I love how harry potter fans can finally do something trully good with all this attention. i'd like to add that there is also a Facebook group called HP Alliance for this (for those of us who dont have a myspace...or have both ^_^). Spread the word!

But politics and bashing of the US government should not be brought into a Harry Potter book or the sites that go with it.

Yeah, okay, I'm interested. But WHAT EXACTLY am I doing? It seems all very unclear.

And like I said, feel free to email me at Rocknroller554@aol.com if you would like to intelligently debate me. If you plan to bash me for the opinion then don't bother.

This is a wonderful opportunity for fans to get together and help to better a truly desperate situation. I sent this article to a friend of mine who believes that Harry Potter is bad, that it is teaching devil worship and bad morals. I'm curious to see how she'll react after reading about this ^.^ Way to go Mugglenet!

Great idea about the genocide in darfur you guys. I mean if more people help out then we can get something done about this. I'm 16 and my friends and I are raising money and sending it over there as we speak.

I am so excited that Harry Potter fans can make a difference! As far as politics, no one is bashing the US. Each country has not done as much as it can. President Bush himself would agree. It's up to us to let our leaders know that we care about this issue and they will act! It's up to us, the young people of this world, to be like Dumbledore's Army who woke the Ministry up to Voldemort's return and wake up our Ministries to the fact that never again means never again. Genocide will not be tolerated. Darfur is the first genocide in the twenty first century. We as Harry Potter fans who love Harry, Hermione, and Dumbledore...we have the numbers and the heart to make this happen. And it can happen! On two separate occasions in the last decade, the government of Sudan has stopped human rights atrocities because of political and financial pressure. That part is up to us. And we can do it. This is our chance to be the real Dumbledore's Army! To spread love and fight the Dark Arts in the real world! Hooray for the HP Alliance! Hooray for Mugglenet! Hooray for every HP fan out there who cares and understands that this is what Dumbledore and Hermione would want us to do! The weapon we have is love. As Harry Potter fans, let's use our love to change the world!!!!!!

I can't believe that genecide is happening right now, in Sudan, and the world still refuses to help, even though we promised "Never again" after World War II!! This makes me so angry. It's great that Harry Potter fans are trying to make a difference, but we need to do more than just sign a petition and write to our senators/representatives. We need to protest, and directly show the world that the unfortunate people of Sudan do not deserve to suffer!

wow this is really cool...im all for it!

YAYY! i mean they really need help..and not many people in the US even pay attention to current WORLD affairs.. they were doing this darfur fundraiser at school and this gir was like "what the **** is darfur?" that pissed me off beyond belief ..imean its a genocide ..helloooo. so its glad to know that atleast hp fans wont be ignorant fools looking over something that really is a big deal

Harry Potter fans are an unstoppable force, as we have proved time and time again. Every new book and movie breaks records as billions across the globe unite for the series. I have always been in awe of the way we all work as a single force to achieve our goals, whether it's voting JKR to the top of a list or causing the GOF movie to be top in every single category on one awards site- even documentary! Now, through this organization, we have a chance to make a true difference. We've already proved what we can do for the series when we unite, so now let's prove what we can do for the world! Thank you, Mugglenet, thank you, Harry Potter Alliance, for putting this oppurtunity out there. I am rambling on and on because this is just so important! Harry Potter and Harry Potter fans have already changed the world- just look at how many records have been broken- and now we can do more! Now we can save lives. All we need is a direction, a cause- and what better one than this?- and with a chorus of "SQUEEEEE!!!" we will tackle it! Every fan makes up this fandom, and this fandom WILL make a difference. And now I'll stop rambling. But thank you Mugglenet for putting this up.

omg, that is so wonderfall! its great that hp fans are comming together to do something good for the world! i'm so proud!!

This makes me so excited . . . we've been talking about this in my church youth group all spring, and when we started most of the kids didn't know what we were talking about! People need to know! And people who were critical of it: just because it doesn't affect you directly, doesn't mean we can't help. No one was "bashing Bush" until you brought it up. There's no need to be so cynical. And we need to bring together Harry Potter and the real world, or what difference are we making? If we can pull it together with important stuff and make a difference, it vindicates all the hours and days we've spent on this. Let_it_be, I can't email you, but I'd love to have an intelligent debate right here (not tonight, though).

