Tuesday is a Big Night for Darfur in Orange County

Photo by Rev. Wilfredo Benitez for Orange County for Darfur

Mia Farrow may have ended her hunger strike for Darfur last week, but the spotlight remains on the lingering effects of genocide in the Sudan--at least in Orange County tomorrow night.

Orange County for Darfur was formed in June 2007 to raise awareness among local residents and elected officials to the genocide, and the all-volunteer members have worked diligently to continue pressing their message ever since. Their next monthly planning meeting is from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. Tuesday at 2424 SE Bristol St., Suite 300, Newport Beach. Those interested in learning more about joining are encouraged to attend and/or visit ocfordarfur.org.

An-Na'im

Darfur is also at the center of the UCI Center for Global Peace and Conflict Studies' 18th annual Margolis Lecture "Faith in Peace: The International Criminal Court and the Darfur Crisis" with Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na'im. That event runs from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in the UCI Student Center's Pacific Ballroom A&B. An-Na'im is the Charles Howard Candler Professor of Law at Emory University, where he focuses on cross-cultural human rights issues, international law and human rights, and human rights in Islam. He left his native Sudan in 1985 and has been an advocate for human rights in Africa ever since. His lecture is free and open to the public. (Parking is available for $7 in the Social Science Parking Structure.)

Besides the planning meetings and other assorted events Orange County for Darfur and Moving Target Theatre present regular, free stagings of the theatrical production In Darfur throughout Southern California. Written by Winter Mitchell and directed by Michael David Fox, In Darfur tells the story of three intertwined lives at a camp for internally displaced people: an aid working trying to save lives, a journalist seeking the big story and a Darfuri woman who wants nothing more than safety. Following each performance is a discussion session where members of the audience can ask questions. If you'd like the play performed for your group, call (949) 300-4100.