50 States, 50 Days of Action for Peace, Protection, and Justice for Sudan Grassroots groups and Darfuris across the nation have joined together to say: No support for sham elections in Sudan! Beginning February 20th, for the 50 days leading up to the April 2010 election, regular citizens in every state will take targeted and effective action to say, we do not support elections that will legitimize an indicted war criminal.Under the current climate of violence and political intimidation, the Sudanese elections (scheduled for April 11, 2010) will be anything but free and fair. With insecurity continuing in Darfur and violence mounting in the South, fraudulent elections in April could be a dangerous flashpoint for Sudan. Darfuris living in IDP and refugee camps and the Diaspora are boycotting upcoming elections. These elections will do nothing but legitimize the engineers of the first genocide in the 21st century.Join us in the Sudan Sham Elections 2010 Campaign. Each state will organize one day of action. Actions will be easy and available for everyone in the state to take, yet targeted and effective. Our grassroots actions will support high-level advocacy campaigns by the national groups: Enough, Save Darfur, and Genocide Intervention Network. Actions will urge our government not to legitimize a war criminal’s reign through elections built around violence, intimidation, and coercion.Join this national, grassroots campaign! Visit the website, Sudan Sham Elections 2010, to:1. Sign the petition2. Find your state on the map - contact the leader to get involved locally.3. If your state doesn’t yet have a leader, sign up! We need all 50 states represented for success.4. Tell 3 friends about the upcoming campaign.We are regular citizens around the 50 United States and DC, standing with the people of Sudan—the marginalized, the disenfranchised, and the brutally oppressed—in demanding truth and strength. An indicted war criminal, responsible for millions of deaths, will never be a legitimate leader. Peace, protection, and justice will come from strength in effort and conviction from our leaders.We are still looking for leaders to help reach out to several states. Contact Katie-Jay Scott, ktj[at]stopgenocidenow.org to get involved!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Darfur Is Forgotten

Don’t Remain Silent, Rally to Stop Darfur Genocide!

Next Wednesday, February 3, the Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy, activists, Sudanese and human rights groups will rally for Darfur and deliver a strong message to the Obama administration. There have been reports of renewed violence in Darfur. The April 2010 elections are a sham. They will not be free and fair in the current environment of intimidation where an indicted war criminal, responsible for 20 years of violence and terror, is the primary candidate for president. We should not legitimize or support his rule by accepting the results this upcoming election.

During this critical time for Darfur and Sudan, we must not remain silent. We must stand with our friends in the camps, and tell our administration that we will not back down until there is real change on the ground.

WHEN and WHERE: Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010.

10:00 am:     Meet at the Washington, DC Mall
11:00 a.m. to 12:00pm:     Rally from West Capitol Hill
12:00pm:     March to the White House

WHY: Urge the Obama Administration to:

• STOP ICC-indicted President Omar Al-Bashir’s bid for re-election
• STOP sentence issuance for Darfuri Opposition Leaders without guaranteeing them rights to a fair trial
• STOP unfair elections & promote free and legitimate FUTURE elections including a freed Darfur.
• CANCEL the Doha Negotiotians for Peace that lack proper Darfuri representation
• IMPLEMENT UNSC Res.1769 that calls for 26,000 UN troops to be deployed to Darfur.
• REMOVE Arab Janjaweed and their families out of Darfuri land.
• GUARANTEE PROTECTION and compensation for Darfuri villagers wanting to return to their homes.
• ALLOW expelled humanitarian organizations back in Darfur to help genocide victims
• CLARIFY the US policy towards Darfur.

Download this flyer and spread the word.

ORGANIZED BY: Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy

We must continue to stand with Sudan, especially during the critical time that leads to upcoming elections on April 11, 2010. To learn more about the elections visit:

Enough Project: Stealing Elections in Slow Motion

Human Rights Watch: Sudan: Abuses Undermine Impending Elections 

To take actions today that support the rally visit our Urgent Action page

To help bring transparency to the process by which United States ensures strict adherence to unambiguous benchmarks, and apply the appropriate pressures and incentives accordingly, a coalition of Sudan advocacy groups, Sudan Now, has today released a strategy paper aiming to provide guidance for how officials, concerned citizens, and others in the international community can assess genuine progress toward a lasting peace in Sudan.

The benchmarks are designed to hold the Obama administration to its promise to set and enforce clear and pre-determined benchmarks of progress for the government of Sudan. The relative progress toward or away from these benchmarks would then determine the pressures and incentives—so-called “carrots” and “sticks”—that would be brought to bear in 2010, a moment the Obama Administration itself said, “can either lead to steady improvements in the lives of the Sudanese people or degenerate into even more violent conflict and state failure.”

To read Clear Benchmarks for Sudan Strategy Paper, download pdf.

Sudan Now is a coalition of anti-genocide advocacy organizations committed to bringing meaningful and lasting peace to Sudan and encouraging strong American leadership and action to achieve this goal. For more information, visit SudanActionNow.com.

Sudan on the Brink - a Fire and Drum Rally

Why: Sudan 2010 is Sudan on the Brink. With elections in April and the all-important referendum only a year away, 2010 could see Sudan explode, with the world as spectator. The genocide in Darfur continues, and violence is rising alarmingly in the South. The Khartoum Government ignores its commitments, beating and jailing the opposition and making a sham of the upcoming elections, elections which are partially funded by our own tax dollars. It is time for us to stand with the people of Sudan. We will light a fire and make noise and sustain, demanding that our leaders work to impose immediate pressure and sanctions on President al-Bashir’s government. Peace, Protection, and Justice for Sudan Now!

When: Saturday, January 9, 2010 - 6:00 - 7:00pm

Where: Los Angeles Federal Building
11000 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024
Park in the Federal Building Lot, entrance on Veteran
Meet at the southwest corner of Wilshire and Veteran

Our rally is part of Sudan365 – A Beat for Peace. Thousands of activists will gather in 13 countries to warn of worsening conflict in Sudan. Sudan365, a year of campaigning for Sudan, has been organized by a coalition of group.

The effort comes with one year remaining until a referendum that will decide the future of Sudan and marks the five year anniversary of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended the civil war between Northern and Southern Sudan and called for this referendum. With many highly contentious issues still to be resolved and amidst increasing inter-ethnic violence in the South and continued attacks on civilians in Darfur, there is a real risk of a return to conflict that could destabilize the entire region and place civilians in grave danger.

Join us!

Download this FLYER. Pass it out or post it in your community!

To find an event in the United States visit the Save Darfur Coalition events calendar.

President Obama, the time to impose pressure and consequences is now!

In wake of pre-election human rights violations by Government, please join over 50 organizations representing Sudan advocates and Sudanese expatriates from around the country, together with activist-actress Mia Farrow and Sudan expert Eric Reeves, in asking President Obama to impose consequences on the Khartoum Government for public violations of human rights in advance of the elections and for the eroding situation on the ground.

Call the White House at 202.456.1111 and tell the President:

I stand with over 50 organizations that sent you an open letter asking for consequences and pressure on the Government of Sudan that ensure credible elections, US support of the ICC, multilateral enforcement of the UN Security Council arms embargo, and to direct Special Envoy Gration to make public an assessment of humanitarian services and brief the House and Senate on the classified documents that are a part of the Administration’s Sudan policy.

Please e-mail President Obama. Copy and paste this message, and feel free to add your own thoughts.

