About Us
In 1993, at the opening of the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC, there were many who said “Never again.” One year later a panga blade split the first Rwandan head, then 800,000 more. Are genocides and crimes against humanity scourges that will pass only after they have run their course and hundreds of thousands have died? Can no one stop the killing?
The United Nations and its member nations have failed and disappointed in profound ways. Those who are targeted by killers are often villagers who have the misfortune to come from a different ethnic or religious group. These ordinary individuals placed their hopes in the UN, trusting that the UN could protect them and their families, and many met death still thinking the UN might save them.
We have seen civilian populations in conflict areas. We have seen those who have lost hope. We have shared their fear and felt helpless with them. Today, we no longer feel helpless.
Board of Directors
Tanya Domi (US)
Director of Communications - Our Humanity In The Balance
Public Affairs Specialist and Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs
Columbia University
Tanya Domi has joined the board of Our Humanity in the Balance recognizing the failure of the International Community to effectively stop the ongoing genocide and violence toward the Darfuri people at the hands of a despotic and unchecked government. While the world and the institutions established to prevent genocide have stood by, hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians have been butchered, displaced, raped and executed. Indeed, many non-governmental organizations have done their best to advocate for those who are suffering in Darfur. But even those valiant efforts have fallen short of protecting the innocent.
Ms. Domi is not naive about war or suffering, having served in the U.S. Army and as a legislative aide in Congress, as well as worked in a dozen countries, including post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina implementing the Dayton Peace Accords. She says, "The world witnessed slaughter in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Rwanda, as well as the ongoing senseless murders in the Democratic Republic of the Congo—and yet very little, if nothing was or is done to stop the killing and ease suffering causing irreparable mental and physical anguish to millions of survivors. “Never Again” has become a well-worn but empty phrase, uttered repeatedly by those with power, although they lack the requisite political will to exercise such power that will end suffering".
So it is with a commitment to protecting those who have no protectors in Darfur, Tanya joined Our Humanity in the Balance.
Damien Lewis (UK)
Filmmaker, Journalist and Author
Damien Lewis is an award winning and internationally bestselling British author. He has co-authored several books with women and men from the developing world, including the acclaimed memoir and international bestseller Slave, written with Mende Nazer, published in some thirty-six languages worldwide, and winner of the 2004 Index on Censorship Book Award.
In the summer of 2008 he published Tears of the Desert, a harrowing and intensely moving memoir co-authored with Halima Bashir, a woman refugee from Darfur. It won the Elle Lettres Grande Prix 2008, and won for Halima the prestigious Victor Gollancz Human Rights Award, the International Peace Award, and the Anna Politkovskaya Award. His other memoirs in this genre include Freedom (the sequel to Slave), Undaunted (with Burmese refugee and activist Zoya Phan), and Homeland, co-authored with George Obama, youngest brother of the US President who lives in the Nairobi slums. His forthcoming co-authored memoir, Forbidden Lessons In The Kabul Guesthouse, tells the incredible true story of Afghan-American aid worker and activist Suraya Sadeed, and is published in the US and world wide in the spring of 2011. He has also “ghosted” a number of similar memoirs.
Prior to becoming an author he spent twenty years reporting from war, disaster and developing world regions for the BBC and other major broadcasters. He is published by numerous publishers worldwide — including in the English language Little Brown, Hodder, Random House, Penguin, Simon & Schuster, Public Affairs and Harper Collins. His book Slave has being made into feature film by Slate / Potboiler Films, and Tears Of The Desert has been optioned as a movie. Slave has also been produced as a stage play by Feelgood Theatre.
Dr. Hussein Solomon (South African)
Educator
Born in apartheid South Africa, having watch my father being jailed for his anti-apartheid activities and my older brother forced into exile, has left a deep imprint on my consciousness as to the value of human freedom.
At the same time, I, and all South Africans, benefitted from the global anti-apartheid movement, whose international campaigns resulted in the dissolution of an odious regime and the advent of democracy in South Africa.
I hope that through my participation in this exciting new initiative that I too can contribute to the freedom of others in the same way that I was a beneficiary of global solidarity.
