AFRIPOL.ORG IDEAS HAVE CONSEQUENCES
THE PERSON OF THE MONTH: DON CHEADLE May 10, 2007
A Hollywood movie superstar, who have starred in many movies including the awarding -winning “RWANDA HOTEL” has relentlessly engaged in finding a sustainable solution to Darfur genocide. Some have describe the atrocity in Darfur, as “Rwanda in slow motion.”
Don Cheadle has given a voice to the voiceless, and asked the world to act, he said - "And now what? You've seen it, you know it, you've confirmed it, and now what?" Mr. Cheadle did not fold his hands, he got involved.
Darfur trouble started when armed rebels protested the treatment of Sudanese Africans. The Sudanese government is accused of reiterating by funding and organizing counterinsurgency of the militia, known as the Janjaweed, which is an ethnic Arab militia.
“More than 1.9 million people have been forced to flee their homes since the conflict began, while war-induced hunger and disease have killed more than 180,000 people, according to United Nations estimates.” The government of Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir has denied claims that his government has backed the Janjaweed.
Don Cheadle for nearly two years, has committed time, resource and his star power in seeking solution to this worsening crisis. Don Cheadle has traveled to Darfur to see the troubled land.
He has spoken to the sub-committee of United states of America Congress on Africa. He has traveled to China and many other international capitals in his effort to bring the crisis to an end.
For his overflowing inspiration, fortitude and commitment to this noble act, the Management and Staff of Afripol chose Don Cheadle as the PERSON OF THE MONTH.