Dear President Obama:

I stand with over 50 organizations that sent you an open letter asking for consequences and pressure on the Government of Sudan. 

In the open letter, advocates recommend that President Obama 1) Lead the United States and the broader international community in applying the pressures necessary to ensure that the conditions for credible elections mandated by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) are enacted and implemented without further delay, 2) Act immediately to secure multilateral asset freezes and travel bans on National Congress Party (NCP) leaders, multilateral support of the International Criminal Court cases against key Sudanese officials, multilateral enforcement of the UN Security Council arms embargo; and denial of multilateral debt relief, 3) Direct Special Envoy Gration, the State Department and USAID to conduct and make public an assessment of the current status of humanitarian services and 4) Direct Special Envoy Gration to promptly brief the appropriate House and Senate committees on the contents of the classified documents that are part of the Administration’s Sudan policy.

To read full letter: http://savedarfurma.org/2009-1215 Press release on letter to Obama final.pdf

Sincerely,

(your name)

Please take the extra minute to send the same message to Secretary of State Clinton.

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For Immediate Release

October 19, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Sudan Now campaign, which comprises several human rights and anti-genocide groups, commends the Obama Administration for constructing a clear statement of U.S. policy in support of a sustainable peace in Sudan.  However, the Administration’s diplomatic efforts to date have led member organizations to question whether the policy, as articulated today, will be fully implemented in the days ahead.  Success will require President Obama, Vice President Biden and Secretary of State Clinton to live up to campaign promises and ensure that consequences are put into practice now for committing mass atrocities and undermining peace efforts.

Randy Newcomb, president of Humanity United, said: “We are glad the policy review has finally been completed, particularly given the urgency of the situation on the ground in Sudan. The Administration said many of the right things about Sudan today. But a sustainable peace in Sudan is more about meaningful implementation than it is about drafting a policy on paper.  Peace will require the U.S. to build and lead a multilateral coalition anchored in full implementation of the North-South peace deal, a credible and inclusive Darfur peace process, and a long-term commitment to address the root causes of conflict in Sudan.  This will require a more robust and realistic U.S. diplomatic effort than we have seen to date.”

Specifically, Sudan Now members believe that to achieve lasting peace, President Obama and his team must:

1.    Provide support for AU/UN efforts to bring Darfuri civil society into the peace process, and become more proactive in working with the Sudanese parties and the mediation to craft a peace proposal that addresses the root causes of conflict;
2.    Build an international coalition for strict implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and to counter the growing violence in the South; and,
3.    Implement a policy that creates real consequences for those in Sudan who continue to attack civilians, block life-saving aid, undermine peace and obstruct justice.

John Prendergast, co-founder of the Enough Project, said: “The Administration has outlined a balanced set of incentives and pressures for future use.  But the time for applying pressure has already arrived.  The Administration must be prepared to build and lead an international coalition of countries that will create consequences for any party in Sudan that undermines the peace process in Darfur and the peace agreement between the North and South.”

The situation in Sudan is urgent: The government has launched a new offensive in Darfur and it blocks monitoring efforts of the UN/AU mission; meanwhile, nearly three million Darfuris living in camps face the threat of rape and aid cut-offs.  The country’s president remains wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, torture and attacks against civilian populations. And a return to North-South civil war looms in advance of the 2011 self-determination referendum.

Sam Bell, executive director of Genocide Intervention Network, concluded: “The rhetoric of the policy review is thoughtful and well-crafted, but the jury is still very much out on whether this Administration is genuinely committed to resolving Sudan’s multiple conflicts once and for all. Too often, Sudan policy seems like an afterthought. With an independence referendum for South Sudan looming in 2011, the situation demands the President’s personal and steadfast attention.”

###

Sudan Now is a campaign committed to bringing meaningful and lasting peace to Sudan and encouraging strong American leadership and action to achieve this goal. For more information, visit SudanActionNow.com. Campaign participants include Humanity United, the Enough Project at the Center for American Progress, Stop Genocide Now, Investors Against Genocide and Genocide Intervention Network.

In these crucial days for Darfur and all of Sudan, as violence erupts and tension builds, it is crucial to keep pressuring our leaders to do what is right for innocent civilians.

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Please e-mail President Obama. Copy and paste this message, and feel free to add your own thoughts.

Dear President Obama:

Special Envoy Gration keeps talking about trust, carrots, honey, cookies, and stars as policy towards a genocidal government. However, Human Rights Watch has reported this week on new attacks in Darfur by the Sudanese government, with dozens of innocent civilians dying and several villages destroyed.

Your appointed Special Envoy to Sudan, General Scott Gration, is quoted as recently saying: “Up to now, the efforts I’ve seen make me say, ‘Yes, I’m willing to take a risk that I’ll be betrayed,’ and if that trust is violated, then I believe pressure should come.”

Innocent civilians will continue to die, as the US Special Envoy takes the risk and waits to be betrayed, over an over again by al-Bashir.

You both promised a strong policy with tough measures to ensure peace and justice come to Darfur, and it is now time for action.

Sincerely,

your name

-Please take the extra minute to send the same message to Secretary of State Clinton.

On Monday September 21, 2009, UN declared International Day of Peace, we are asking you to join others worldwide to fast for Peace and Justice in Sudan.

Those already committed to the September 21 fast include Don Cheadle, Mia Farrow, Sir Richard Branson, Pamela Omidyar, John Prendergast, Taylor Hanson, Shannon Sedgwick-Davis, James Michael, Oregon’s Secretary of State Bill Bradbury and many more from around the world. Over 250 people have already signed up on the Facebook Event!

At this critical moment for Sudan, as the Obama Administration is about to release their Sudan policy, we need your help in inviting members of Congress to join in this personal act of solidarity with the people of Darfur and Sudan. As a member of Congress, you elected them to represent your values. They are in a unique position to lead on issues that have an impact way beyond our State and nation, and Sudan is the right place to stand in solidarity with people that are in grave danger.

Use this letter to email or personally call your Representatives or Senators.

If they agree to fast, let us know at join[at]fastdarfur.org so we can add their name to the growing list of fasters.

The Urgent Need for a Different U.S. Strategy

John Prendergast of the Enough Project and Sudan Now have released an open letter to the Obama Administration as part of a series that outlines practical steps for peace in the Sudan.

The Obama administration has almost completed its policy review on Sudan. There is, however, a major problem with the administration’s emerging policy: while an internal U.S. government agreement on tactical pressures and incentives has been reached, the broader diplomatic strategy through which these pressures and incentives will be enforced is fundamentally flawed.

The full text of the letter can be found here.

Said Enough Co-founder John Prendergast, “To avert a plunge to full-scale national war in Sudan, the Obama administration must alter its diplomatic strategy in both the South and in Darfur. In the South, the U.S. should work to develop costs for the ruling National Congress Party’s provision of support to ethnic-based militias and deliberate obstruction of the implementation of the CPA. In Darfur, the U.S. should lay down a peace proposal that addresses the core issues of displaced and refugee Darfuri populations, and work to get the parties on board. Only when the diplomatic strategy is right will the new Obama policy framework have any chance for success.”

The full text of the letter can be found here.

This week is critical for the future of Sudan as it is likely that the long awaited Sudan policy will be finalized by the Secretary of State, President Obama and their high level advisors. We are writing to ask you to take a series of action to help influence the Obama Administration to choose the right course in its Sudan policy.

