1. The More Who Die,the Less
We Care:
The Twisted Arithmetic of
Compassion
Paul Slovic
Decision Research and University of
Oregon
WPA
Reno, Nevada
April 26, 2013

2. Since Mid 2011
• Sudanese government bombing villages in
the Nuba Mountains

4. These photos are copyrighted.
Please view them here:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/07/03/world/africa/20110704_SUDAN_GOBIG.html?ref=africa#1

5. US plans possible Sudan aid operation in defiance of
Khartoum January,2012
The National, January 2012
JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN// The Obama administration is planning a possible
humanitarian operation to prevent mass starvation in two Sudanese states in defiance
of the Khartoum government, which has refused to allow aid groups access.
“We are simply not going to sit back and watch while 100,000 people starve to death,”
a state department official, speaking on condition of anonymity told The National.
“We are actively planning and Khartoum knows this.”
On Wednesday, the US’ special envoy to Sudan, Princeton Lyman, told reporters in
South Africa that about half a million people could face “emergency conditions
bordering on famine”.
“That’s something that our government at the highest levels cannot let happen,” said
the state department official.
“Washington has given this a great deal of thought, as it and others have made clear
that it will be difficult to ignore further catastrophe in Southern Kordofan.”

7. LETTER
ABBREVIATED
Princeton Lyman
October 2,2012

9. Just this past April, in a talk at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial
Museum, President Obama declared the following:
It’s a bitter truth—too often, the world has failed to
prevent the killing of innocents on a massive scale. And
we are haunted by the atrocities that we did not stop and
the lives we did not save. . . . Three years ago today, I
joined many of you for a ceremony of remembrance at
the U.S. Capitol. And I said that we had to do
“everything we can to prevent and end atrocities.” And
so I want to report back to some of you today to let you
know that as President I’ve done my utmost to back up
those words with deeds. Last year, in the first-ever
presidential directive on this challenge, I made it clear
that “preventing mass atrocities and genocide is a core
national security interest and a core moral responsibility
of the United States of America.” Lyman 3

10. Ultimately, our essential question is
What is the US prepared to do—
now—to respond to the large-scale
morbidity and malnutrition—
extending to starvation and death
from diseases related to
malnutrition—that is now
everywhere in rebel-held territories
in South Kordofan and the Blue
Nile?

11. Do Taboo Tradeoffs Block Action
in Sudan?
• Action to save distant lives is
dangerous, difficult, costly, and not seen to
be in our national interest.
• We give lip service to human lives but are
unwilling to sacrifice any part of
security, political, economic, or other
objectives in order to save lives!!!