By Caitlin McIntyre '09
Kevin Harrington Student Ambassador
A standing-room only crowd awaited the well-renowned CBS4 new anchor Liz Walker who lectured at the Institute on January 23. Ms. Walker, an NHIOP Distinguished Scholar, has been recognized on a number of occasions for her outstanding work in the community.
Walker discussed the genocide that is taking place in Sudan and defined genocide as "the systematic and planned extermination of an entire national, racial, political, or ethnic group." She said that life in Sudan "is a complicated story of genocide, tribal rivalry, ethnic violence, and oil."
Beginning her presentation with the quote, "It is a conundrum to me; how this can go on," Walker talked about the violence that broke out in 2003 in Darfur. She recounted that it started with non-Arab Muslims who were looking for more power in Sudan. "Things that you think happen on the other side of the world that have no impact on you, I assure you, will affect you, one way or another," Walker said. In 2001, she was outraged when she heard of the slavery that still exists in Sudan. After learning of this, Walker knew that she had to be involved in an effort to help the people of Sudan. She and a group of ministers from Boston made the 21-hour trip to Sudan where women and children were being brutally raped and were being forced into slavery. Walker affirmed that the African union has a few thousand soldiers on the ground, but they have not been effective. After a peace deal was signed last May there were high hopes that the violence would cease, but it has only worsened.
Walker used her expertise in journalism to create a documentary based on Dr. Gloria White-Hammond-a remarkable woman who has traveled to Sudan several times. Walker stressed that "ordinary people can do extraordinary things if you have the passion." Walker and Dr. White-Hammond co-founded the organization
"My Sister's Keeper." An association that helps the women in Sudan, My Sister's Keeper focuses on those who have been victims and survivors of violence. One Sudanese woman who was interviewed for the documentary referred to Dr. Gloria White-Hammond as "Glory from God."
Walker ended her talk with five hopes for the people of Sudan: cease to violence; promotion of education in Sudan; pressure from President Bush on the U.N.; support from citizens around the world to contribute time, energy, and funds to organizations that help those in the war-torn areas; rebuilding to begin.