Take Immediate Action Today:

Text Secretary Clinton at 90822 with the simple message, “I stand with Sudan Now”

If you use Twitter, send this message to the Dept of State at the DoS official address “I stand with #SudanNow @dipnote”

Please forward this note to your friends and colleagues and ask them to join you.

Here’s the background:

Leading activists, concerned that the Obama administration is heading in the wrong direction in its Sudan policy, have joined together and launched Sudan Now, a campaign that challenges President Barack Obama and his top officials, including Vice President Joseph Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, to live up to previous statements and campaign promises and to take strong and immediate action in Sudan.

Sudan Now is calling upon the U.S. to lead a more effective and urgent peace process for Darfur; build an international coalition for strict implementation of the North-South peace deal; and implement a policy that creates real consequences for those who continue to attack civilians, block life-saving aid, undermine peace and obstruct justice.

Members of the coalition include Humanity United, the Enough Project at the Center for American Progress, Stop Genocide Now and Investors Against Genocide. Read more at www.SudanActionNow.com.

Thank you for your support

On Monday September 21, 2009, UN declared International Day of Peace, we ask you to join others worldwide to fast for Peace and Justice in Sudan.

WHAT: Water-only fast from midnight-midnight on Monday September 21, 2009. For those who are unable to fast water-only we encourage you to participate by eating refugee rations of 800 calories for the entire day.

WHO: It began April 27, with Mia Farrow’s 12-day hunger strike. Others, including Sir Richard Branson, Peter Gabriel, Maria Bello, Congressman Harold Payne, Senator Bill Frist, and many more, taking the baton, water-only fasting — a personal expression of outrage — a global community standing in solidarity with innocent civilians in extreme danger.

Those already committed to the September 21 fast include Don Cheadle, Mia Farrow, Sir Richard Branson, Pamela Omidyar, John Prendergast, Taylor Hansen, Shannon Sedwick-Davis, James Michael, Oregon’s Secretary of State Bill Bradbury and many more from around the world. Over 200 people have already signed up on the Facebook Event!

JOIN: Send an email to join[at]fastdarfur.org that includes your NAME, LOCATION, TYPE OF FAST, and DATE.

WHY: The situation in Sudan is urgent. Nearly 3 million Darfuris living in camps face the threat of rape and aid cut-offs; the country’s president remains wanted for war crimes and crimes against humanity; and a return to full-scale North-South civil war looms. The Obama administration and other world leaders must:

1. Lead a more effective and urgent peace process for Darfur
2. Build an international coalition for strict implementation of the North-South peace deal
3. Implement a policy that creates real consequences* for those who continue to attack civilians, block life-saving aid, undermine peace, and obstruct justice

FURTHER ACTION: More than 10 members of the i-ACT team will join in the fast. We personally challenge you to get at least 10 people you know to fast in solidarity with the people of Darfur.

Citing the 3 million Darfuris suffering in camps, group says Agwai “misses the big picture” in declaring end to crisis

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Enough Project at the Center for American Progress released the following statement today concerning the remarks of departing UNAMID commander Martin Luther Agwai who declared, “As of today, I would not say there is a war going on in Darfur.”

Enough Project Executive Director John Norris noted, “The outgoing commander is correct that there has been a lull in fighting in Darfur, but he entirely misses the big picture in doing so. What he and others conveniently fail to mention: the three million Darfuris stuck in refugee and displaced camps unable to return to their homes because of insecurity and violence. Instead of offering self-congratulatory remarks, the entire international community should be appalled that after more than six years they have failed to create the conditions on the ground that would allow displaced people to return home by disarming the janjaweed, holding perpetrators of earlier war crimes accountable, securing a viable peace deal, and putting a credible peacekeeping force in place.”

Enough project co-Founder John Prendergast added, “The Obama administration is not leading a new peace process for Darfur; it is more energetically supporting a failed one. The United States must urgently lead a group of concerned nations—including Egypt and China—to offer sustained, high-level support for peace talks that focus on developing a draft peace proposal that addresses the core issues of the conflict and empowers the head mediator to reach a political settlement.” As U.N. General Downplays Crisis, Enough and Sudan Now Stress Urgency for Obama Administration

This week the coalition of anti-genocide advocacy organizations announced the launch of a bold new campaign called Sudan Now: Keep the Promise. The campaign challenges President Barack Obama and top U.S. administration officials to live up to their campaign and political promises by taking strong and immediate action to help end the international crisis in Sudan and bring a lasting peace to the people of that country. Members of the coalition include Humanity United, the Enough Project at the Center for American Progress, Stop Genocide Now, and Investors Against Genocide.

As part of the campaign’s launch, a series of print and online advertisements are appearing in national publications this week. The advertisements feature statements made by President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Secretary Clinton, which focused on applying “real pressure” to, and ensuring “strong consequences” for, the government of Sudan. In sharp contrast, the U.S. administration’s current approach, according to Sudan Now members, seems to favor incentives and concessions over strong, comprehensive action.

For additional information:

VISIT the Enough Project’s blog, Enough Said, for updates on this issue.
FOLLOW the Enough Project on Twitter, http://twitter.com/enoughproject.

After the ICC came out with an arrest warrant against President of Sudan, al-Bashir, Darfuris everywhere celebrated. For us activists, this also appeared to be the beginning of serious pressure against the brutal dictator. Many of the displaced innocent civilians living in camps suffered greatly from the retaliation that immediately followed the warrant, but they stayed strong in their commitment and belief in justice. They also saw great hope in the new President of the United States, Obama, and a dream team administration which includes Vice-president Biden, Secretary Clinton, and Ambassador Rice.

The Obama administration was late in responding to al-Bashir’s criminal expulsion of aid agencies following the warrant. It was also late in appointing a Special Envoy to Sudan. It is very late in coming out with a concrete, comprehensive and effective strategy for peace in all of Sudan. Now, Darfuris and activists are afraid that the Obama administration is not only late but also heading in the wrong direction.

Special Envoy to Sudan, Major General J. Scott Gration, has been sending the wrong signal to al-Bashir and the world. He has mentioned the relaxing of sanctions against the Government of Sudan and even the return of displaced people, at a point in time when there is absolutely no security in their lands.

Activists, including many Sudanese now living in the US, demand better from the person whose statements and actions can have an immediate impact on the lives of millions in Sudan.

Please read the letter drafted by activists around the US. You may download the letter in pdf form, where you can see the list of organizations that have signed on.

August 13, 2009

Major General J. Scott Gration (Retired)
Special Envoy to Sudan
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520

cc: President Barack Obama, Vice President Joseph Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,
Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson, Undersecretary of Democracy and
Global Affairs Maria Otero, Members of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Members
of the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs, US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice

Dear Special Envoy Gration:

We write to you in response to your testimony before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on July 30, 2009. We appreciate your deep commitment to engaging all countries and parties concerned about peace for Sudan and your focus on working toward the successful implementation of the CPA. However, we are extremely concerned about key elements of your approach towards the continuing humanitarian crisis in Darfur and to the Government of Sudan (GoS).

We believe that your conciliatory stance and reluctance to criticize the GoS both excuses and emboldens the GoS thereby facilitating its ongoing reign of terror and well-known strategy of “divide and rule.” Candidate Obama promised that if he became president he would “take immediate steps to end the genocide in Darfur by increasing pressure on the Sudanese and pressuring the government to halt the killing and stop impeding the deployment of a robust international force.” We fear that your approach to Sudan is at odds with the President’s promise and will quash the hopes of all Sudanese for justice, peace, and the end of the culture of impunity that has afflicted Sudan.

