Out of the Mouths of College Students

In hopes of raising awareness about the reality of genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan, Sam writes every Monday about a key issue in an attempt to stop the atrocity. Doing so may not bring about a wave of change, but it is a small ripple that represents the tide that needs turning.

With the help of my handy Google alerts, I came across two very interesting articles on Darfur.

The first is written by a college sophomore who questions the ability of major rallies to truly do any direct good for those victimized by the genocide in Darfur. She writes:

When reading about the 20,000 to 30,000 attendants at Central Park in New York City specifically, I wondered about a different alternative that didn't seem to cross the mind of a single person. What would have happened if every one of the 25,000 or so people in attendance had decided to work a job for $10 an hour instead of uselessly standing at the rally? For the sake of argument, I will assume the average total time commitment of every Darfur protest attendant was five hours. This assumption would mean that every participant could have grossed a total of $50, and thus the total sum amassed would have been $1.25 million. What would have happened if UNICEF, the Red Cross or any other humanitarian organization had been given an extra $1.25 million to aid the people of Sudan? Certainly it would have been more than the nothing that came out of a giant crowd of loiterers.

While a bit unrealistic, I like the way she thinks.

Also, MySpace announced that it would be doing a series of concerts and shows to raise awareness and money for Darfur relief. I enjoy seeing large and rich companies using their fame and fortune to help others:

The site's Rock for Darfur event is scheduled for Oct. 21, and will bring together more than 20 benefit concerts together to raise money for the humanitarian aid organization Oxfam's ongoing efforts to provide aid to the region in Sudan. Bands already on board for the event include TV on the Radio, Secret Machines and Insane Clown Posse. An undisclosed portion of each ticket's price will go toward Oxfam's coffers.

The youth movement is alive and well. Make a difference and invest in the future: feed a college student.