No More Genocide in the World!
When the word “genocide” was first used officially in the Nuremberg indictments – an anniversary we
commemorate today – a trial began that would shake the world’s faith in the upward progress of the human
race from barbarism, and would prove that all people, all cultures, all civilizations are capable of committing this
terrible crime. When the Genocide Convention was passed by the United Nations in 1948, the world said,
“Never again.”But the history of the twentieth century instead proved that “never again” became “again and
again.” The promise the United Nations made was broken, as again and again, genocides and other forms of
mass murder killed 170 million people, more than all the international wars of the twentieth century combined.
Why? Why are there still genocides? Why are there genocidal massacres going on right now in southern
Sudan by the Sudanese government against Dinka, Nuer, and Nuba; in eastern Burma by the Burmese
government against the Karen; in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by both government and rebel forces
against Tutsis, Banyamulenge, Hutus, Hema, and Lendu? Why has ethnic and religious hatred again reached
the boiling point in Israel and Palestine; the Maluku Islands, Sri Lanka and
Kashmir?
commemorate today – a trial began that would shake the world’s faith in the upward progress of the human
race from barbarism, and would prove that all people, all cultures, all civilizations are capable of committing this
terrible crime. When the Genocide Convention was passed by the United Nations in 1948, the world said,
“Never again.”But the history of the twentieth century instead proved that “never again” became “again and
again.” The promise the United Nations made was broken, as again and again, genocides and other forms of
mass murder killed 170 million people, more than all the international wars of the twentieth century combined.
Why? Why are there still genocides? Why are there genocidal massacres going on right now in southern
Sudan by the Sudanese government against Dinka, Nuer, and Nuba; in eastern Burma by the Burmese
government against the Karen; in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by both government and rebel forces
against Tutsis, Banyamulenge, Hutus, Hema, and Lendu? Why has ethnic and religious hatred again reached
the boiling point in Israel and Palestine; the Maluku Islands, Sri Lanka and
Kashmir?