We implore you to consider the following aspects of your performance as Special Envoy which we consider problematic:

1. Failing to both acknowledge ongoing human rights violations by the GoS and consider these violations as another component of its genocidal campaign

2. Failing to acknowledge behavior by the GoS that demonstrates its lack of commitment to peace and justice

3. Failing to hold the GoS accountable for such aforesaid behavior

4. Failing to define and promote a strong sanctions policy

5. Downplaying Sudan as a “State Sponsor of Terror” and suggesting normalization of relations with the U.S.

6. Neglecting to adequately engage with or incorporate the priorities expressed by Darfuri civil society and the Darfuri Diaspora.

These problems are elaborated below.
1. Failing to both acknowledge ongoing human rights violations by the GoS and consider these violations as another component of its genocidal campaign: Your public statements as Special Envoy have emphasized your hard work and progress in Sudan, but have glossed over the ongoing plight of Darfuris, particularly IDPs and refugees who struggle daily with conditions of despair, helplessness, and fear. In recent months, we have seen:

• An ongoing campaign of intimidation of IDP leaders, including the arrest of thirteen IDP camp leaders between June 28 and August 9, and reports of torture and targeted assassinations;
• The March 2009 expulsion and confiscation of over $5 million in assets of 16 NGOs, which provided critical services to over one million IDPs;
• Continuing harassment, restrictions and delays of humanitarian operations for the NGOs still operating in Sudan;
• The installation of Sudanese NGOs linked to Khartoum who not only fail to provide adequate aid, but use relief services to blackmail or punish the IDP camp residents who criticize Bashir’s administration;
• The GoS’s failure to admit the four new aid organizations as agreed in mid-June;
• Continuing restrictions and delays to the implementation of the UNAMID forces;
• A Janjaweed attack on Kalma Camp in June 2009;
• The GoS sentencing more than 110 Darfuris to death after questionable trials; and
• The GoS censoring its media and arresting and detaining human rights activists in unknown locations.

There are numerous other documented instances of human rights violations by the GoS during the past four months. However, there is scant, if any, evidence of actions by the GoS showing that it is sincerely interested in peace with Darfur, South Sudan or other marginalized Sudanese.

Furthermore, it is unacceptable that crimes such as those listed above are not considered genocidal merely because of a reduction in the number of violent, direct attacks carried out by the GoS since 2004-06. Current abuses are similar to those of the past, which are included in the State Department’s reports on the Darfur genocide. Changing the nomenclature will send a signal of pardon to the GoS, damage our leverage in stopping the violence and perpetuate the impunity that has facilitated the suffering of the Darfuri civilians as a result of their own government’s policies.

2. Failing to acknowledge behavior by the GoS that demonstrates its lack of commitment to peace and justice: The policies of the GoS against its people, whether in Darfur or South Sudan or other marginalized areas, have been deliberately established, well-entrenched, and ruthlessly pursued over decades. It is a mistake to believe that friendly talk will convince the GoS to change its policies. Indeed, it was only because of powerful multi-lateral and multi-dimensional pressures that the GoS agreed to the CPA, ending the 22 year conflict between the GoS and the South. The GoS has a longstanding record of making agreements, but not abiding by the agreements. Partial performance, delayed performance, and non-performance are common results of solemn commitments from the GoS. The CPA is a critically important example of all three performance types.

In Darfur, the GoS has frequently entered into ceasefire agreements and bombed Darfur within days. In February 2009, the GoS and JEM signed an agreement to take “good faith” measures to negotiate for peace; before the negotiations could resume, the GoS expelled the 16 humanitarian aid organizations. The UN Security Council has issued 30 resolutions regarding Sudan since 2003, several of them because the GoS violated previous UNSC resolutions. The UNSC first ordered disarming the Janjaweed in Resolution 1556 on July 30, 2004. The GoS repeatedly agreed to disarm the Janjaweed, but has made no efforts to do so.

The U.S. cannot assume that the GoS will keep its commitments. Instead, specific negative consequences for non-performance must be made clear and imposed if necessary.

3. Failing to hold the GoS accountable: You have spoken publicly of incentives for the GoS, but avoid talk of or planning for increased pressure. Given the long history of crimes against humanity by the GoS, the ongoing human rights violations, and the ICC warrants for the arrest of senior members of the GoS, U.S. policy must not simply ignore history and start “fresh” with the GoS with “no preconceptions.” Instead, U.S. policy must be tough-minded, and define specific benchmarks for significant improvements by the GoS if it wishes to avoid substantial new pressures being applied, let alone pressures being relieved.

4. Failing to define and promote a strong sanctions policy: We welcomed your recent self-correction, published on August 10 in your “This I Believe” statement on Sudan, in which you state that sanctions against the Government of Sudan should not be lifted now. We are glad that you agree that the products and services needed for development in South Sudan should be enabled by administration of appropriate exceptions rather than by lifting economic sanctions on the GoS. The SPLM Secretary General, Pa’gan Amum Okiech, in his recent House testimony, gave an excellent framework for lifting sanctions: “…the lifting of sanctions should be linked to the full implementation of the CPA and to the resolution of the conflict in Darfur, and any steps by the United States Government towards that end should be conditioned on the achievement of specific actions and concrete steps in building peace and transition to democracy. The following, among others, can be identified as concrete steps forward – the demarcation of borders; the adoption of the referendum law and a National Security Act that respects freedoms; the lifting of press censorship; the institution of a transparent oil sector; the implementation of the CPA decision of Abyei, and the achievement of a monitored Ceasefire in Darfur.” We look forward to seeing you adopt a similarly strong sanctions policy, which should include imposing additional punitive measures if the GoS continues human rights abuses or fails to meet its obligations to peace, justice, and safety of its citizens.

5. Downplaying Sudan as a “State Sponsor of Terror” and normalization of relations with U.S.: We were deeply troubled by your assertion that there is “no evidence” to support that Sudan is a state sponsor of terror. Although the facts may be classified regarding exactly what assistance Khartoum has provided to the U.S. in the war against terror, it is public knowledge, reflected in Department of State reports on terrorism, that weapons from Iran intended for Hamas travel through Sudan. In March 2009, Sudan acknowledged a January 2009 aerial attack on a convoy near the Sudan border with Egypt. Furthermore, Chadian rebel forces supported by the GoS have repeatedly attacked Chadian government officials and property as well as civilians. These are obvious examples that Sudan is a state sponsor of international terrorism, as defined by U.S. law. Furthermore, apart from the evidence that Sudan is a state sponsor of international terrorism, normalization of relations with the GoS is incompatible with the fact that the GoS continues to support wide-spread abuses that meet the definition of terrorism against millions of its own people.

6. Neglecting to adequately engage with or incorporate the priorities expressed by Darfuri civil society and the Darfuri Diaspora: We respectfully request that you take into account the priorities and problems expressed by Darfuri civilians in IDP and refugee camps and in the Diaspora. In particular, note their clear and consistent desires:

• For justice and the end of the culture of impunity in Sudan,
• For safety and protection, the prerequisites for IDPs and refugees to be able to return to their home villages, and
• For strong pressures to be brought to bear on the GoS.

