Darfur: how we are all part of the problem

THE Irish military mission to Chad has been delayed because of the struggle for power there.

All credit to those who are going — it’s no picnic.

It’s much less of a picnic for the people of Darfur — a huge province located on the western side of Sudan.

Chad is as near as we can get to the real trouble spot.

In Darfur, black Africans are being murdered, raped and their villages burned. They are being forced to move, but there is no place for them to go, except to chaotic Chad.

Just look at the map.

Who is doing all this? The Arab government of Khartoum.

And why? Oil.

And who is buying Sudanese oil, and on good terms with Sudan?

China.

And why is China buying oil? To produce goods to sell to the west.

Don’t get me wrong. Chinese goods are very good quality. And they’re very much cheaper.

But next time you buy Chinese goods, ask yourself: how much Darfur blood has gone into the discount.

Donal O’Driscoll

Dargle Road

Blackrock

Co Dublin