September 18, 2006

Save Darfur Now:
Voices to End Genocide

A Week of Prayer and Action for Darfur

Prayer

Everything is burning, Lord, around me, around us – in me, in us. Everything is barren, hell, hell...!

Yet, Lord, we believe you are there, beside us.

We pray for all the Africans living now our same condition.

Bring back peace and tranquility to our beloved country.

Peace which is desired by everybody, the old and young, rich and poor, women and men. Amen. Amen. Let it be so.”

— Prayer from a Darfurian Woman

BACKGROUND HISTORY:

Darfur is an area the size of Texas in western Sudan where families have been victims of government-sponsored violence. An estimated 450,000 have died since the violence began in February 2003 and now over 2 million are displaced. About 85 percent of the displaced are women and children. Our Congress and President declared the situation to be genocide in 2004 and subsequently our government has provided funding for humanitarian aid and some support to the African Union which is the under-manned force currently in the region trying to maintain order. However, much more needs to be done to protect the people in Darfur. The African Union will be pulling out at the end of September, and the President of Sudan is refusing to allow a UN peacekeeping force to enter despite a UN Resolution which calls for UN peacekeeping troops to protect civilians. Meanwhile, the Government of Sudan has resumed a bombing campaign to attack remaining villages and its Janjaweed militia continues to attack camps set up for the internally displaced; this ongoing violence is impeding the delivery of humanitarian aid. As long as our government fails to treat Darfur as a priority, the genocide will continue. It will take all of us to remind our government that genocide is a priority.

DAYS OF ACTION:

Monday – Friday: Call-in days to President Bush

Join rally-goers and advocates all over the United States and call President Bush each day this week to ask him to do whatever is necessary to deploy a UN peacekeeping force to Darfur.
Call President Bush each day at 202-456-1111.
Sample Script: Hi. My name is _____ from _____. I am calling President Bush to ask him to do whatever is necessary to deploy a UN peacekeeping force to Darfur.
Go to www.savedarfur.org to sign up for weekly updates and future action.

Tuesday: Call-in day to Senator Lugar

Join Hoosiers across the state and call Senator Lugar to ask him to hold a hearing for Darfur.
Call (202) 224-4814 on Tuesday.
Sample script: Hi. My name is _____ from ____, Indiana, and I am calling to thank Senator Lugar for introducing legislation on Darfur and to encourage him to make sure it passes through the Senate and the House before the end of the legislative session. I also ask Senator Lugar to please schedule a hearing for Darfur before the full Senate Foreign Relations Committee, so that efforts to resolve the crisis might be revitalized. Thank you. (Give name and address.)

Wednesday:

Call your State Senator to ask for him to co-sponsor Senator Broden’s bill on targeted divestment. The State Senate’s directory (by ZIP code) is available online at www.in.gov/legislative. Click on “Who is Your Legislator?”
Sample Script: Hi. My name is _____ from __________, Indiana. I am calling to ask Senator (your senator’s name) to please co-sponsor Senator Broden’s bill on targeted divestment. (Give your name and address.)

Thank you for assisting the people of Darfur.

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