By CAITLIN LUKACS
Observer Staff
Oct. 25, 2007

Former President Jimmy Carter urged audience members to take action against the human rights atrocities in Darfur in a speech at American University on Wednesday.

“I hope that I have convinced you how important the issues are and how all of us, Americans and others, need to join in and assume part of the responsibility,” he said.

Carter, who was introduced by as the country’s “best ex-president,” has just returned from Sudan, where he was working to promote peace with a new international organization called The Elders.

According to Carter, The Elders are “comprised of a group of pretty much political has-beens. We are people who have served in positions of great authority and influence and power.”

Nelson Mandela, Graca Machel, Desmond Tutu, and Kofi Annan are some of Carter’s fellow Elders.

The Elders have taken on four major global projects, one of which is to contribute to the peace process in Sudan. Carter said his recent expedition included meetings with both the president and the vice president of Sudan, who are on different sides of the conflict, as well as talks with as many citizens of Darfur as he could find.

“The Elders are deeply committed to continue our efforts there to understand and add our voice to the process,” he said. “Our number one hope is that the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between North and South can be maintained to prevent the entire nation from breaking out into another war.”

Carter also said The Elders have offered their services to mediate between the North and the South in Sudan, specifically in regards to the dispute over oil in that region.

Officials in Washington commented on both The Elders and Carter himself on the day of his speech. Sudanese Ambassador John Ukec said that Carter’s visits to his country were crucial to promoting peace.

“President Carter is a frequent visitor and we appreciate his going there all the time. His presence has an impact on a global basis and among the people of Sudan,” Ukec said.

Charles Call, professor of International Peace and Conflict Resolution at American University, admitted that he was not familiar with The Elders, but said that “high profile figures and entertainment figures certainly help draw attention to crisis or genocide, both of which describe the situation in Darfur. Of course [expeditions by such people] are a legitimate means of promoting peace.”

Audience member Dana Fleitman, sophomore and president of American University’s Darfur Action club, said that she really enjoyed Carter’s speech. She thinks The Elders are a great organization and applauds them for promoting awareness about the situation in Darfur.

“As far as actual action, I wish they were a little more radical,” Fleitman said. “I think it’s a good start; I just wish they started more of an action-based campaign, because people would listen – because people love Carter.”

Whether his actions were radical enough for Fleitman, Carter did suggest some ways the global society could promote peace in Darfur and Sudan in general.

“We hope that The Elders at least can induce the international community to retain an interest there, and to punish with threats and by withholding relief, any organized group or leader who might threaten the Comprehensive Peace Agreement,” he said.