Just since 2003 at least 400,000 civilians have been killed in Darfur and most people don’t even know about it! There is a systematic destruction taking place, civilians' villages are being torched and their possessions stolen. Thousands are dying each day from inadequate food and water, and harsh living conditions in the shelters. Those who do survive are too scared to return to their homes. The world has not seen such a calculated campaign of mass slaughter since the Rwandan genocide in 1994. One of the biggest problems is that most US citizens are not even aware that this genocide is taking place! Before anything can be done to help those in Darfur we have to first make sure that this genocide is known about. Help Umass students raise money and awareness for this cause!

Learn More About the Situation in Darfur

Since February of 2003 the Sudanese government along with its Janjaweed militia groups have been accused of the rape and murder of African farmers located in western Sudan. Because of this, more than 2 million people have fled their homes. Many of these innocent civilians have escaped to refugee camps located in neighboring Chad. The women residing in these camps can not go out and collect fire wood for cooking for fear of being raped by Janjaweed militia. This is where we come in......

Check out the Darfur Panel 2006.11.15, with UMass Resource Economics Professor Julie Caswell and local Sudanese activists Magda Ahmed and Mohamed Elgadi: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9051220649891306000&hl=en

What You Can Do with the Help of The Western Mass. Darfur Coalition

DARFUR DINNER AND DANCE: Thursday, May 10, 2007 from 7pm-11pm @ the Mercy House(which is across the street from the Hillel busstop) there will be a dinner and a dance! Admission: $3 to help raise money for Darfur

DARFUR BENEFIT CONCERT: (Saturday May 5th from 8-10pm In Bartlett Hall Auditorium) All proceeds obtained from donations and Dynamic CD sales will go to benefit Darfur: MassPIRG has teamed up with Umass' acapella group, the Dynamics, for a night of music with all proceeds going towards solar cookers for the refugee families of Chad. There will also be a comedic performance by Adam Szajgin to start the night off right. If you would like to see what the Dynamics sound like check our their website or MySpace at http://www.dynamicsacappella.com or http://www.myspace.com/umassdynamics Thanks and I hope to see you all there!

ATTEND A DIE IN: April 29, we're going to a Die-In on the Boston Common to encourage Massachusetts divestment from Sudan.

Darfur Teach-Ins: We went to a rally in New York on March 10 called Chain to China, we've collected signatures from students to encourage state divestment from Sudan. We worked closely with students at UMass Lowell and the Sudan Divestment Task Force to convince the UMass Board of Trustees to divest from Sudan. We held a film showing of Darfur Diaries in mid-April. We've gone to events and meetings in the 5-College and Pioneer Valley area.

JOIN OUR WESTERN MASS. DARFUR COALITION: Email Fanny Rothschild at wmassdarfurcoalition@comcast.net and also check our blog at www.darfurwm.blogspot.com to learn about our latest actions; we meet once a month (site rotates among local towns). If you can't make the meetings, subscribe to our group's email updates at wmassdarfurcoalition@comcast.net.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO START A STAND GROUP (STUDENTS TAKE ACTION AGAINST DARFUR) AT YOUR UNIVERSITY... Contact Rachel Meketon at rmeketon09@amherst.edu to help get a group started and to network with other schools (to apply: www.standnow.org) For Umass students contact Stephanie Aines at saines@student.umass.edu.

SPONSOR A CHILD AT A REFUGEE CAMP: Sponsor a child with such organizations as Darfur Peace and Development Organization who sponsor the Darfur Schools Project. For information on this project check out their website or contact Karri DeSelm, Darfur Schools Project Coordinator at kkdeselm@yahoo.com.

HELP OUT LOCAL SUDANESE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE NEW TO THIS COUNTRY: Want to tutor new refugee families from Sudan who now live in Springfield, help out with errands, donate items? Email: wmassdarfurcoalition@comcast.net or call Fanny Rothschild at 413-687-8036.

Help put a stop to the genocide in Darfur. Come to our meetings on Tuesdays at 7:45 in the Blue Wall.

contact: saines@student.umass.edu

To Learn More Check Out: www.savedarfur.org