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| By Lori O'Brien Correspondent CHICOPEE Adrian. Anita. Etienne. Emmanuel. Genvieve. For area residents who took a few minutes last week to learn firsthand about the plight of refugees in Darfur, Sudan at a unique exhibition at Elms College, these names and their backgrounds are very real. A 70' x 140' fenced area on campus facing Springfield Street was recently transformed into a replica of a refugee camp by high school groups from across New England, New York and New Jersey in conjunction with PeaceJam Northeast, according to Chris Lockwood, media relations coordinator at the Elms. Lockwood was among the team members locally who helped construct the camp. Local refugee camp team members also included Chris Gaudreau, Heather Gladu, Natalie Hill, Triston McKenna, Kevin Reed and Paul Goddu, who served as project coordinator. Lockwood explained during a recent tour of the camp that the college sponsors a Solidarity Series titled "One Human Family," that promotes public discourse and provokes reflection on a key moral issue. "One of the seven themes of Catholic social teaching, solidarity, is the idea that we are our brothers' and sisters' keepers, wherever they live," said Lockwood during an interview with Reminder Publications. "We are obligated as concerned citizens of the world to take action against genocide when we learn of its existence." Lockwood stressed that the Elms endeavor was intended to spread awareness and provide opportunities for area residents to take action. Since civil strife broke out between Arab and black tribes in the western Sudanese region almost four years ago, genocide, rape, destroyed villages and other atrocities have become commonplace with tens of thousands of refugees being murdered and 1.8 million being displaced. The model provided in stark detail what refugees endure at a refugee camp. Docents were on hand throughout last week providing guided tours of the encampment. In addition to the project team, there were also a host of individuals and businesses who made generous donations of time, funds and materials to ensure the camp was as authentic as possible. Among those receiving recognition for their efforts were Dr. Frank Croke, who made a donation that allowed the group to rent fencing; McCray's Farm donated the hay to make one of the shelters and Marois Construction delivered the hay. Additionally, Leader Home Centers donated lumber to make the shelters, and R. M. Sullivan Transportation Inc. provided pallets for the makeshift walkways. The Western Mass. Girl Scout Council and Blessed Sacrament Boy Scouts of Holyoke lent tents for the endeavor, and the City of Chicopee provided dirt for the mock mine field. Individuals who toured the refugee camp during the course of last week were first given an identity card at registration that told a brief history about a refugee. For example, women might have been given "Anita," a 16-year-old who considered herself lucky because her family could afford to send her to school to learn to be a teacher. Unfortunately, "Anita" found her village under siege and had to flee or risk being killed. For men, they may have received backgrounds on either "Etienne," an 18-year-old with a wife and three children who became a target of violence since he was perceived as a government official, or "Adrian," a 14-year-old who worked in the fields in a rural area of Africa but a civil war forced his immediate evacuation. He cannot return home and does not know where he is going. Also at registration, participants were handed a ration card and a bracelet that determined who needed help first. Lockwood explained that the bracelets are color coded for severe malnutrition (red), moderate malnutrition (orange), at risk (yellow), and adequately nourished (green). Lockwood added that the "Bracelet of Life" is used by Doctors Without Borders to aid them in deciding who needs to be treated first. Other "stations" that were featured at the camp included the clinic, quarantined areas, latrines, food stations with sacks of sorghum a grain that is part of one's rations, examples of shelters that would be built by refugees, the water allotment area, and at the furthermost outpost, the cemetery. Lockwood singled out the landmine field display as one of the crucial aspects facing refugees that kill and injure up to 1,500 people a month. For individuals who become injured from a landmine, they need surgery and rehabilitation. Depending on one's location, a hospital with a surgeon may not be available. Consequently, refugees are in excruciating pain and face serious infection or death from lack of treatment, according to Lockwood. Last week's events culminated with a STAND (Students Taking Action Now: Darfur) Rally that provided a host of ways for area residents to take a stand and get involved including how to advocate to elected officials, engage in divestment campaigns and connect with other Darfur groups. "The events were intended to be a united starting point for concerned individuals, groups, and institutions to support the people of Darfur by supporting each other," said Lockwood. "It is our hope that these events will be a platform for the success of future events." For more information on STAND or how individuals, businesses or organizations can get involved, contact Lockwood at (413) 265-2219, or visit www.standnow.org. |