I think this is an awesome idea. I just think that its sad that it has to come down to this. As much as I love Harry Potter I think people should be helping to save Darfur on their own without being pursuaded by saying that it has to do with Harry Potter. Other than that I think its a fantastic idea thats highly beneficial

this is totally awsomee

Okay, here is something basic that will help. Evil is not a person, place or thing. It has no power base and it tries to use people--who have to allow it to use them. These people are to be pitied and they have to be stopped. So, try to understand that they are being "used by evil" Try to feel sorry for them. The reason is, that generates divine Love which will help to heal them, and that will keep you from hating them. If you hate, then evil has won, it used them to get to you. Evil hates Love. It is the only power in the universe. The only power evil has is what we give it. ----AND GO AHEAD AND FOLLOW THRU ON YOUR PLANS ALSO--- I'm 60 yrs old and I really struggled with this concept. I saw on History channel the WW2 Omaha beach landing (think Saving Private Ryan) and they interviewed the American survivors of it and a German survivor who was behind one of those machine guns--- It put to mind that meeting in the Hogshead Inn where Harry tells the kids that they don't know what it is like to face death. BTW I studied each childs face and body movements--THEY WERE AMAZING! ANYWAY--I finally understood that animal magnetism or evil was the cause of all that misery---they were all victims...they had to be stopped, of course.

idk if i'm allowed to post this...but another good website is www.savedarfur.org. you can register and make donations online. also, there are programs you can join related to savedarfur coalition in order to help. but idk if i will get banned for advertising now...

I think it's amazing that you and oter hp fans are getting together to do such a good deed. You are setting a great example on how you can use the internet and the HP massive phenomenon to help others.

Does anybody else feel that using the Harry Potter fandom for political causes somehow corrupts it? I understand that we need to save Sudan, but we are Harry Potter fans, not some constituency to be manipulated at will. What's next, Harry Potter fans united against Hillary Clinton?

I think this is a very serious, yet generous thing. Younger kids are into Harry Potter, so it might be good to sort of tell them of these things now... so that they will be devoted to saving the people in Darfur. But if kids do join in with the Harry Potter Alliance to Save Darfur, it might put images or ideas into their minds that shouldn't be meant for kids of their age. Yet, I agree with oblivions_abyss about using the Harry Potter fandom for political causes. We are Harry Potter fans, they shouldn't be "using" (I'm not sure of a right word to use.) Harry Potter to save something else. They should think up their own things to get people interested in what they have to say. Have their own ideas, and maybe people might respect them more.

it's great that such a popular site has posted something like this. hopefully it'll force people to wake up. mugglenet receives several hundred hits each day so this definitely gets the message out. two thumbs up for mugglenet. PS: take the time to donate your time and money to the darfur citizens, for they need it more than we do. they suffer daily because of a poor government that does nothing to stop the Rebels. it's not their fault. no one deserves this.

Fantastic idea!!! u guy's rock!!! (I'm in a lot of save Darfur genocide groups) :D

YAY!!!!!! 15 MIN TILL I GO TO THE THEATER!! sorry for being off topic but i'm about to go!! yay!

this is pretty cool that mugglenet and harry potter sites and everything are doing this. :)

thats is absolutely fantastic!!! mugglenet rocks unlike any other website, and with a huge fan base, it's an awesome way to help or make awareness of darfur!!! i totally support it!!! :)

This makes me really happy. I always knew that we Harry Potter fans would help to save the world. ....I wonder what Laura Mallory can say about this one.

so cool! hp is actually helping to solve real-life probs in the world! yay hp! *claps very fast*

hmmmm But isn't whats going on in Darfur a CIVIL WAR? And according to the Democrats we SHOULD NOT involve ourselves in CIVIL WARS? Oh well I guess its ok as long as they start it. This whole thing is just another "OH Look I'm doing Something Good So That Ill Feel Better But It Really Does Nothing" Oh heres an idea way not have a concert of some kind or some ribbons? Then people can feel good about themselves together while not helping no one. You know its funny how overseas people attack the US as trying to be the "world police"... except when they want something... then they act like we should of already done something! If we had already put troops into Darfur to stop this, libs would be calling for us to pull out now! I LOVE Harry Potter and using it to push POLITICAL ACTIVISM is sicking to me... what next, Harry Potter and the Order of The Phoenix Against Global Warming or Harry Potter and Universal Heathcare? Maybe when they raise our taxes to over 50% to pay for all of that they can put the Harry Potter logo on my pay stub so it wont look as bad. Something needs to be done in Darfur but this IS NOT THE WAY. The fact they have teamed up with one of the biggest lairs around, Joe Wilson shows that. Oh and to show how great he is... He lied about the status of his wife in the CIA (she was no longer covert, if she was why did they posed for pictures on the cover of a magazine that ran a story about it... yeah they really tried to hide her identity) and lied about Saddam trying to get yellowcake uranium from Niger in a op-ed in the New York Times, which when the leaders of Niger found out what he wrote they contacted the US government telling them that they had Told him that Saddam did try to get yellowcake from them.... "Mr. Wilson was the one guilty of twisting the truth and that, in fact, his report [to the CIA] supported the conclusion that Iraq had sought uranium." that was in the Washington Post. And people still listen to him?

