Ben_drexler_staff's blog

At Genocide Intervention Network, we often look for trigger events that may spark mass violence against civilians. These take the form of sharp economic downturns, presidential successions and national elections. We are now focused on the upcoming elections in Sudan, and the new year has brought news of an additional poll that will take place in Burma.

Here at GI-NET, we often look for trigger events that may spark mass violence against civilians. These take the form of sharp economic downturns, presidential successions and national elections.

Human Rights Watch has just released a report, compiling information on attacks on civilians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Eastern Kivu provinces between January and September of this year. Not surprising to anyone who has followed Congo's sad history for the past fifteen years, the picture it paints is not a rosy one.

In response to President Obama's acceptance speech for his Nobel Peace Prize, STAND and Genocide Intervention Network are urging action on Sudan and Burma. Here is what our friends in STAND had to say:

Early this morning, President Obama accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway. In his acceptance speech, the President touched on a range of topics including the change in the dynamics of war which have changed large scale conflict from wars between two countries to wars within countries as well as laying out a three-point vision for waging peace.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has called for a presidential election for mid-January.   A calculated move to hold a presidential election before the parliamentary elections set for next April, this election could lock in a second term for Rajapaksa before his post war popularity wanes.  While Rajapaksa appears to be a strong incumbent, his re-election campaign could be complicated by the presence of General Sarath Fon

The United Nations finally announced a replacement for departed UNAMID Joint Special Envoy (JSR) Roldophe Adada. As of January 1, 2010, Mr. Ibrahim Gambari will assume the role of JSR for the UNAMID Peacekeeping mission.

Guest post by Laura McCarthy, Carl Wilkens Fellow

Dallas, Texas

On Tuesday, Genocide Intervention Network and STAND launched the National Canvass to Prevent Genocide. Groups from across the country have taken to their campuses, community centers, and places of worship to collect pledges to end genocide from their communities.

This Saturday, December 5th, I am hosting a canvass in the vibrant East Village of New York City. I am currently working with the Darfur Rehabilitation Project, a group founded by Darfurians living in the U.S. to help unify their voices. STAND of Brooklyn Technical will also be participating in the canvass and we could really use your help too.

Today, December 1st, is the first day of Genocide Intervention Network’s week-long National Canvass to Prevent Genocide. This week, people across the country will be talking to their neighbors, organizing community events, and doing everything they can to raise the public awareness and support needed to build the movement to prevent genocide.

Pledges can be signed online at http://www.ipledge2protect.org - it’s as simple as adding your name.