Darfuris are eager to engage with you and have reached out in a variety of ways. Communications from Darfuris are sent in various forms daily to the Sudan Desk at the Department of State. IDP camp leaders met with the African Union Panel on Darfur in June, and their requests are public knowledge. Letters from Darfuri expatriates in the U.S. were delivered to the White House and State Department on July 22nd. Please, take advantage of these opportunities and take additional steps to reach out and engage with Dafuris.

We thank you for your hard work to help resolve the many complex conflicts in Sudan. We believe the root cause is the oppression and marginalization of the majority of the people by the minority NCP party, which is intent on remaining in power by any means. Our hope is that the suggestions in this letter will be valuable in the difficult work ahead to bring to fruition the goal of peace in Darfur and all of Sudan.

What: Darfur Rally

*Support the International Criminal Court (ICC)

*Express the Dire Need for Humanitarian Assistance

*Protect the Women and Children of Darfur

*A panel discussion/dialogue/activist networking event will follow the rally.

When: Thursday, August 13, 2009, 12:30-4:00 pm

Where: Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza, New York City
47th Street and First Avenue
near United Nations visitors’ entrance

Please come to stand with Darfuris, Sudanese, Americans, Africans, Europeans, Canadians, Asians and Middle-Easterners, and human rights activists to support the survivors and those still in grave danger in Darfur. Ask to bring Justice by supporting the ICC to arrest Al-bashir and all suspects in Sudan. Support re-entry of humanitarian organizations, and protect the women and children of Darfur. Send peace keepers to save the lives of innocent now!!

Who: Organized and supported by: Darfur Rehabilitation Project, Inc. (DRP) in cooperation with Afrikan Poetry Theatre, Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy, Darfur Human Rights, Inc., Darfur Peoples Association, Friends of Darfur, Fur Cultural Revival, National Religious Leaders of African Ancestry,
Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO), Women in the Diaspora

It has been almost three weeks since we returned from the refugee camps on the Chad-Darfur border. Each day I wake up and think about our beautiful friends. I know many of you took daily action during i-ACT, as you have since our first trip in 2005. Our government, then and now, has not done enough to bring peace to Adef, Achta, Abdullaziz, Rahma, Fatne and all our friends who have seen unimaginable horrors and who have been forced to flee their homes to displacement and refugee camps, where their lives remain on hold.

Today, I ask you to join Damanga Coalition for a Washington DC rally to demand our government step up and lead in the right direction towards peace and justice for all of Sudan.

WHEN: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at 1:00 p.m.
WHERE: Starts from the Lafayette square in front of the White House.
WHAT: Rally at the White House. Then walk to the State Department at 2:35 p.m. and arrive at 2:50 p.m.

Rally ends at 4:00 p.m.

If you cannot attend the rally, please join us in a National Call-In Day to the White House. Here is what you can do:

On July 22, contact the White House in any of the following ways:

* Call 202-456-1111
* Fax 202-456-2461
* Email the White House with their online form
* Become a Fan and Post to the White House’s official Facebook page
* If you have a Twitter account, post: @WhiteHouse Support Bashir’s arrest warrant, strict trade sanctions on Sudanese oil and the return home of the displaced. #obama #darfur

Ask President Obama to help the people of Darfur by:
* Supporting the ICC and the arrest warrant against Omar al-Bashir
* Ensuring the IMMEDIATE deployment of the 26,000 UNAMID Peace Forces to Darfur with a full mandate, helicopters, logistics and necessary supplies needed.

Please, join in supporting a peaceful Darfur and Sudan. Your voice is their voice in our government.

Peace, KTJ

Check it out! We’re about to start a 2-way chat with the Obama school children in Camp Djabal!!!

Watch live streams there from other refugee camps around the world and learn more about the situation in Chad, Syria and Pakistan.

World Refugee Day (WRD) is a time of celebration. To honor the survivors who were forced fled their homes and sought refuge and safety from violence. To recognize them as part of us. WRD is also a time to reflect on the root causes of mass atrocities and solutions to bring those who were forced to run back home. It should be a day of action, as action is the very best way to honor and celebrate the sorrows and triumphs of humanity by connecting with humanity in the toughest of times.

On Saturday June 20, 2009, World Refugee Day will be celebrated around the world in internally displaced person’s camps and refugee camps throughout the world. This year’s theme is Real People, Real Needs. We ask you can be part of this day and to bring celebration and action into you life.

ACTIONS:

1. Participate in a live web streaming from Chad refugee camps. Follow our team as they capture the daily life and special WRD events. Ask questions via the live chat, and spread the word via your online social networks.

2. In solidarity with and in honor of the theme, Real People, Real Needs, fast from midnight to midnight for WRD - join here.

3. During the World Refugee Day web streaming, invite a few friends and family to your home to share in the experience. The live streaming and chat offer the opportunity for you to actively deepen the relationship between your community and refugees. Making our very large world personal is part of the long term solution that can create peace, justice and equality.

World Refugee Day Flyer - Download and Share!

Dear Friends and Family,

Tomorrow I board an Air France flight to Paris, then N’Djamena, and within a few days will reach Camp Djabal. I feel rather calm in our preparations for this trip, although I may be leaving many things unfinished. I think mostly I am simply beginning to protect myself because I know this trip will be an emotional one for me. I didn’t quite give myself enough time to gain my strength back from i-ACT7, so my heart is already vulnerable. Or maybe I am fully feeling, at a deeper new level, what it feels like to be part of a community that suffers each and every day. I consider my friends in the camp part of my growing community and want them to be part of yours also.

On this trip I will be with Gabriel and two team members, Eric and Ian, who will be experiencing i-ACT and the strong embrace of this population for the first time. Please follow our journey and be part of i-ACT. Our collective action can save lives. I believe in humanity and I believe in peace. I don’t think we can achieve it without you.

If you are part of a group or community, please consider forwarding this note or the short paragraph at the bottom of this email. If you have blog or website please consider adding this button to a side bar or a blog post.

We will also be web-casting from the camps on World Refugee Day, Saturday June 20th. Stay tuned to our website for more information and the web address so you can tune in. We encourage you to be part of this by hosting a viewing party either of these days. Serve refugee rations or ask your guests to participate in Darfur Fast for Life.

paz, ktj

To send out to your community or post:

Beginning on June 15th, i-ACT (interactive-activism) will connect you with Darfur refugees through the web for ten consecutive days. Each day delve deeper into the lives of this community by watching videos, viewing photos, reading and commenting on blog posting and taking action to bring peace and justice to Darfur. Being part of i-ACT allows you to develop a personal relationship with Darfuris and inspires us all to continue acting for each individual who has survived the horrors of Darfur. i-ACT will bring you innovative and interactive live programming for World Refugee Day on June 20th. Join us, be i-ACT.

Mother’s Day is a day we honor the mother’s, especially our own mothers, for their love and devotion to their children, and in many cases to the community around them. For the past six years the mothers of Darfur have struggled to remain strong in the face of violence, towards them and their families. Many have survived and many others have died. Many have lost children, and many carried children on their backs across the desert with little to no food or water. Today, as the situation worsens, they face death by starvation and disease.

This Mother’s Day, take action to honor the mothers of Darfur, and keep consistent and public pressure on the administration:

1. Families: write an open Mother’s Day Card to Michelle Obama. When describing herself, she says, first and foremost, she is Malia and Sasha’s mom. The mothers of Darfur need our support, and Mother’s Day is the perfect day to honor their strength and advocate for their freedom to live their lives in peace.

