BY MICHELLE
CATEGORY: DAILY DARFUR
PUBLISHED JUNE 10, 2009 @ 06:59AM PT
"There has been so much violence they don't even know what safety is anymore."
--- A Darfuri refugee in Cairo, from an interview by Bec Hamilton
Divestment advocates have turned their attention to Fidelity once again: Customers of the nation's largest mutual fund now have the option to vote to divest from companies that substantially contribute to the Sudanese government. In 2007, under activist pressure, Fidelity sold most of its holdings in a Chinese company linked with oil trade in Sudan.
Voting is also still underway for Vanguard funds --- help spread the word to possible Fidelity or Vanguard customers you may know. Check out Investors Against Genocide for more information.
Quickies
"Diplomatic sources" say that African countries will not withdraw en masse from the International Criminal Court, despite the high-profile conference on the matter and pressure from the leadership of the AU and several African governments. The debate was prompted by the recent indictment of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur. The continent's largest trading bloc, COMESA, also recently offered support to the beleaguered dictator.
About 1500 recent returnees to a village in South Darfur met with a UNAMID official, andasked for more protection so that others can return home as well. Many of the returnees spent the last four years in internally displaced persons camps in Darfur.
The i-Act team is leaving for another trip to Chad today.
Olympian Nikki Dryden joined the Fast for Darfur.