can't make it to any of the shows? There are more ways to help. Some of the ways include: e-mailing TV news networks to ask why the Darfur crisis is being largely ignored by the United States media, writing members of Congress, donating funds and raising awareness. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/rockfordarfur, www.beawitness.org,www.genocideinterventionfund.org, www.preventgenocide.org, www.worldrelief.org and www.afjn.org.
Help by rocking with Darfur Musicians plan to donate percent of concert sales to crisis relief
By Amanda Slater / Assistant Entertainment Editor MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2006
Darfur. The region's name has become synonymous with "humanitarian crisis." About 400,000 people have been systematically killed and 2.5 million people have been forced to flee their homes in the tumultuous area. The conflict stems out of the Sudanese government's attempt to pure the nation of non-Arab Africans. In fact, a document seized from a military official contained orders to change Darfur's demography, making it void of African tribes. The document stated this goal should be obtained through killing, burning villages and farms, torture and the confiscation of African tribe members' property. Black men who leave their homes are regularly killed and castrated, while black women are regularly gang-raped. However, people who would instantly declare an event such as the Holocaust to be horrendously and grossly wrong have turned a blind eye to this modern-day genocide. Although diplomatic efforts have been taken to deal with the conflict, an inability to intervene and lack of financial support has brought most progress to a halt. The Sudanese government has even refused to allow the United Nations to aid in the peacekeeping process. Meanwhile 2.5 million people are left without homes, food or other basic necessities. Relief camps have been filled beyond their capacity, and the future looks dim. Thus, the question is what can we do about it? Enter "Rock for Darfur." "Rock for Darfur" is the product of Citizen Cope, RCA Records and MySpace. In this humanitarian campaign, a portion of ticket sales from any participating band's concerts will be contributed to Oxfam's Sudan Crisis Relief and Rehabilitation Fund. Oxfam is a non-profit organization that works on the scene of such disasters through advocacy, public education and emergency assistance programs. A number of "Rock for Darfur" shows take place this Saturday and will be held by a variety of bands across North America. Among the artists involved in this project are: Teddy Geiger, The Lost Trailers, the Insane Clown Posse, the Wood Brothers, Amos Lee, Bob Weir & Ratdog, Benevento Russo Duo, Jars of Clay, Alice in Chains, the Fray, TV on the Radio, Secret Machines, ( 44), Switchfoot, Atreyu, Slightly Stoopid, Pepper, Jamie Cullum, Citizen Cope and Ziggy Marley. These benefit concerts will be held in: Wisconsin, North Carolina, California, Kentucky, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, California, Idaho, Maryland, California, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Florida, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and Washington D.C. and Toronto. The situation in Darfur is an issue that both Democrats and Republicans can agree. Even President Bush and Colin Powell have classified it as "genocide." Celebrities like George Clooney have especially increased public awareness of the crisis. Clooney is quoted in Relevant magazine as saying ,"If we turn our heads and look away and hope that it will all disappear, then they will -- all of them, an entire generation of people. And we will have only history left to judge us." Can't make it to any of the shows? There are more ways to help. Some of the ways include: e-mailing TV news networks to ask why the Darfur crisis is being largely ignored by the United States media, writing members of Congress, donating funds and raising awareness. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/rockfordarfur, www.beawitness.org,www.genocideinterventionfund.org, www.preventgenocide.org, www.worldrelief.org and www.afjn.org.
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