UKRAINE 4 DARFUR: A BEAUTIFUL AND EXCITING NEW MOVEMENT
This is a classic tale of good coming out of bad. From it's own dark history of mass murder and horrifying brutality at the hands of Stalin, Ukraine empathises with the plight of the people of Darfur.
From President Yushchenko to ordinary citizens, Ukrainians are pressing for action on the world stage and at ground level. In London, their musicians and Embassy are working with us to organise RAGE gigs to raise funds for Darfur, and to support the campaign for the UK Parliament to recognise that the Holodomor was genocide. That's the 'other Holocaust' - the one in Ukraine in 1932/33.
The first RAGE gig will be held at the Brixton Jamm after the demo on the Day of Action for Darfur, Sun 13th April. And another one is being arranged for the Fiddler's Elbow, Camden, on Sun 25th May. Watch this space for details!
RAGE is potentially for all anti-genocide causes, though in 2008 the gig profits will be split 50/50 between Darfur and Holodomor recognition. This means, Darfur's 50% will amount to MORE money with support from Ukrainians, than it's 100% would be without that support.
Also, the link between the 2 causes means, the more publicity for each, the more for both. When the Holodomor issue is raised Darfur will be raised alongside it; so Darfur will effectively get 2 shots at publicity for the price of 1.
But that only applies to RAGE events. We are still organising Oxjam events, too, where 100% of the profits go to the work of Oxfam in and for Darfur. The next one is at The Gander, Bournemouth on 24th April. £5 on the door, doors 8pm.
These events will be more than just gigs: they will be rallying points for Darfur, mobilising ever more people to give the hardest possible time to China, the corporate sponsors of the Games there this year, and everyone else with the power to intervene and apply pressure to stop the killing.
And the Holdomor recognition campaign matters in its own right. It's not just about setting the record straight, it's about the future. It's about the assertion, and advance, of civilised values in the 21st century.
It's about getting the message across that states and their agents cannot expect to murder thousands of their own people for political advantage, and then walk away as though nothing happened. The long arm of justice will reach out from history and summon them to account. And, recognising genocide and understanding its causes are the first steps towards, stopping it from happening again.
