ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses the nature of the compassionate relation between the anti-genocide activists and their objects of compassion. The chapter shows that whereas East Timor solidarity activists describe their relation with the East Timorese people as one of 'solidarity', R2P-advocates speak of their relation to populations at risk in terms of 'responsibility'. It analyzes the moral deliberations and sentiments underpinning both kinds of empathic relations. In the case of the R2P-coalition that has been selected as a more contemporary example of anti-mass atrocity activism, the focus of compassion seemed to shift to the more depoliticized concept of 'populations', of groups devoid of any political or identifiable characteristics. 'The responsibility to protect is a commitment to act', it says on the homepage of the website of the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect. East Timor solidarity activists express their compassion in relations of 'solidarity'.
