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

This is only the beginning of several months of pressure leading to April elections in Sudan. We must speak up for our brothers and sisters!

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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.

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.

It was my task to write something about the holidays and relate the meaning and experience of the holidays to the lives of our friends in the refugee camps. As I stare at the blank Word Doc, instead of the spirit of Christmas coming over me, what I get is this overwhelming feeling of déjà vu!

It just feels like I’ve said “this” already, and said it many, many times: “There are people that are suffering, and they are just like us. They are the victims of humanity’s most horrible crime, genocide. There is joy in participating compassionately in a community that extends across oceans and continents.”

Over the last five years, my experience of the holidays has changed drastically. It means a lot more…and a lot less. When I’m sitting with my kids and family, this alone is the meaning of the holidays. It has become a very simple and basic experience, where I don’t let the rest of the noise get to me. It’s about family and community.

Should we think about genocide during a time of joy and celebration? Yes. I can assure you that our friends in the camps are thinking about us, and they have us in their prayers.

For the few of you that read this, I ask for one simple holiday gift…or maybe two. First, write one sentence or a short paragraph, speaking directly to our refugee friends and post it as a comment. We will take these to camps with us on our next trip in the beginning of 2010. You have no idea how powerful it is for them to feel connected to you and to a community “out there” that is thinking of them and working on their behalf. Second, pledge to check back in with us in January. We’ll work together to make some serious noise and push our leaders to act decisively to finally bring peace, protection, and justice to Darfur and all of Sudan.

Peace,

Gabriel for the SGN/i-ACT Team

This year, Yuen-Lin was able to train several refugees on a prototype of CommKit. Watch the short video below to get a preview of the CommKit in action. They enjoyed it so much! Just like here, it was the younger generation who quickly understood the technology and was helping their teachers!

 With your help we can deliver the first ever CommKit, train refugees to use technology, and provide ongoing satellite communication

Become an i-ACT Ambassador: Build Community, Connect Individuals, Raise Money

By becoming an i-ACT Ambassador and making a monthly pledge, we can create this ongoing communication. Your valuable time and energy is spent building a new culture of participation here in the United States and in the largely forgotten refugee camps filled with Darfuris.  You become connected and once you are feel this deep relationship, you are able to introduce your friends and family to Adam, Selma, Rahma and more. Through all these relationships, change begins.

i-ACT Ambassadors:

1. Make a monthly contribution (via check, paypal or credit card) to ensure that i-ACT can continue our work;
2. Receive monthly video updates and actions from i-ACT team members;
3. Participate in live video conversations with refugees when the i-ACT team is on the ground in Darfur refugee camps;
4. Form deep personal relationships with refugees, communicate with them using innovative technology, and send/receive video and photo messages;
5. Find one more i-ACT Ambassador to join;
6. Are encouraged to share your relationship the relationship formed with Darfuris with your local community through informal conversations, events, presentations, and fund raising efforts.

As an i-ACT Ambassador you are raising awareness and funds, but most importantly you are joining a community.

Click here to become an i-ACT Ambassador.

I took a few of my favorite photos and had 16″ x 16″ gallery wrapped canvas prints made from the negatives. There are 4 different prints, and we are offering them to our supporters for a minimum of donation of $250 (each) to i-ACT. They have wire hangers installed and are ready to be hung. Please contact us at eric@iactivism.org if you would like one.

– Eric

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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Become personally engaged in bringing Peace, Protection, and Justice to Sudan.

The new US policy on Sudan is about engagement, incentives, and pressures. As you have often stated, the government of Sudan is guilty of genocide and horrible crimes against humanity, so the pressures should begin now. The people of Darfur, South Sudan, and the rest of the country are counting on you and deserve your personal attention.

Following the lead from the Enough Project’s policy recommendations, we request that you:

1. Lead a more urgent peace process in Darfur
2. Build an international coalition for strict implementation of the North-South peace deal
3. Create and publicly spell out transparent benchmarks
4. Employ real consequences for those who continue to attack civilians, block life-saving aid, undermine peace and obstruct justice

Millions have died at the hands of the current Sudanese government in Khartoum. Millions of more have been displaced, starved, and raped. Each of those millions is a real individual, with the same hopes and dreams as you and your family.

Please act with the urgency this matter deserves.

Not on Twitter? You can also Email President Obama this message (cut and paste it directly!).