This is a great thing to do and stand behind way to go!

It's so great that the HPA is helping out with this huge problem. It's horrid how many people aren't aware of this problem, and doing this really makes people care. let_it_be001 - i dont see how someone could be so heartless as to say that they are against this. people in darfur need as much help as they can get, and their situation will just get worse if we don't help. This isn't politics, this is a question of right and wrong. "Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory." -Albus Dumbledore

My school recently helped Darfur in our Lenten Project. We raised a lot of money and we all had fun while doing it. Helping was really cool and we got to meet some of the Lost Boys of Sudan, who walked their way to freedom and were faced with many challenges that most people never have to experience. To know what they went through is heart-breaking. I think helping Darfur is amazing and I'm happy that people everywhere are getting involved. Good Job Mugglenet and to everyone who is helping.

ginerva_weasley said "This isn't politics, this is a question of right and wrong." Of COURSE it is politics! They aren't asking fans to fly over there and stop it they are asking them to get the government to do it. So wouldn't that be political? How would it be paid for... higher taxes of course. I don't make much and I cant afford for them to be any higher and neither can my family. If you want to send more money to Africa so warlords can line their pockets even more, go ahead I guess, just don't force everyone else to do so. Oh and just so that you will know I'm no kid and I think its sick to try and use kids and young people who don't know all of the facts and just think its "cool" and what about helping the people of Iraq? Thats what we are doing now if you think its gotten worse think about this, the murder statistics are lower in Baghdad then they are in most major US cities, your more likely to get killed in New York City than in Iraq.... and that was Before the murder rate dropped last month! This is another one of those things that if you don't agree with it you must be "heartless or cruel" what happened to free speech? Oh yeah democrats only think that covers people that say what they like. Its horrible that they are using Harry Potter like this. let_it_be001 heres a raised goblet for you.

While I agree with this cause, I also agree with the people who believe Harry Potter should not be involved. The situation in Darfur is beyond the horror most of us will ever be able to imagine, let alone experience. I sat in on an interview with a woman from the region. This experience has haunted me since. But it is political. It is definitely political. This interview was done for a book about politics. Even during the time of World War II, Germany wasn't merely (I say "merely" only for lack of a better word) in a civil war. They were trying to control other countries as well. Germany made their genocide a global issue. There are always atrocities in war. I can't say what level of involvement our government should have. It's difficult not to have the bleeding heart conservatives always refer to when I have seen and touched a person without her ears or nose or, for that matter, non-murdered children. It is also difficult to think it is is wise for any country to get involved in the war atrocities of another country's civil war.

Having seen several decades of this world, and many failed policies and a few successful ones, it is my belief that the only kind of love that will help in Darfur is the kind that commits "blood and treasure" and sees the conflict through, even though it will last decades, and has its roots in the nations that are encouraging the killers. Any "peacekeeper" must be willing to shoot and able to shoot accurately, and any commander must realize that the aggressors carry their women and children with them and shoot between them. That is, when they haven't trained armies of eight- and ten-year-olds to shoot accurately, and without regard for their own lives. In my opinion, that war can only be ended by force, and anyone who attempts to use force in Darfur itself must be prepared to be accused of atrociities when the enemy is defeated. I'm sorry if I've lost your esteem for saying this, but I think a study of history, and of the aggressors and their actions, will support me. The future may or may not bear me out, of course.

haha the countdown is freaking out

SAVE DARFUR!

For those who are against the fandom helping, are you serious? This shouldn't be a matter pf politics! Do you wonder whether you will wake up tommorow? Children in Darfur are having to be constantly on guard, fearing for their lives. I don't understand how we can be sitting at home, on our fancy computers, arguing politics. People are dying, and we have the power to stop it. I for one am ecstatic that people like Emerson and Matt are using their influence to help. They have taken on the task that many dismiss saying "let someone more important handle it". Everyone should try and help to end this murder, no matter who they are. How dare you say that HP has no place in aiding Darfur.