Dawood H. Sultan Ph.D. (Sudanese National, US Citizen)
Educator
Dawood H. Sultan joins Our Humanity In the Balance (OHIB) out of a lifelong belief in the power of individual action. He was born and raised in central Sudan, has been witness to much state-sponsored and mediated violence, and has been deeply influenced by events which have afflicted and adversely changed the country of his early adulthood. He brings to OHIB knowledge about conflict in Sudan and other parts of Africa and a functional network capacity of instrumental use.
David (as he is known to his friends and family) now lives in Florida where he spends a considerable amount of time on research, humanitarian work in Africa, and educating graduate students in Public Health with a special focus on Strategic Planning, Organizational Behavior, and Health Outcomes Disparities. As an educator, his work also stretches out to individual and community health and development issues throughout the world, but mainly in East and Central Africa.
Meryl M. Zendarski (US)
Advocate, Activist and Attorney
Watching as tragedies unfold across the world, where the poor, women, and children bear the burden of conflicts borne of greed, unchecked corruption, the desire for consolidated power by elites, corporate negligence, duplicity or malfeasance, profiteering, and unchecked aggression has always felt like an affront to my most basic assumptions about human nature and justice. I have tried to build the skills and experience to help end conflict and fight for justice and human rights. Any contribution I can make to ending the genocide in Darfur, and securing peace and justice for the Darfuri people would be my honor and privilege.
I believe dedicated, creative, mission oriented people can come together and effect change. I joined with Our Humanity in the Balance because of the opportunity to effect positive change through direct action, for myself, and for other concerned global citizens. I am an attorney who has experience working on conflict resolution and constitutional reform in Liberia, Burma, Sudan, The Democratic Republic of Congo, and Niger. In addition I have worked for social, political, and economic justice and empowerment for underserved communities in Madagascar, Washington, D.C., and Appalachia.
Dr. Samuel Totten (US)
Human Rights Activist and Scholar
Samuel Totten is a long-time human rights activist and a genocide studies scholar at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. He is also the co-founder of the Post Genocide Education Foundation (PGEF), which provides scholarships to survivors of genocide across the globe to enable them to earn a university education. During the summer of 2004, Totten served as one of the 24 investigators with the U.S. State Department’s Atrocities Documentation Project (ADP), whose express purpose was to collect data in order to ascertain whether genocide had been perpetrated in Darfur by the Government of Sudan (GoS). The data collected by the ADP was ultimately used by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell to declare, on September 9, 2004, that Sudan had perpetrated genocide in Darfur and possibly was still doing so. Subsequently, Totten and Eric Markusen, a genocide scholar and ADP investigator, produced a book about the ADP: Genocide in Darfur: Investigating Atrocity in the Sudan (New York: Routledge, 2006).
Totten said that he sees Our Humanity in the Balance as "a significant counterweight to the international community’s propensity for engaging in talk, talk and more talk about mass atrocities while doing little to nothing to truly provide any sort of protection for the victims. Indeed, instead of simply talking or thinking about trying to save people in peril from genocidaires, volunteers with Our Humanity in the Balance have made the critical decision to literally put their lives on the line — through direct action — in an effort to actually try to save people who face the imminent threat of crimes against humanity and/or genocide. That resonates with me deeply for I truly believe that it is going to take courageous and selfless acts (and actions) to awaken the international community to the critical need to move beyond allowing realpolitik to serve as the linchpin in its decision to act or not act to prevent (or halt) genocide and to protect those facing imminent extermination. And thus, as a result of my dismay at how realpolitik drives decisions both at the UN Security Council and within national governments, I have chosen to join Our Humanity in the Balance in the hope that we will make a real difference in the lives of those individuals and groups facing potential genocide."
Since 2004 Totten has returned to the refugee camps in eastern Chad and the Nuba Mountains five times to conduct research into both past and present atrocities committed by the GoS. In January 2011, while in the Nuba Mountains, Totten notified The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Committee of Conscience about the rumors of war in the Nuba Mountains. In June, July and August, he served as a conduit to individual journalists in the U.S. and Africa, human rights, and anti-genocide scholars about the GoS' ground and aerial attacks against the people of the Nuba Mountains, providing nearly around the clock updates. His most recent books about the violence in Sudan are: An Oral and Documentary History of the Darfur Genocide (Santa Barbara CA: Praeger Security International, 2010), and Genocide by Attrition in the Sudan: The Plight and Fate of the Nuba Mountains People (New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers, forthcoming).
