This region, which has become the focus of much of my attention, is not special to me because of its natural beauty or travel allure. This region, located in the western part of Sudan, is the current site of a systematic genocide. Today an estimated 500 people died. That could be said today, or yesterday, and unfortunately tomorrow, because we have done so little. Over 400, 000 people are dead. Their lives have been needlessly taken.

I used to believe that the world was beautiful due to the diversity that allowed each man to metaphorically be his own island of activism. I was grateful that other people studied chemistry math and rocket science because they loved it and I respectively did not. I was glad in the same way that there were people who were passionate about international politics, international trade issues, the Chinese economy and the environment. I used to believe that each person following his or her dreams would make the world a better place. I was wrong. I do not believe that we are able to tackle the largest issues facing our globe with an army of individual agendas. I could stand on my rooftop in Los Angeles, and scream- “Stop killing the Darfurians! Don’t rape another woman or child!” I could go to Darfur (at risk to my own life) and be a member of the African Union troops to help bolster their efforts, but I would no doubt be a useless white (African) women with a gun, and no know-how. These are not the answers, and this is why my island of activism is not enough.

I cannot stop genocide alone. My voice is not enough to persuade our government to take a stand against the Sudanese regime who is perpetrating these crimes. My letters, my phone calls, my tears and my voice are not enough. That is why I need your help. It will take a mountain of letter, hours of phone calls, an ocean of tears and a roar of voices to make the plight of the Darfurians heard.Please. It will only be effective if we make some noise. When we stood by and allowed over a million Rwandans to be killed, the powers that resided over the US government told us that it would take the public making a lot of noise. We were silent. Let it not be said about Darfur.