Send a copy to the editor of your local paper and ask them to publish it, and one to the First Lady. If you want the card to go to a mother of Darfur, send the original to Stop Genocide Now. Here are a few examples for cards and open letters.

Addresses:
First Lady Michelle Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington DC 20500

Stop Genocide Now - The Mothers of Darfur
1732 Aviation Blvd #138
Redondo Beach, CA 90277

2. Mothers, sisters, daughters: In solidarity with Darfur survivors, read one or more entries from the collection One Voice: Testimonies of Darfurian Mothers at your place of worship or Mother’s Day celebration, with your family, or perform it on a street corner.

3. Everyone: On Mother’s Day participate in a global day of Fasting - water only or refugee rations.

Mia sent a note to friends and fellow Darfur activists, “I am ready to go on a hunger strike.” Mia has visited the Darfur region eleven times, spending countless hours hearing the horrific stories of survivors. She also spent hours creating community with the proud and courageous men, women and children. They did not know about her celebrity back home. They saw someone standing with them at the most difficult and dangerous times.

When Mia told of her fast, this group of friends decided to support and join her and thus, Darfur Fast for Life. The fast begins April 7th and continues indefinitely. The situation on the ground—more than a million people in imminent danger of dehydration, disease, and starvation—and the long, slow destruction of a society and culture moved Mia to this action. A positive vision of a world in which the human rights of ALL humans is respected is what motivates this group to stand today and tomorrow with the people of Darfur.

Please visit the Darfur Fast for Life site and consider joining, supporting, and telling friends.

We, the people, are the political will that will motivate our leaders to take action. President Obama has appointed a special envoy, J Scott Gration, but we need more immediate action that will change the situation in the ground. As noted recently in an op-ed by Enough Project’s John Prendergast and Jim Wallis, Obama Can Make a Difference in Darfur.

He has top advisors and in contact with our movement’s leaders. What we need to do is continue putting high and consistent pressure on our leaders - locally, at the State level, and directly on the Obama Administration.

Things you can do:

1. At least once a day please call President Obama at 202.456.1111 (9am-5pm EST Monday-Friday), State Department at 202.647.6575 (call anytime to leave a message), or text Secretary Clinton at 90822 and tell them:

“I am from _____ and I want the Obama Administration to uphold his promises of action for Darfur with ‘unstinting resolve.’ Work to get aid back into Darfur. Create a multilateral peace plans for all of Sudan. Work to isolate al-Bashir from his allies and support the ICC. ”

2. Call 1-800-GENOCIDE (1-800-436-6243) to contact your Senators and Congressional leaders. Many around the country are meeting them to be stronger advocates for Darfur as food, water, and medicine runs dry.

3. Stay up-to-date about what is going on inside of Darfur at While We Wait and Damanga

4. April 29th will mark the 100th day of office for Obama, and yet another 100 days of inaction for Darfur. From now until April 29th, we need to be loud and consistent in our words. On April 27th, Mia Farrow, supported by a group of our movement’s leaders and by people like you, will start a hunger strike. Stay tuned for more details on Darfur Fast for Life.

Less than three weeks ago, the International Criminal Court indicted Sudan’s President Omar Hassan al-Bahsir on War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity. Upon hearing this, al-Bashir took the actions he claimed he would in the months leading up to the arrest warrant: 13 aid organizations expelled leaving 4.7 million refugees without aid and janjaweed and Sudanese soldiers armed and prepared to act on any orders from Khartoum. Once again the innocent civilians will suffer the most. While global attention focuses on these two important developments, it is the time for i-ACTivists, around the world, to take collective action for each individual suffering on the ground.

Join us by participating in the i-ACTivist Challenge. In the daily action of each i-ACT day one word will be CAPITALIZED & BOLD. That word will only remain bold on that day. Write it down somewhere safe, and send your list of 10 words and the ACTION that you took that day at the end of the trip to challenge@stopgenocidenow.org — if you get them all correct, we will send you an profile of a Darfur Refugee and a Humanity before Politics t-shirt!

Gabriel, Katie-Jay and Yuen-Lin have safely arrived in Chad! Their flight was delayed leaving Los Angeles, which made their transit in Paris very ‘exhilirating’. Their bags haven’t arrived yet though, but they will continue making preparations to head out to camps while they are there.

 Read more thoughts from Gabriel here.

Here are some notes from our Darfuri friend (living in US), Mohamed Yahya, from information he has received from sources inside of Darfur:

• In camps in Western Darfur such as Al- Geniena, Riyadh, Abuzaid, Kerdang and Dorti the refugee’s lives are in grave danger at this moment. Riyadh and Abuzaid were attacked by the government and the janjaweed the day after the arrest warrant was issued in retaliation for cheering and celebrating upon news of the ICC’s decision. More than 15 lives were lost and 300 homes burnt that day with all survivors driven out of the camps with no place to go. 

• Thousands are fleeing to the Chad border with anywhere from 30,000 to 4 million more refugees expected to follow. All have been met by the Sudanese government guarding the borders, intent on forced starvation in the Darfur desert.

• After Al-bashir expelled NGOs, the Sudanese government and the janjaweed immediately             took over the camps including food stores, medical clinics and water resources. Not only is there a critical lack of water, food and medical attention but there is no milk for the babies. To add to the horror the refugees must stand by and watch their usual rations of food, medicine and shelter sold to the traders in the market. They must starve and fall ill as they watch their lives being sold for the money it is impossible for them to earn. 

• Many refugees in many different camps in Western, Southern and Northern Darfur are reporting the same atrocities. El- fashir camps are being hit especially hard with lack of water the greatest current threat. Families as large as 7 get only one small plastic container of water. Each person gets less than 2 liters a day to drink with no water left over for hygiene purposes such as cleaning or showering not to mention the forced choice to quench ones thirst or cook life sustaining food. The projections for 2 weeks from now are far worse.

• In South Darfur camps such as Kalma and Domaya disease is already rampant and spreading every day. Meningitis, cholera and diarrhea have infected hundreds already with more on the way. Doctors have left and the few remaining who are treating entire camps are leaving any day. The disaster has already started
  

• When asked what the refugees want us to do to help they replied:

“We need water, food, shelter and medicine.”

“We need peace keepers as quickly as possible from America and Europe to protect us.”

“We need America to send International police to arrest Al-bashir and others before they kill us.”

“Every one of them said. ’We will die, we will all die very soon. We are starving, thirsty and sick; Al-bashir will not need bullets to kill us if this situation continues for more than 2 weeks. Please, do something for us, ask Americans, ask President Obama, ask the United Nations.”

-They pleaded in broken native languages, making me cry. They allowed me to feel their desperation and need for help. I just couldn’t hold my tears back when I asked one man to describe the situation and he replied “Saab, Saab, Saab Khalis Khalis….” Then he went silent because words could not describe the pain. Instead he said what would roughly translate into English,” The situation is very, very difficult…. No one could possibly imagine.”

###

Tonight we expressed OUTRAGE @ LA Federal Building. People from all over California and Darfuris living in Arizona gathered - shouted - died in during red lights - and made noise for Darfur. During the event we got word that President Obama has taken the first step for Darfur by appointing a Special Envoy for Sudan, J. Scott Gration. Tonight, all of us made a new commitment to Darfur: to not let down or step down until peace reached Darfur. We will not be satisfied by announcements and statements, we want action for Darfur.