Advisers
Halima Bashir (Darfur)
Advocate, Activist and Author
My motivation for this is to make sure that future generations of women, young and old people of my country live to witness peace in the place they once called their Homeland without any shame. The suffering must end, and the support of the world must never cease for there are so many decimated lives in Sudan.
I join open heartedly to prevent the escalation of the suffering in my Homeland. I am asking this Our Humanity in the Balance team and others with the power to restore peace in my country to help me salvage what is left of our dignity and restore human rights for all.
Mohamed Yahya (Darfur)
Advocate and Activist
Mohamed Yahya is a refugee from the Darfur region of Sudan, the founder and Executive Director of Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy and a 2010 Dan David Pulitzer Prize Nominee. Both as a child and adult, he experienced the brutal racism that permeates Sudanese society. In 1993, his village witnessed the first attacks of the Sudanese government's Arab militia raiders, known as Janjaweed. Yahya's home was completely decimated and most of his relatives and neighbors were shot, raped, or burned alive in their huts.
Yahya was among the first to realize that Sudan's ruling regime was engaged in a campaign to rid western Sudan of its black African ethnic population. He and others sought to alert the international community to the humanitarian crisis that had begun to unfold. He was a co-author of "The Hidden Slaughter and Ethnic Cleansing in Western Sudan,” which was widely referenced by the United Nations General Assembly and Secretary-General Kofi Annan, along with organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. In this way, Yahya and other early activists were the first people to awaken the world to the unfolding genocide in Darfur.
Between 1999 and 2003, working with UNHCR, Yahya helped to find sponsorship for more 20,000 refugees from various parts of Sudan. He and others ensured that nearly 95% of the people fleeing Sudan received political asylum and resettlement in Europe, Canada, Australia and the United States. In 2002, fearing reprisal from the Sudanese government for his humanitarian and advocacy work, Yahya sought political asylum in the United States. After his relocation, Yahya founded Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy.
About Our Humanity in the Balance, Yahya says, "I'm so encouraged by such strong and committed voices among the team. Now I feel we Darfuris are not alone. We have wonderful and honest friends supporting our Darfur cause and ready to do their part to save the lives of those innocent human beings. We feel the same about the issues and share frustrations regarding the lack of will from today's world leaders. The inaction of the international community is very upsetting. It is time now to do the right thing for the people of Darfur and those suffering around the world. I strongly believe we can do it since great people like these volunteers are still working very hard. This is a most dedicated group."
Gord Breedyk (Canada)
Consultant, Activist and Musician
I recall feeling disappointed, left out, when during orientation for a two year stint as a CUSO volunteer in Ghana 40 years ago, everyone in my group was told to go for certain training … except me. Later it was explained to me that this was because if there was one thing I didn’t need, it was sensitivity training. I believe that is in part why I am now very involved in the types of activities I am, peace work.
As is abundantly clear, what has been done in the past to deal with violent conflict simply isn’t working. We need to change how we think, how we feel and how we act. Albert Einstein had it right when he said "Past thinking and methods did not prevent world wars. Future thinking must make wars impossible" and "You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war." So, that’s why I’m here. My main volunteer activity is to professionalize peace work through an NGO called Civilian Peace Service Canada; I believe OHIB has the potential to change how we think about violent conflict and how we prevent and stop it.
I am currently retired from practice as a consultant in Canada and internationally - in Kosovo, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Philippines and Ukraine. I feel it is important to not only accept diversity but to embrace it. I am also part of a small, "fun band" called the Grateful We’re Not Dead which plays for virtually any charity or fundraising event. That too is my passion and my meditation.
Paul Maillet (Canada)
Consultant/Activist
Paul is a retired military officer who served in the Canadian military for 33 years in a period when Canada was dedicated to peacekeeping operations around the world. He was a former Colonel in the Canadian Air Force retiring in 2001. Paul spent four years as Director of Defence Ethics in the Canadian Department of National Defence.
Paul is now a specialist in the field of organizational ethics with extensive practical experience in strengthening governance in the area of the development and implementation of ethics programs and controlling corruption measures. This has involved work for numerous Canadian federal government departments and Aboriginal communities and international projects in developing countries.
