OTTAWA — Romeo Dallaire is calling young Canadians into the streets to promote international causes, especially Darfur.

"We need to get Canadian youth off their butts and into the streets to take on some of these significant international causes . . . and to demonstrate their internationalism," Dallaire said Wednesday. He said he believe's today's young people are more committed to global causes than their parents and he wants them to demonstrate that commitment.

The senator and retired general is promoting a Sunday rally in Toronto which he hopes will draw young people to activism on behalf of the beleaguered people of Darfur in Sudan.

He says his hope is that youth can prod the populace and the government into spearheading an international effort to stabilize Darfur and end the fighting which has killed thousands of people.

Justin Trudeau is to be the emcee of the Toronto rally, one of many scheduled around the world.

Dallaire, who led the ill-fated United Nations mission during the Rwandan genocide, is also pushing for a major international force to go into Sudan and stabilize Darfur.

He envisions a multi-national force of tens of thousands equipped with light armour and helicopters and with a mandate that would allow them to fight not only Sudanese rebels, but the Khartoum government, if necessary.

He said he hopes Canada would be willing to provide money and up to 600 troops for that mission.