Not On Our Watch – George Clooney speaking out on the Sudan
I cannot imagine staying in one place for 20 years, but a 20 year civil war is beyond my capacity to imagine. It is perhaps beyond most people’s imaginations. But to be stuck in a civil war for 20 years as the Sudan has, is beyond belief. The Civil War in the Sudan only ended in 2005, costing 2.5 million lives. The mass killings, the rapes, the human rights abuses and the people left homeless after that war, have driven George Clooney to use his celebrity to push this to the forefront, so that we not forget that in January, 2011, the Sudan will hold a referendum, the results of which will determine whether the South gains its independence and whether or not another war/genocide is its result.
Hilary Clinton calls this “a ticking time bomb of enormous consequences.” Both the north and south are heavily armed. Clooney, as well as others believe that another civil war can be prevented by diplomacy. Of course, oil is at stake in the region of Abyei in the Sudan.
The following video is made by the Not On Our Watch organization of which George Clooney is co-founder, and the Enough Project team led by John Prendergast. This video points out the difficulties faced by Sudan as the upcoming referendum approaches. Governments have acted too late and must act fast now, to prevent another war from happening in the Sudan.
Citizens can help avoid another tragedy like Darfur. Citizens can organize to make their voices heard to their politicians through such groups as SudanActionNow.org.
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I think Clooney needs more good guy roles to be considered Stewart’s equal. Clooney lormanly plays more of a cool than a nice or good guy. Stewart’s persona was also based on his genial attitude on The Tonight Show and his other appearances, whereas Clooney still flies under the radar a bit in terms of talk shows.