Paul ran as a candidate for a federal party in the 2008 Canadian federal election; bringing voice and experience relating to accountability and ethics, international affairs, human rights and defence issues into public and party debate and policy development. He is active in many peace oriented groups and associations, has made numerous presentations at related conferences and enjoys writing on the subject of ethics and peace.
Executive Director
Terry Nickelson (US)
Filmmaker
I became sensitized to genocide 17 years ago while filming a documentary for UNHCR about the effects of genocide in Rwanda and on the refugees in the surrounding countries of Zaire, Burundi and Tanzania. It has rarely been far from my thoughts since. I have also spent extended periods in Burundi, Sri Lanka, DR Congo, Afghanistan and Iraq, so seeing the impact of unrestrained violence on civilian populations has reinforced my belief that it must be stopped.
With the spread of modern weapons and the breakdown of governments, genocide and atrocity crimes have increased. Civilian populations in Darfur, Abyei, South Kordofan, eastern Congo, Zimbabwe and Burma are being targeted with little effective response from the global community. New outbreaks of atrocity crimes are no longer surprising, nor are half hearted responses from the institutions whose charters were created to prevent such atrocities. Activist fatigue is common in the absence of successes. The world wants and needs a success.
Our Humanity in the Balance does not presume to have all the answers. Rather, we think new approaches should be considered. The refugee camps in Darfur, eastern Chad and elsewhere are brimming with children who have never seen their home villages and consider the blue plastic tents home; many will die too soon to know differently. For most refugees, life in the camps is a descent into Hell. Refugees are often malnourished and traumatized when they arrive, and may be separated from their families; they have few possessions, no work, no independence, and little hope. Children are especially vulnerable to disease and malnutrition. The life of a refugee is perilous, stressful, and difficult, and no one would voluntarily choose to be a refugee. Empathy and compassion alone will not save them.
Leadership Core
Pasha (US)
International Security Consultant, Spiritual Guide and Author
What does it mean to be human? Are we really only a vast collection of diverse cultures and tribes struggling for Darwinian domination in a battle for survival of the fittest? What about spirituality? What about compassion? What about loving your neighbor as yourself and forgiving your enemies? Are these real concepts, or are they pointless delusions that conflict with our humanity?
We do have the power to create our own reality. Regardless of well-meaning intentions and the lip service of a minority, humanity overall has a pretty poor track record in terms of compassion and respect for human dignity. Many agree that our humanity is in the balance now, that our species may be reaching a tipping point that will compel us to evolve or vanish. From time to time great teachers have appeared to lead us toward enlightenment.
Always, the message has been the same; the path to ending suffering is accomplished by extending compassion to all others. When we reach out to those in need with love and compassion, we open a door to our own spirituality and discover the connection we ALL have with ALL beings. Acts of genocide close that door because they represent the absolute antithesis of altruism and contain the seeds of our own destruction. Stepping forward and shouting, "enough!" is a vital first step in a journey towards re-defining our humanity. A movement such as Our Humanity in the Balance can be an excellent vehicle for accomplishing this. I encourage all self-realized beings to join in this journey of self-discovery.
Following a career as a peace officer Pasha, or Mike, spent seven years running security operations for the US State Department in Africa, often in the midst of civil war and political unrest. He now resides in the Pacific Northwest of the United States where he practices security analysis and studies Buddhist philosophy.
Susan/Solange (US)
Mediator and Retired Diplomat
Susan specialized in countries in conflict and has extensive experience with the UN and UN Peacekeeping operations, including the UN’s African operations from 1993-94. She worked closely with military governments in Africa, and now works as a mediator in western North Carolina, helping people who have often been raised to fight – not talk – if there is conflict. Like Board member Domi, she isn’t naïve; although she understands the inability and unwillingness of world governments to tackle genocide, she is increasingly disheartened by the lack of action.
Working in Congo when the regional war broke out in 2000 was devastating; returning in 2008 to try to forge a peace in eastern Congo left her feeling that Africa was slipping away and no one would help. She does not underestimate the role of shame in provoking action, and believes in the power of transformation. A self described "Devil’s Advocate," she provides political analysis and advice on Africa, IDPs and refugees. She pushes the group to define a course of action which is both feasible and poses the least risk to civilians and refugees.
