The only word I can think of that could encompass our trip to Burma is “overpowering.” Before the trip, I had spent a lot of time researching, learning, and writing about the conflict. I was fascinated by it and compelled to teach others about it, but at such a great distance, with so little contact with actual people affected by it, I had a hard time relating to it on a deeper level than intellectual interest and sympathy for the suffering people whose stories I had read.

The sixth and final chapter of the Genocide Prevention Task Force (GPTF) Report addresses international action. Preventing genocide and mass atrocities should not be a responsibility of the US alone; prevention has the best chances of succeeding when the whole international community is engaged.

Last week’s discussion topic was Sudan’s elections. The trivia asked what Sudanese will vote for in the upcoming elections. The answer is that they will vote for president of the republic and semi-autonomous south as well as for national, southern, and state legislative assemblies.