OUTRAGE continues as Obama makes appearances Orange County and LA in the next two days:

March 18th: Meet at 3pm
Town Hall: Orange County Fairgrounds
Building 12
88 Fair Drive,
Costa Mesa, CA

March 19th: Meet at 3pm
Filming of the Jay Leno Show
NBC is located at: 3000 W. Alameda Avenue Burbank, CA 91523
Meet at Johnny Carson Park - Corner of S Bob Hope Dr and W Parkside Ave

As I write this note, children are still without aid: no medicine, scarce water, and very little, if any food. Obama needs to know that we will hold him accountable for Darfur. Please join us! We have some signs that we will bring from the LA Federal Building, but we encourage you to bring your own.

URGENT ACTION ALERT!

On Wednesday, March 4, 2009, the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued a landmark arrest warrant for President Omar al Bashir of Sudan. Just hours later, President Bashir expelled 16 humanitarian organizations from Sudan, placing millions of Darfuri civilians at immediate risk. Bashir is holding innocent lives hostage in order to retain his own grip on power.

4.7 million innocent people are currently affected by the conflict – more than the populations of the cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco put together. Without the assistance provided by the humanitarian organizations expelled, well over a million internally displaced Darfuris are at immediate risk. With the rainy season quickly approaching, organizations are expecting widespread death from disease and starvation as millions lose access to food, water, medicine and adequate shelter.

TAKE ACTION NOW!

Join Jewish World Watch, Stop Genocide Now, HOPE, and other activist and citizens throughout Southern California as they make a permanent presence in front of the Federal Building to demand immediate and decisive action by the US, the UN and the EU! Activists will be present throughout each day and night, but we will be concentrating our efforts during the time periods listed below. Please make a particular effort to join us Tuesday, March 17 for a big push!

Where:
Federal Building
11000 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA

When: All Day and Night and these times for higher concentration:
Thursday, March 12: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Friday, March 13: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Saturday, March 14: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Sunday, March 15: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Monday, March 16: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Tuesday, March 17: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM

* Click here to see who is signed up. Click here to sign up, or just scroll down to see the form.
** If you stay for more than 3 hours you will get a Humanity before Politics T-shirt!
*** Let us know if you are interested in staying overnight: email i-actinfo@stopgenocidenow.org. We have tents!

What to Bring: Signs! Possible slogans include:

DARFUR - MILLIONS AT RISK!
DARFUR - MILLIONS COULD DIE - WE CAN STOP IT!
DARFUR - ACT NOW!
SAVE DARFUR!
DARFUR EMERGENCY!
DARFUR - MILLIONS IMMEDIATELY FACE
NO FOOD
NO WATER
DISEASE
STARVATION
DEATH

DARFUR - MILLIONS COULD DIE - WE CAN STOP IT!
DARFUR - ACT NOW!
SAVE DARFUR!

Millions of lives hang in the balance - please send this link out widely, to everyone you know! Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, emails, phone calls. Urgent action is needed now. Our leaders must see that we care.

During this volatile time for Darfurians following the ICC indictment of President al-Bashir, i-ACT field team members Yuen-Lin Tan, Gabriel Stauring, and Katie-Jay Scott will depart for the Darfur refugee camps on March 21st - less than two weeks from now. We will be re-uniting with past friends and meeting new ones. Learning, first-hand, about the current situation and sharing the news with you through video web-casts, Darfur testimonies, blog posts and photos.

In order to do this we need your help. We need your help to purchase new tech equipment for the trip so that we can gather the best information in the highest quality. Your contribution will help us to spread the voices of Darfuris further than ever before. Your help will allow us to continue posting videos like Justice in Darfur.

We do realize that everyone is in a tight spot these days financially. Below you will see exactly what we need to purchase for the trip on March 21st. Every bit counts, and we will also accept in-kind donations. If you have unused memory cards that you can offer, we appreciate these too. We will be looking for discount options and deals whenever possible.

Your contribution will help build a global community that is real people and real voices. Thank you for considering contributing to i-ACT: Putting the Faces to the Numbers of Darfur.

2 Canon Powershot SD880 IS Digital Cameras: $598
2 Canon HS11 HiDef Camcorders: $2,400
Zoom Field Recorder: $179
USB 2GB/4GB Memory Cards (for video, photo, and recorder) - $500

Total: $3,677

Donate NOW by paypal or credit card:

Thank you for your time and commitment to Darfur. We will keep you posted on our goal, so check back!

In-Kind Donations and Checks (made to Emerge Arts Projects Inc. with SGN in memo line) can be mailed to:
SGN
1732 Aviation Blvd #138
Redondo Beach, CA 90278

Over and Over again in the refugee camps we heard from Darfuris that justice is above everyone and that any deferral in the name of a peace would only give Sudan’s President al-Bashir more time to kill.

Listen to the victims speak themselves in our recent video, share their words. Add it to your socail network page, twitter it, add it to your blog. No longer can we ignore the voices of those who have been persecuted.

The beginning of justice in Sudan started today.

In an unprecedented move, the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir. The first time ever that a sitting head of state has been indicted.

For months leading up to today Omar al-Bashir threatened that he would not be able to protect humanitarian aid workers if the ICC ruled against him. He also said the warrant is not worth the ink and paper with which it is written. A member of his government takes it a step further and threatens, “we will cut his hands, head, and parts,” of any assisting the ICC.

And so it begins, an even slower genocide for Amira and Mohamed, for the children whose Darfur memories are burning homes, blood, and violent militia.

Charges against al-Bashir include:

1. five counts of crimes against humanity: murder; extermination, forcible transfer, torture, and rape;
2. two counts of war crimes: intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population as such or against individual civilians not taking direct part in hostilities, and pillaging.

We have the responsibility to protect these civilians. They are our brothers and sisters. President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton, Vice President Biden, and UN Ambassador Rice have all agreed in past comments that a no fly-zone may be a good option. Will they take action? Not without us. Please take action NOW.

In the last few days, news of the possible arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) has surfaced. New York Times reported the breaking news on February 11, 2009 late in the day. It will be the first time the ICC will issue a warrant for a sitting head of state.

The ICC quickly added a note to their own website stating that there had been “no decision concerning the possible arrest warrant” of Sudan’s al-Bashir.

Darfur activist groups have moved forward using the breaking news from NYT has a sign that the ICC will issue a warrant soon. ENOUGH Project released a very good paper, What the Warrant Means: Justice, Peace, and Key Actors in Sudan, and urgent call-in campaigns reflect the decision in their wording.

Over the last several weeks we have asked you to make phone call after phone call, to fax, to email, and to stand by the people of Darfur by changing your facebook, myspace, or twitter profile picture. Many of you have reached busy signals, answering machines, and your faxes have failed. This only means that more and more people are standing as you are, next to our friends during a time of increased violence. Now there is word of an ICC decision, although not yet confirmed, and al-Bashir could further unleash terror on the innocent civilians, humanitarian workers, and Peacekeepers.

The Obama Administration must be prepared to take swift action, beginning now by appointing a special envoy to Sudan with powerful skills and an international reputation that demands respect. He has surrounded himself with advocates who have spoken out on Darfur: Samantha Powers, Susan Rice, Hillary Clinton, John Prendergast, and more. Now he must act.