Paul (UK)
Music Producer and Filmmaker
I am a Health, Safety, Security and Environmental advisor who has worked in the oil exploration business for 32 years. I have played guitar since the age of eight and am involved in the production of music. I am also a documentary camera operator. My most recent work was with Flamenco Musicians in the town of Jerez de la Frontera, Andalucia Spain.
When I was eighteen my mum was the victim of vicious hit and run incident which broke every bone on her left side. She suffered from her injuries for the rest of her life, enduring many follow up operations and procedures. But she was full of life and mostly suffered in silence. She passed away in 2001. Last year I met a young lady Doctor called Halima Bashir. Halima too had a very traumatic experience, but went on to survive. Halima made me laugh when my friend Neneh asked her how old she was. I instinctively put my fingers in my ears as, you know, ladies often don’t like us to know. Halima made the sign of 30 with her fingers in the air. I said I didn’t need to know. Halima smiled and asked, "How do you know I am telling the truth?" My mother, when asked her age, would say "Plenty Seven". I returned home from that meeting and began to read her book Tears of the Desert co-written by Halima and Damien Lewis.
I got to know Halima’s mother and drew many similarities between her mother and mine. Before my mother’s accident, but more noticeably after, I was her protector. I wish to make my Mother proud by standing up for women’s rights and especially the mothers and families of Darfur and greater Sudan. It makes me humble to be part of Our Humanity in the Balance.
Meet Some of our Volunteers
Corey (US)
Hedge Fund Analyst
My motivation comes from many places but one source that jumps to mind is the fairly recent realization that I (and I imagine most people) continually block out unpleasantness in life (whether it's homeless people in my community or genocide in Darfur). I feel like the problems are too large for me to tackle, or I'm just too caught up in my own life "trying to get ahead", "be successful", etc. I was disturbed to find this has become a reflex rather than a conscious thought, almost a self preservation mechanism.
Given the vision for this project I was reminded that while I cannot solve all the world's problems, I can contribute to solving some of them. It is much easier to remain numb and do nothing, but it is inhumane.
Houde (Tunisia)
Activist
Houde is frustrated with the lack of action in addressing the world's bigger issues. She speaks English, French and Arabic, which she intends to use when she interfaces with the Janjaweed, rebels and militias. She joined enthusiastically and looks forward to working with everyone and helping in every way she can, saying "I am here, and you can count on me. I fear nothing for the danger; I am a strong woman." and “God gave me all I have so I can help.”
Izzeldin (Sudan)
Civil and Social Activist
"When I found Our Humanity in the Balance I realized that the name has many effective goals and ideas for human dignity, therefore I got the desire to participate and be involved. Especially, I am Darfuri but living in Khartoum but that does not make me feel worry and fear. For my people, I do hope I can create awareness about the conflict and atrocity acts happening in Darfur and stop it. I am deeply concerned about what is happening there and I believe that with Our Humanity In the Balance`s message, we can and we will. I will be so glad to join this organization."
James (US)
Risk Analyst
James has worked in the U.S. defense community for the last decade. In that time he has seen some of the best (and worst) of what this world has to offer. He laments that the United States has not done more to interdict in this clear case of genocide. In assistance, he lends advice on matters of security and information collection to those members of the group who are able to participate directly on the continent.
Laura (Australia)
Activist
I was sitting in the back seat of the taxi excited for the adventure to begin. Despite only meeting my soon-to-be housemate online, she had not only arranged a taxi for me, but she had also organised for her friend, a beautiful smiling young girl, Alizee, to come greet me at the airport when I landed. Alizee had a bubbly personality and as we drove along she happily told me about her homeland, Rwanda. Suddenly it went silent and the mood in the car quickly changed as Alizee proceeded to tell me "her story".
While she had escaped Rwanda alive in 1994, her father had not. Following a long silence she spoke up, "sometimes it is difficult – when I have nothing to do – I think of the day I laid under a pile of dead bodies and watched my father being slaughtered by my neighbour – I say I forgive the man, but do I?" Alizee was seven in 1994 – 15 years on, these are her daily memories. This was just one of the many stories that changed my life.
Many cringe at hearing these stories – wanting to turn a blind eye – but these are the memories that replay in the minds of victims of mass atrocities every day of their life – not just in Rwanda but in Kosovo, Darfur, DRC and so on. During this trip the crimes of mass atrocities became real to me and I began to question, what my role in all of it was?
