Story: Sudan Genocide Declaration Stirs World, 9/15/04
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec04/sudan_genocide.html

Reading Comprehension Questions:

1. What did the United Nations' World Health Organization recently report about the situation in Sudan?

2. What did U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell say about the situation in Sudan?

3. What was the Sudanese government's response to Powell's statements?

4. What is the history of the word "genocide"?

5. Why have heads of states been hesitant to label situations "genocide"?

6. What are the causes of violence in Darfur?

7. What has the Security Council said about the situation in Darfur?

8. What punishment is the United States considering?

Discussion Activity (more research might be needed):

1. Keeping in mind the U.S. commitment to ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, what do you think the U.S. should do about the situation in Sudan?

2. If the Sudanese government opposes any intervention in the region, what should the United Nations do?

3. What would you add to the definition of "genocide"? How would you measure levels of violence and judge when to intervene?

Write a 300-500 word essay on either of these topics providing clear examples. Send your completed editorial to NewsHour Extra (extra@newshour.org). Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site.