Don't Discriminate

That was the video for article two of the UDHR done by Youth for Human Rights. Human right number two makes freedoms and equalities even more clearly universal than does human right number one.  The text of article two of the UDHR begins as follows:

"Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status."

This intends to cover any reason one person might have to think that he or she is more deserving of rights and freedoms than another.  The point?  We are all entitled to rights and freedoms, and we are all entitled equally.

There are several places in this world where people are discriminated against for the very reasons that this article guards against.  I'm going to touch on one of these and suggest some ways to do something about it.

Racial discrimination is currently heightening in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  This is probably the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world right now.  DRC's troubled history coupled with the leftovers of the humanitarian crises in neighboring Rwanda, Uganda, and Sudan make for an awful situation.  Human Rights Watch reports that "since August 28, fighting has intensified in many areas, causing deaths, rapes, lootings, forced recruitment and further displacements of civilian populations.  The population has thus been immersed in unspeakable suffering."  

What can you do, other than feel bad?  Obviously you can give money.  If you can afford that, I recommend the International Rescue Committee.  They have been working effectively in DRC since 1996 with special focus on helping the victims of sexual violence, which is way out of control in many parts of the country.  

If you're short on cashola, simply WRITE TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVE.  Ask what your government is doing to slow the violence and ask how your government is supporting the United Nations as they do their peacekeeping thing.  Here's a link to get in touch with your American congressperson or your Canadian member of Parliament.  It's pretty easy to shoot off an email to your representative.  And they'll usually get back to you pretty quickly with where they stand and what they're doing about it, which are both things that you should ask about.  They are representing you, after all, so they ought to take note of what is important to you.

Alrighty, that's what I've got for you today.  Next week is the Right to Life.