The Last Year of the Genocide

In hopes of raising awareness about the reality of genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan, Sam writes every Monday about a key issue in an attempt to stop the atrocity. Doing so may not bring about a wave of change, but it is a small ripple that represents the tide that needs turning.

My hopes are high that 2007 will be the year that the genocide in Darfur came to an end.

While reality suggests this is a very long shot, I was happy to see the headline this morning that there is new energy from the US in terms of helping bring peace to Darfur.

This envoy is led by Bill Richardson. Mr. Richardson does have presidential ambitions, and it is only natural to questions anyone's actions when they have motives like this waiting in the wings. However, brokering peace in Darfur, while admirable, is not something most Americans are begging for, like lower gas prices or interest rates. Therefore, I wish the governor all the best. He has the experience and the ideas to perhaps make this think work.

So, as we're all making resolutions and hoping for the best year ever, let's hope that this is the year Darfur takes a giant step towards healing.