Communicators: Help Save Darfur!
Do you know about Darfur? It's a region in Sudan that has been embroiled in a deadly conflict for over three years. At least 400,000 people have been killed and more than two million innocent civilians have been forced to flee their homes and now live in displaced-persons camps in Sudan or in refugee camps in neighboring Chad. It's genocide and most Americans are completely unaware (my marketing class students simply shrugged and said, "Oh, it's Africa. So far away.").
The good folks at Save Darfur are doing a fine job getting the word out. There have been some very dramatic full page ads placed in major newspapers (primarily the New York Times) and I have seen a television spot recently. They're also employing the far too ubiquitous plastic wristband (mine is green). And the Web site has improved dramatically in recent weeks (www.savedarfur.com).
But beyond the wristbands and costly newsprint, there must be something more that we communicators can use to shake the American public out of their indifference. Creative and stirring communication efforts are in order. I'm looking for suggestions.
