Darfur: Documenting a Genocide

For many of us, during our commutes to and from work, on our trips to Target, and in the midst of the daily grind, the lives of people in far-off lands rarely cross our minds. The genocide that continues unabated in places like Darfur, the DR of Congo, and Burma is unimaginable. But when we are unable to imagine the experiences of an individual in another part of the world, that person's life becomes irrelevant and forgotten. A series of events taking place this week hope to bridge the gap between what we cannot imagine and what we can. On October 11 and 12, Dr. Sam Totten, who was one of the chief investigators on the team that interviewed thousands of refugees for a report that led Colin Powell to declare the crisis in Darfur genocide, will give a talk titled "Darfur: Documenting Genocide." On October 13, "Camp Darfur," a simulated refugee camp, will be set up on the State Capitol Mall. Perhaps these events will inspire the act of imagination that is required for action against these atrocities.
Fri., Oct. 12, 8 p.m., 2007