New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof warns of 'genocide fatigue' in urging action in Darfur

New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof has a mission. He wants to make you care about the people who are dying in Darfur, Sudan. To care -- and to act.

"If there is going to be more action on Darfur, it is going to come because of people like all of you," Kristof said April 5 in Anabel Taylor Auditorium, addressing the current state of affairs in Darfur with particular attention on China's influence.

"Genocide, really -- it's hard to get out of your system when you've seen these things," said Kristof, who has traveled to the Darfur region 10 times and began his talk with a slideshow of photos and video clips of refugees he has met and interviewed.

Kristof described how he encountered thousands of Darfur refugees on the border of eastern Chad four year ago. They were sitting under trees near an oasis, and as Kristof walked from tree to tree to speak with them, they all described how they had lost family members, children and homes. Many of the women also reported that they had been gang raped by the Janjaweed, the government-backed militia.

Kristof did not shy away from the graphic photos. "These are tough images," he acknowledged, "but this is what Darfur looks like." The photos included depictions of mutilated bodies baked by the sun, remnants of a young girl in handcuffs and a toddler lying facedown in the sand.

In addressing the role of the international community in Darfur, Kristof said that the U.S. administration has taken positive steps, sending more than $2 million in aid and speaking out against the genocide. However, "year after year, sending more doctors to pull more shrapnel out of more kids just seems inadequate," he said wearily. He talked of "genocide fatigue," acknowledging that many people feel burnt out, that efforts toward peace in Darfur are going nowhere. Yet he urged the audience to remain active.

Kristof emphasized the importance of appointing a full-time negotiator, establishing a no-fly zone and of involving other countries, such as Britain, in the peace effort in Darfur.

China, he said, has tremendous influence in Sudan as it is currently developing many of Sudan's oil fields and exporting large amounts of Sudanese oil. China is also the leading weapons supplier for the Sudanese government.

Kristof argued against boycotting the upcoming summer Olympics, explaining that the potential backlash could negate any positive steps toward peace in Darfur. However, he urged the audience to call the Chinese Embassy and encourage the U.S. administration to put pressure on China.

"Have we done everything we can to stop the genocide?" he asked. "The answer, clearly, in the international community, is no. We have nothing to lose [by taking action]."

Although Kristof ended on a bleak note, stating that he believes the situation is worse than when he last came to campus a year ago, he tried to offer a positive outlook for the future.

"There's no silver bullet here," he said, "but there is silver buckshot, if you will."

Amelia Apfel '08 is a writer intern at the Cornell Chronicle.

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