I have since made it my responsibility, not only to ensure these stories are heard, but that no other child will face growing up with such memories again. My dream is to not only use words creatively to make these issues relevant to those with the power to do something about it, but be active on the ground and in a sense put my money where my mouth is.
Liz (South Africa)
Humanitarian Intern, EcoTechnologist
My passion for sustainable development and the global inter-connectivity of human activities has fed my growing awareness and concern for the rights of others, in the face of poor governance.
The gross human right injustices in the world have been allowed to happen by an international community where trade agreements and apathy outweigh the value of human lives, in spite of empty promises of ‘never again’. Too long has this atrocity been indulged in Darfur. We cannot stand by and do nothing.
Maggie (Scotland)
Life Long Student of Human Nature
I’m a Scot who recently made New Zealand my home. I am an educationalist and believe the gift of retirement can be the most productive and useful time of our lives. When friends ask me why I am part of this I answer, "When free to do so and fit enough, I'll only be doing what ALL grandparents should consider doing for the sake of ALL our grandchildren." We share the earth and need to spring clean our common home to ensure future generations will have the freedom and peace to fulfill their true potential. Mere mortals who stand together in defiance of violence can actually start a tidal wave of human conscience.
We are morally bound to protect and nurture the miracle of life on Earth. Every faith encourages us to "do as we would be done by." We do not have the right to squander the efforts of those gone before us, and we are responsible for the advancement of new generations. Being involved how best you can is what matters.
This is from a poem by my mother,"...What did I bring on that first danger fraught journey, Shared labour of love from the need to be born? The essence of what is me."
Mahsa (US)
I have had the opportunity to live in many different parts of the world, and this exposure to different cultures and races made me who I am today. For many years I wasted time trying to figure out why we, as humans, have such an easy time hurting one another. Unfortunately I am still searching for an answer, so one day I told myself to not waste time trying to figure out this world, and spend time trying to help it. I have always enjoyed helping in any way I can. I started volunteering at an early age, back in grade eight. I spent three lunch breaks a week with disabled students, working on school work and just getting to know them. I continued this all the way to grade eleven. I also volunteered at homeless shelters as well as food banks.
But in my heart I always knew I wanted to work in Africa. One of the places I was specially interested in was Congo, where there are many street children, some due to the most unthinkable reasons. My family and I have donated to a lot of different organizations, but I feel I need to do more. And the more I learn about genocide and the displaced victims in Darfur, the more I know I need to get involved. Darfuris have been suffering since 2003, and I still can't believe that after seven years this problem still exists. I know there are many people out there who are trying to make a difference, and that is one thing we cannot stop doing.
Martie (US)
Non-profit Professional
As a young girl, I read "The Diary of Anne Frank," and thus began a life-long quest to understand the nature and reasons for genocide and human rights abuses. As much as I have studied, I will never understand, nor will I accept, that we can continue to allow the evil of genocide to go unanswered, or unchallenged. I must be an 'upstander' in the words of Samantha Power and her book, "A Problem from Hell."
The horrors still faced by the people of Darfur is a result of lack of effective, active response by international bodies. So, it comes down to me and other individuals, gathering together, to face the problem in a direct way, and share with the world what it truly means to say, "Never again!"
As a global citizen, I believe that we will be judged by the way we care for the most vulnerable among us, and truly, our own individual humanity is in the balance.
"Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable." — Sidney J. Harris (journalist)
Michael (US)
IT Geek
Michael’s passion in life is living by the notion that we should leave the world a better place than when we entered it. His definition of "better place" is defined with the word happier. He thinks he can achieve this goal, in part, by providing his 10 years of IT experience to the mission at hand in order to help prevent further violent suffering therefore giving true happiness a chance to exist.
Michael (US)
Public Health Student
Part of my motivation comes from an obvious realization that were it not for the efforts and dedication of those who came before me, my available choices in life would have been far fewer. Were it not for those selfless individuals who mentored and continue to mentor me, my vision would have been far narrower.
I am a Gulf Coast resident (USA), where it has been rather sobering in knowing that at any given time, humanitarian crises can claim the livelihoods - or lives, of those who mean so much to so many others. The fact that I can choose to be part of potential solutions, both at home and abroad, is equally instructive.
My campaign is one of recognizing and celebrating the humanity in us all, and in doing so, demonstratively engineer my involvement in the necessary events that allow for the preservation and protection of this humanity.