Let me add to what I wrote before: most of us hear of atrocities, but get very little of the story. It is said of the Press that "if it bleeds, it leads." Serious, rational analysis and suggestions that sacrifice may be in order do not sell newspapers. The web sites that are likely to provide accurate information on these wars, their milieu, and the people involved are precisely those considered to have an unpopular 'slant' and not all of them are suitable for young ears and eyes. (Soldiers are known to use salty language sometimes.) Two of the best names to google for are James Dunnigan and Austin Bay. They are respected authors and analysts and Darfur is but a small part of what they cover. // In parts of the world long torn by war, lacking the order imposed by western-stype governance and its notions of integrity and justice, relief convoys are routinely held up for "taxes" by the same warlords, warriors, and gangs who are causing the trouble. Anyone wanting to change the system must be prepared to keep armed force in the country for the duration of the conflict, however many years, decades, or generations that might be. Otherwise when they leave, the aggressors will take their revenge on the people who were helped. This has been documented in many conflicts around the world. // I don't write this to cause despair and paralysis, but to urge serious analysis of what kind of action will really help, and what will only play into the hands of the aggressors and worsen the misery. // And yes, the first quote should have been "if it bleeds, it ledes." For the uninitiated: in publishing 'lead' refers to the metal, and to its use in adjusting the position of type in the frames that went into the presses, or today, simply to the adjusting of space around the type on the page. To avoid confusion, the story that goes first is "the lede."

Unlike the situation in Darfur, many Western nations [which most of us would presumably be residents and citizens of] assist Israel in their actions against the Palestinian people and annexation of their land, will we be organizing to stop this too?

If you click on the "concrete way" to help link they provide you'll see that this IS political. Of course everyone here is against genocide and wants to help. Just make sure you educate yourself before jumping in :-) For ex., in that link again, on the PotterCast page it takes you to, number 4 of their suggestions on how to stop genocide in Sudan (under the heading Advanced DADA- Divestment) it says "This is a reminder that in our world, money often does the talking. And in Darfur, if you cut off the flow of money, you cut off the flow of genocide." - end quote - well, it's not that simplistic and some people would disagree with that suggestion and say that cutting off the flow of money won't hurt the leaders so much as it will hurt the citizens that you're purportedly trying to help. Even *that* is too simplistic, but hopefully you see what I mean. Peace...

i think its great to help. cause i mean yes its the harry potter fandom coming togethe r but its more than that. its about people hwlping other people. are people saing pecause were harry potter fans its stupid to help? no way man, get a life. help is needed no matter what type of fans we are. i think its a great way to help.

I agree with let_it_be001. First of all this is about Harry Potter and a fantasy world. It shouldn't be mixed with events that are going on in real life. Secondly, the only way to a cure mess like Darfur would be to invade it with a very large army, declare martial law, and put on trial the people who caused the problems in the first place. Since nobody has the stomach to do that, all that will happen is people will write letters, march around with little placards, and pour money down a rat hole where 95% of it wont reach the people who need the help in the first place. It's a waste of time.

Good idea mugglenet. But why are you only singling out the one genocide, Can mugglenet only name one because I believe you should be smarter than that. Why only choose the one that pushes US interest. I am pretty sure you should take a stand against the Anti-Christ and call for the war in Iraq to end.

Ah, isn't that sweet? Another crass example of corporate compassion- kind of like Live Earth. Emerson clearly has no clue what the hell is going on, and he clearly wants to make a hugge show of how much he looks like he cares, while his announcement is designed in flat, sterile tones that betray that he could care less. I swear to God Spartz... if you got any more transparent, they'll start harvesting stem cells from you to make Cyran Wrap. Now, I know Notre Dame business school is notorious for just teaching it's students how to cheat it's consumer, but this is sad.

Since the Harry Potter books have so many fans, this Alliance is an amazing way to raise awareness for human rights issues around the world that are largely being ignored. (Maybe we could change the name of the group to Dumbledore's Army instead of HP Alliance, though?)

M'dear Aria, although I appreciate your wittiness in a place where it is often so hard to find, I really must protest the accompanying bitterness. I doubt that you know what went through Emerson's head as he made this announcement. You can assume, but you know that saying about assumptions. Oh, you know. The really short one. Two words. Starts with a 'never'. C'mon, three guesses. The high and mighty tones get old, m'friend. Please, scrape a bit of kindness out of the corners of what clearly is your dark and angst-ridden heart, and try putting it to good use. As for me, I don't much care for politics, and no, I am not very well informed on the genocide in Darfur. I know that people are being killed needlessly, and that is all I need to know to be outraged and pursue more information. Perhaps that was the point of this announcement, don't you think? To wake up people like me who haven't paid enough attention to what goes on outside their own country? There's no shame in being ignorant, but there is shame in being willfully ignorant.

