Faith leaders push for international action on Darfur
-16/09/06
The Archbishop of Cant
Faith leaders push for international action on Darfur
-16/09/06
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the head of the Methodist Church and other faith leaders (including Muslims, Christians and Jews) have been joined by movie stars, rock musicians and business figures in calling on Britain to take decisive action over the Darfur crisis.
Dr Rowan Williams, singers Annie Lennox and Elton John, Body Shop founder Anita Roddick, and shoe designer Patrick Cox are among those signing an open letter to UK Prime Minister Tony Blair ñ which will be reinforced by a vigil at Downing Street tomorrow (Sunday 17 September 2006).
Actors Emma Thompson and Helen Baxendale, TV presenter Floella Benjamin, comedian and political activist Mark Thomas and Band Aid supreme Bob Geldof also added their names to the appeal.
The call came as Mr Blair accused the Sudanese government of making the “completely unacceptable” situation in Darfur worse.
The Methodist Church is among those seeking immediate international action to prevent further killings in the region. Representative Anthea Cox will be joining other religious figures at the PMís residence today, where they will for peace in Darfur.
The initiative is part of a global Day of Action. The Day will see activists on the streets in New York, Abuja, London, Nairobi, Paris, Berlin, Kigali and a string of other major cities.
Steve Hucklesby, Methodist Secretary for International Affairs, declared: ìViolence in Darfur has created one of the worst humanitarian disasters today, with over 200,000 people killed and millions displaced.î
He continued: ìWe should not let the challenges of military intervention in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East cause us to fall shy of intervention in Sudan. Darfur is a different situation and an effective peacekeeping force could transform the situation.î
Explained Hucklesby: ìA resolution to the conflict will take time, but meanwhile the government of Sudan is clearly unable or unwilling to protect civilians. We ask the British Government to continue to press for an effective United Nations peace-keeping force with a robust mandate to supplement the African Union troops already in Darfur.î
Anthea Cox said of the prayers outside Downing Street: ìLeaders of all faiths will be there to pray for peace. Although the worldís attention is focussed on the Middle East, we cannot allow this unfolding tragedy to be forgotten, and we must do all we can to push for a lasting peace.î
[Also on Ekklesia: Campaigners gear up for Global Day for Darfur 14/09/06; Churches call for decisive Darfur peacekeeping action 23/08/06; Aid agencies seek an end to tragic Darfur violence 20/07/06; Darfur development workers kidnapped as situation worsens; Churches urge Sudan government to end hostilities; Global appeal to churches on fragile Sudan peace process; Christian aid partners address UN over Sudan; Catholic aid agency appeals to PM over Sudan; Protests as Egypt vows to expel hundreds of Sudanese refugees; Christian aid agencies unite for Sudan; Christians arrested during Washington protest over Sudan]
Faith leaders push for international action on Darfur
-16/09/06
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the head of the Methodist Church and other faith leaders (including Muslims, Christians and Jews) have been joined by movie stars, rock musicians and business figures in calling on Britain to take decisive action over the Darfur crisis.
Dr Rowan Williams, singers Annie Lennox and Elton John, Body Shop founder Anita Roddick, and shoe designer Patrick Cox are among those signing an open letter to UK Prime Minister Tony Blair ñ which will be reinforced by a vigil at Downing Street tomorrow (Sunday 17 September 2006).
Actors Emma Thompson and Helen Baxendale, TV presenter Floella Benjamin, comedian and political activist Mark Thomas and Band Aid supreme Bob Geldof also added their names to the appeal.
The call came as Mr Blair accused the Sudanese government of making the “completely unacceptable” situation in Darfur worse.
The Methodist Church is among those seeking immediate international action to prevent further killings in the region. Representative Anthea Cox will be joining other religious figures at the PMís residence today, where they will for peace in Darfur.
The initiative is part of a global Day of Action. The Day will see activists on the streets in New York, Abuja, London, Nairobi, Paris, Berlin, Kigali and a string of other major cities.
Steve Hucklesby, Methodist Secretary for International Affairs, declared: ìViolence in Darfur has created one of the worst humanitarian disasters today, with over 200,000 people killed and millions displaced.î
He continued: ìWe should not let the challenges of military intervention in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East cause us to fall shy of intervention in Sudan. Darfur is a different situation and an effective peacekeeping force could transform the situation.î
Explained Hucklesby: ìA resolution to the conflict will take time, but meanwhile the government of Sudan is clearly unable or unwilling to protect civilians. We ask the British Government to continue to press for an effective United Nations peace-keeping force with a robust mandate to supplement the African Union troops already in Darfur.î
Anthea Cox said of the prayers outside Downing Street: ìLeaders of all faiths will be there to pray for peace. Although the worldís attention is focussed on the Middle East, we cannot allow this unfolding tragedy to be forgotten, and we must do all we can to push for a lasting peace.î
[Also on Ekklesia: Campaigners gear up for Global Day for Darfur 14/09/06; Churches call for decisive Darfur peacekeeping action 23/08/06; Aid agencies seek an end to tragic Darfur violence 20/07/06; Darfur development workers kidnapped as situation worsens; Churches urge Sudan government to end hostilities; Global appeal to churches on fragile Sudan peace process; Christian aid partners address UN over Sudan; Catholic aid agency appeals to PM over Sudan; Protests as Egypt vows to expel hundreds of Sudanese refugees; Christian aid agencies unite for Sudan; Christians arrested during Washington protest over Sudan]