Michael (US)
Humanitarian Specialist
Michael has been inspired by communities' ability to survive and rise up out of the chaos and tragedy of war, natural disasters, economic inequality, and public health crises. The most effective method of creating positive change in these is to identify and build on the strengths of a community in order to create sustainable development with minimal reliance on foreign intervention. This integrates the driving principles of global humanitarian action with local agencies, authorities, or nonstate parties to create projects that require minimal overhead, maximize community empowerment, and rest on a foundation of indigenous values.
Michael is a social scientist and medical technician with a decade of experience in emergency response and humanitarian development. He has worked as a medic and logistician in Haiti, Somalia, Afghanistan, Sudan, Colombia, the Solomon Islands, Kosovo, Nepal, Israel/Palestine, and the United States. His specialties include combat/disaster medicine, health education, public engagement, alternative energy development, and experienced optimism.
Nancy (US)
Chaplain
Nancy is a former Marine, a Vietnam Era veteran, and now a civilian chaplain. She also volunteers at her local VA Hospital and enjoys helping her fellow vets. She says, "I believe in your cause. I will do whatever I can to help. I will move Heaven and Hell, if I have to, to keep you alive."
Neneh (The Gambia)
Women's Rights Activist
I feel that this will be a good opportunity for me to share with you and the team everything that I had to deal with when I have one to one meetings with women from Sudan who are in the UK as refugees. There are so many things that happened to them that they cannot begin to fathom for they are things that should not happen to any human beings. It is unimaginable, they tell me.
I feel that what our team is embarking on represents the beginning of the end of this saga in Sudan that Darfuri women are victims of.
Susan (US)
Educator
I have taught about genocide in Cambodia and Rwanda, and tyranny in Indonesia, Burma and other countries, sadly too numerous to list. My experiences in Franco's Spain as a child, post-Mobutu Congo, and today's Dominican Republic have only reinforced the desire to actually do something to effect change beyond the classroom sphere of influence. I am honored to contribute to this action in Sudan.
Venus (Sudan)
Computer Network Specialist and Humanitarian Worker
I have started questioning life in a quite early age, finding my parents fired from their jobs because their political views, my friend dropping out of school because they didn’t have enough money, young children force to participate in a war under God’s name, a war that I had to see its horrible consequences every day in the television most of my childhood. Poverty, illiteracy, diseases, wars and much more is eating away people lives in Sudan alongside the suppression dictatorship that deprives people from their simple right: to live in dignity. Surrounded by all that I decided not to be a spectator, what was and still happening in Sudan gave me the determination to become a part of the hard process of transforming my community to a better place to change a cruel reality to a reality where all Sudanese enjoy their full rights.
I started working in a small self-funded organization with motivated young people. What brought us together was that we all - in one way or another - lived through the same difficult situations and each one of us had experienced difficult times in his or her life and we wanted to try and prevent our next generations from having the same difficulties or at least tackle some of our community problems. We believed that it was our responsibility to draw the attention to our problems as well as contributing to the solution. We worked in AIDS/HIV awareness campaign in Khartoum’s suburbs’ schools, with IDPs in refugee camps and with the local communities. I was inspired by those youth’s determination and eager to help other although we didn’t have wealth or power we just had our youth and willingness to give our humble share of relief for our people.
After the smiles I saw in children’s faces, meals and laughs I shared with simple impoverished people and the pain that I felt when I couldn’t help my passion and determination become inexhaustible and with wonderful people like you I am sure that we can bring justice and humanity back to our world.
William (US)
Engineering Student
I am a former Marine who learned you must be practical and start creating alternatives and put real solutions in place. You can’t solve every problem, but you can pick a few and address them.
When problems like genocide arise, they will only be resolved by firm action. We can’t sit by and complain that nothing is being done; we must do something to change the situation. The Darfur region is home to one of the worst conflicts on the planet. Governments say that genocide must be stopped, yet in Darfur they have done next to nothing. If governments will not act, then the responsibility to stop atrocities falls on us, the world’s citizens. Not because it is our job, but because it is our duty as human beings. I joined Our Humanity in the Balance because the group is proactive and is determined to implement a plan. Our group has chosen Darfur as the problem we are going to solve. We are coming.