I think most of us agree that darfur is a bad region and needs help. And I've heard from experts that helping darfur could be a key on winning the war on terrorism since the religious extremists like to hang around there. But the thing is people can't agree on how to deal with darfur or whether its worth it. I think its good giving money to whoever to help the region. hwowever Idon't think Mugglenet should get involved in politics. It's one thing if you are gonna be an activist for one issue. It's another if you are gonna be so biased about it and getting these so called "human rights" guys and Joe Wilson??? If you pay attention to the news that's pretty darn biased and not right. Bias and differences is a reason why Darfur is so screwed up. And I personally will not be listening to a podcast that have guys that that is gonna probably blame the united states, attack the president, blame the iraq war for God knows what.. AND ON TOP OF THAT, the mess in darfar is unfortunate. But you don't hear much about the Taliban and what they did and still do. You don't hear much anymore about Saddam and what he did to his people. You don't hear about the abuse iraqis face with their own. This is an example of extreme bias. I hate when people JUST FOCUS on Darfar. I understand it's a slaughter house and something doesn't change soon it's gonna spread and at somepoint the u.s and it's allies are gonna be FORCED to do something. And they got enough to worry about as it is. Sorry Mugglenet. I'll support the cause but I won't support the reasons nor will I listen to the podcast. It will be the only podcast from here I will not listen to. And I for one belive everyone should do the same as me but Iunderstand if you don't. It's not the issue I don't like it's the bias. It's the hatred for the u.s and praise for the UN when the UN.. look what happened in 1994! UN is corrupt.

To FawkesAshe: It's great that Harry Potter has this Alliance, but we're just a group of fans talking about our favorite books. This shouldn't be turned into a politcal forum. Plus, there are a lot of young children that read this, if Emerson can use them to ralley such huge support for Dafur, imagine what other causes he can use them for.

This is about stopping genocide. This is about fighting the Dark Arts. This is about preventing Fidelity Investments from investing in Chinese oil companies that are arming a military in Sudan that is raping, torturing, and killing unarmed civilians. This is about all of us, from every side of every political party, from every "House at Hogwarts" coming together united to make the first genocide of the twenty first century the last genocide of the twenty first century. To make the phrase never again, truly mean never again. This is something to be excited about and proud of being a part of. Those who want to claim that there is a bias are very right. There is a bias. The bias is that genocide is bad. That genocide must be stopped and that if we have the power to do something than we have a choice between what is right and what is easy. Mugglenet and Leaky and the HP Alliance are doing something amazing and it is wonderful to see so many HP fans coming together excited to spread love and fight the Dark Arts in the real world. It is a sad thing to see those who cower in fear, claiming that there is a bias toward a political party as if they were Cornelius Fudge himself. “’But if you’re going to work against me—‘ “’The only one against whom I intend to work,� said Dumbledore, ‘is Lord Voldemort. If you are against him, then we remain Conelius on the same side’� (GoF 709) The only one we’re working against is genocide. Not Republicans. Not Democrats. We’re all in this together. So if you want to take a stand, be like Dumbledore’s Army and wake the world up to something that it has by all accounts ignored, then we are on the same side. If you do not, then we have reached a parting of ways. We are not on the same side at that point. For at that point you may not be routing on the forces that are causing the genocide in Darfur, but you are routing on the forces of apathy and complacency that are keeping the genocide in Darfur active. Indeed, apathy is a po...

continued from above.... Indeed, apathy is a political choice. Inaction is a political choice. It allowed the Holocaust. It allowed the atrocities committed by Saddam Hussein. It allowed the genocide in Rwanda. It allowed safe harbor to Osama bin Laden in Sudan and Afghanistan. It allowed the Taliban to commit a reign of terror over Aghans. It And it has allowed a genocide to go on for four and a half years in Darfur that has killed over 400,000 people and displaced over 2 million in the middle of a desert. There are real nonpartisan and tangible things that you and I can do right now about this. And there are real lessons that Harry teaches us that we can take with us. Why not learn from them and do something about it? We have the numbers. We have the heart. Please join us in stopping the genocide in Darfur. Please. Each of us is more valuable than we realize. And each of us has the power to make a difference.