Aug 27, 2008 2 min read

I would like to start by saying that what is happening in Darfur is without a doubt genocide. Men, women and children are being killed at an alarming rate. The United Nations estimates that the conflict has left as many as 400,000 people dead, due to violence and disease, and as many as 2.5 million displaced. Of the almost 4 million people that are affected by the conflict, 1.8 million are children under the age of 18.

Upon first learning about the crisis in Darfur, I thought, “How can people just sit back and watch as children are being forced to become soldiers, men are being murdered and women are being raped?”I can recall a certain president of ours saying, “Not on my watch.”

Unlike him I intend to keep my word when I say those words. I refuse to sit back and watch all this happen. I don’t see how someone could live with that on their conscience.

I’m not writing this letter to tell people that they have to do something, or to feel guilty because they’re not.

I’m writing this in order to inform people about Darfur and to encourage them to do something about it. There are many ways in which you can help the people of Darfur.

You could donate money, write letters, and lobby Congress, or you could help by simply telling people about what is happening.

Gandhi once said “Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.”

Tyler Thomas, 14

Uniontown