On Monday, Feb. 25 and Tuesday, Feb. 26 the Notre Dame/Saint Mary's Peace Coalition will be holding a campout on South Quad in solidarity with the Afghanistan refugees. Tents will be set up in front of O'Shaughnessy today at 9 a.m. at which time a small ceremony will also initiate a 32-hour prayer vigil. Both campout and vigil will conclude with a mass by the tents Tuesday at 5 p.m., immediately followed by an authentic Afghani dinner in Pasquerilla East Hall.

This event has been organized to raise campus and local awareness on behalf of the refugees, whose plight has been downplayed, if not often ignored, in media coverage of the "war on terrorism."

In the words of Krista Schoening, "We do not intend to recreate or dramatize the conditions of a refugee camp — it would be impossible to recreate either the physical conditions or the mental stress refugees have to endure. We simply want to call attention to the situation of the Afghanistan refugees, so that they will not be forgotten. They, too, are victims in this war on terrorism."

The campout stems from our desire, not only to highlight the dire situation of the refugees, but also to stress the inadequacy of current solutions to the problem. Currently there are four million refugees who have fled outside Afghanistan and more than 1.3 million displaced inside their homeland. However, despite the end of massive U.S.-led bombing and the defeat of the Taliban regime, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees reported last week that more than 50,000 persons have sought safety in Pakistan even since Dec. 31.

Although the United States, United Nations and others have pledged substantial financial assistance and humanitarian aid, it is just not that simple. Many obstacles must be crossed and issues resolved within Afghanistan before this aid can be effectively put to use. The "war" against the Taliban and al Qaeda may be over, but for the refugees true peace remains a distant dream. On that note, this will be a time of education, reflection, and prayer for us. All are invited to stop by the tents to learn more or to join us for any part of these events. Above all, we hope the refugees will remain in the minds, hearts and prayers of our entire community.

Megan Renner

ND/SMC Peace Coalition

Feb. 24, 2002

• The absurdity of international anti-Americanism
  
• Quote of the Day
  
• Free speech is not always positive
  
• Showing solidarity with refugees
  
• Success of `Monologues' is in the issues they raise