United Africa Society profile picture

United Africa Society

There are no silent genocides...

About Me

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United Africa Society (U.A.S.) was founded to unite Africa as a continent by aiding war stricken regions.
U.A.S. is an independent, youth-driven, non-profit organisation based in Cape Town, South Africa.
Although this movement is run on a local basis, we firmly believe that anything taking place in Africa affects us directly. To the rest of the world, Africa is not viewed as a collaboration of independent countries, rather, it is seen as a land mass riddled with starvation and conflict.
Too many people living in affluent communities have become completely integrated into Western society and culture. They tend to forget that their birthplace, and their home, is Africa, and that their loyalties should be located appropriately.
We have three main aims:
1) Aid to the current crisis zones in Africa
2) Promoting a proudly African mentality
3) To unite Africa's countries and her people
A conscientious group effort is needed from the community to achieve these aims.
To accomplish our first goal we initiate awareness campaigns and fund-raisers whereby we sell bracelets, t-shirts etc. At present we are largely dependent on individual donors and sponsors.
A united approach is essential if we are to transform Africa into a first world continent. Whilst she may still be in her early phases of development, Africa posses all the resources necessary to be self-sufficient. However, the countries within are severely exploited impeding progress throughout the continent.
After abolishing Apartheid, South Africa has become a role-model to the rest of poverty-stricken Africa. Existing as one of the few African countries in a relatively stable economic and social state, it is our responsibility to consider our duty to Africa abroad, as well as within our own borders.
If we in South Africa are going to sit by and do nothing to help our continent, then we have no right to ask for aid if something as terrible ever befalls our country.

My Interests


"Omar al Bashir told us that we should kill all the Nubas. There is no place here for the Negroes any more"
Words of a Janjaweed fighter, according to a refugee from Kenya, interviewed by Amnesty International

This one year old girl was shot by a Sudanese government helicopter.
Her mother was killed.

As you read this, over 3 million people in Darfur, Sudan are crammed together in refugee camps, dying of disease and hunger, while government sponsored troops slaughter civilians, use rape to destroy group unity, and shoot children for sport. 400,000 men, women, and children are already dead. Entire races have been exterminated by the Sudanese government's campaign of ethnic cleansing.



Fast - Easy - Effective

It takes less than 30 seconds of your time.

"President Bush, during your first year as President you wrote in the margins of a report on the Rwandan genocide 'Not on my watch.' We urge you to
live up to those words by leading a stronger multinational force to protect civilians in Darfur"

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Where is Darfur?

Darfur is a region in western Sudan, an eastern African country half the size of the United States

Why are people being killed?
Ethnic African rebel groups in Darfur launched a war for independence, sighting a lack of life saving government funds in the region. President Omar Al-Bashir responded with a brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing against civilians. He has used proxy militia groups to torch whole cities, rape and kill thousands of women and children. The violence continues today.



I'd like to meet:

PROJECT INFORMATION:

The United Africa Society (U.A.S.) was founded at the beginning of 2006 in Cape Town, South Africa. The society's primary aim is to raise awareness and funds for crisis areas in Africa. The first region we chose was Darfur, Sudan where a horrific genocide is taking place. For those of you who are unaware of the turmoil in Darfur, further details will be provided

There are two parties involved:

1) The government, lead by Omar Hassan al-Bashir who works in conjunction with the Janjaweed (evil on horseback)
2) The citizens (referred to as rebels) are represented by the Sudanese Liberation Army/Movement (SLA/M) and the Justice & Equality Movement (JEM)

The conflict came to an ugly head in 2003 when the rebels in Darfur accused the government of neglecting and discriminating against them. The government retaliated by hiring the Janjaweed (consisting of criminals) to intimidate the rebels. This set Western Sudan against the capital Khartoum.

The Janjaweed began their reign of terror carrying out acts such as rape, murder and even burning down entire villages. This forced the citizens to take refuge in neighbouring Chad.

Genocide, by definition, is the systematic and planned extermination of an entire national, racial, political, or ethnic group. Based on the facts, the atrocities being carried out in Darfur clearly classify as genocide

This leads to the question: "Why do the United Nations refuse to define it as such?" The only plausible rationale for this would be the assumption that the UN is reluctant to label this genocide as it would require them to do everything in their power to end this chaos. It seems ending genocide is not a priority at the moment.

Bear in mind this is a brief break down of the heinous acts carried out in Sudan. The actual conflict dates back many years and the wounds run deeper than they appear on the surface.

As part of our efforts to make U.A.S. a national organisation we have established 5 branches within various schools in Cape Town. We sell our merchandise on their premises and plan to involve more schools in the near future.

The Holocaust Centre in Cape Town had a multimedia “Witnessing Darfur” exposition, at which we had a stand. Here we showed our slideshow and handed out pamphlets providing information about our organisation and Darfur. Listed below are our goals:

SHORT TERM GOALS:

1) We are selling beaded bracelets around Cape Town in a bid to raise funds for Darfur. The bracelets were made in Kenya, so in the process of aiding Darfur we were able to aid another country simultaneously. We hope to be able to do this with all our projects but by using local resources in the future.

2) We hope to erect a stand outside Pick n Pay, Rondebosch where we will sell our bracelets and T-shirts and distribute our slideshow.

3)We have collaborated with the founders of Springtide and shall be receiving the proceeds from their events annually.

MIDDLE TERM GOALS:

1) We have been in contact with Arthur Gillis (CEO of the Protea Hotels) and he has shown an interest in our ideas. He has agreed to arrange a booth for us at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Here we will do much the same as the “Witnessing Darfur” week in displaying our slideshow and handing out pamphlets to provide information about our organisation and its projects. A new addition will be a page where people can donate funds to the refugees of Darfur.

LONG TERM GOALS:

1) We are looking to set up a SMS system whereby people send a specific word (e.g. "Darfur") to a designated number, each SMS contributing a specific amount (e.g. R5) per SMS.

If you wish to join our project or know of anyone who could assist us please do not hesitate to contact us.

Email: [email protected]

Music:

Below is the link to the newspaper article we appeared in:
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=105& ;art_id=vn20070122103827783C423196

Movies:

Blood Diamond
Hotel Rwanda
Darfur Diaries

Books:

Click here to nominate someone for the Impact Awards:

Heroes:

Check out www.dyingfordarfur.com