TAKE ACTION: EVEN IF YOU HAVE CALLED, PLEASE CALL AGAIN! You are part of an urgent call-in campaign whose goal it is to keep phone lines busy for Darfur.

THE NUMBERS:

White House: 202.456.1111 (Open 9am - 5pm EST Mon-Fri)
State Department Message Line: 202.647.6575 (Open 24 hours a day/7 days a week)
Secretary of State Clinton Targeted Message: 1 800 GENOCIDE (1 800 436 6243)

THE MESSAGE:

“I’m calling to ask President Obama, Ambassador Rice, and Secretary of State Clinton to protect innocent civilians in Darfur during this volatile period approaching an ICC arrest warrant for Bashir. Please issue immediate warnings to the government of Sudan specifying consequence of attacks on civilians, appoints a full-time senior level envoy, and stand firm in support of the ICC indictment of Bashir.

Thank you for taking action. If you get a busy signal, please do not give up. Everyone of our voices is meaningful, and together we can keep their attention on Darfur.

Get Educated: Read ENOUGH Projects What the Warrant Means: Justice, Peace, and Key Actors

Want to do more?
Faxing Campaigns
Urgent Email Campaign to Obama
New Petition: FIVE POINTS FOR DARFUR to UN 

Stop Genocide Now has been busy spreading the word through various social networks. Are you on any of the following social networking sites? Join the community - get more frequent updates, view photos, pass actions and articles on to your community more often and easier than ever before!

Facebook Group: Stop Genocide Now

Facebook Cause: i-ACT

Twitter: iact

Flickr: stopgenocidenow

NEW!!!

i-ACT Podcast

MySpace: stopgenocidenoworg

The entire Stop Genocide Now team thanks you and your community for your generous support in 2008. Your contributions (of money and time) have allowed SGN and UNHCR to expand educational opportunities in Darfur refugee camps. We have traveled to more US communities and connected them with more survivors of the Darfur genocide. Your support with our i-ACT team members when in the refugee camps has been invaluable - you posted comments and spread the word for others to connect through i-ACT.

Check out all the events we participated in - we reached thousands of people and shared with them the voices of Darfuris.

Your support is so important to us, and to the livelihood of the Darfur refugees. We can not thank you enough!

For many refugees 2009 will be their 6th year living in a desperate situation where their tents cannot shield them from the sun, rain, or wind of the harsh desert landscape. It will be filled with months of struggling to make rations last. And long, hard days of waiting to see if the international community does the right thing. Will it be the year that their hope disappears because we have failed?

It doesn’t have to be this way. We can change the way the world responds to genocide. We are all part of the Global Community called Humanity. We are all responsible.

In this new year, SGN will bring you more frequent updates - videos, photos and blog entries - from the refugees and our team members. Check out the first of many i-ACTzine issues in 2009.

Change.org is holding it’s 2nd round of voting for the “Top 10 Ideas for Change in America.” Go to CHANGE.org to vote today!

Jerry Fowler, President of the Save Darfur Coalition, is asking the Obama Administration to adopt a Peace Surge for Darfur. In doing so, Save Darfur is participating in a contest run by Change.org and MySpace that is called “Ideas for Change in America.” The top 10 ideas will be presented to the Obama administration on Inauguration Day. Then, Change.org, MySpace, and their partners will build a national campaign to advance those ideas in Congress. Help make Darfur a Day 1 Priority. If we allow genocide to continue in Darfur for another day, week, or year we are not just failing the innocent civilians of Darfur, but we are disrespecting the memory of the millions who have died in genocides in our history. Stand up for Darfur, uphold the memory of all those who have died because of who they are.

Voting requires registration, but it’s simple.

You can make this Peace Surge for Darfur happen. Go to CHANGE.org and vote in support of peace, protection, and accountability in Darfur.

Jerry Fowler, President of the Save Darfur Coalition, is asking the Obama Administration to adopt a Peace Surge for Darfur. In doing so, Save Darfur is participating in a contest run by Change.org and MySpace that is called “Ideas for Change in America.” The top 10 ideas will be presented to the Obama administration on Inauguration Day. Then, Change.org, MySpace, and their partners will build a national campaign to advance those ideas in Congress. The first round of voting ends on December 31. The top three ideas from each of the 30 categories will make it into the second round. Round two voting starts on January 5 and ends January 15. Voting requires registration, but it’s simple.

You can make this Peace Surge for Darfur happen. Go to CHANGE.org and vote in support of peace, protection, and accountability in Darfur.

December 10th, 2008 was the 60th anniversary for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This document, ratified by all United Nations member states, declares, “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” Completely disregarding the Declaration, the Government of Sudan and the Janjaweed militia have systematically attacked the people of Darfur and deprived them of their basic human rights. Women and girls have suffered unimaginable horrors. Their homes have been destroyed and their husbands and family killed. Rape has been used systematically as a tool of genocide.In solidarity with the girls and women of Darfur, please ask President Elect Obama to make Darfur a Day 1 Priority:

1. Go to President Elect Obama’s Transition Team Website: Change.gov
2. Fill in the required fields.
3. Check off “Foreign Policy.”
4. Ask President Elect Obama to make Darfur a Day 1 Priority.

Eric and Jeremiah have completed their month-long refugee fast. For Eric, the physical changes he experienced is quite startling:

Below are some photos documenting the observable effects of living on a wheat diet of 1,000 Calories a day for just 1 month. The left shows me at 157 lbs on Nov 1, and the right shows me at 134 lbs on Nov 30. So in just 30 days I lost 23 lbs. I am a healthy adult and I will put the weight back on and be fine. But there are children that have lived their entire lives in the refugee camps without even minimally sufficient nutrition. They won’t be fine. The damage done to their bodies is permanent and will plague them forever.

Read more about their experiences during the month here.

Communities from America’s 50 States came together in Washington DC this last weekend. After a year of activism centered around their Tents of Hope tent, the Washington Mall became an unlikely refugee camp, hosting hundreds of tents directly in front of the Capitol.It was surreal to stand surrounded by tents in DC. The camps we visit in Eastern Chad also feel surreal, but in a very different way. DC gave me hope, at seeing regular people standing up for the rights of others that are half-way around the world. In Chad, I go through a roller-coaster of emotions, feeling joy at being surrounded by beautiful children but also feeling deeply sadenned at knowing why they have experienced.The DC tents were adorned with colorful paint. Some looked like professional works of art, depicting images of the Darfuri’s journey from their destroyed homes to their life in tents. Some shared images of what their sister US home looks like, with mountains, oceans, and trees. Others were painted innocently by children of all ages. The site of all these tents at sunset in the middle of America’s capital city was just about overwhelming.Our leaders that have their offices a short distance from the mock DC refugee camp must participate in the vision that the Tents of Hope represent, a vision of peace, protection, and justice.

For most in the United States, November is a month to give thanks. On Thanksgiving Day, we gather at our homes and enjoy great food and the company of loved ones. Refugees in and from Darfur have been deprived of a home; many of their loved ones have been killed; and they lack enough of the basics, such as food and water. In solidarity with all of the displaced from Darfur, SGN teammates Jeremiah Forest and Eric Angel will participate on a month-long fast, matching their diets to the ones of refugees we have recently visited in the desert. They will write daily journals and regularly upload pictures and video, sharing their experience.

Click here to read more about their experiences here.