TAKE ACTION FOR DAY 100

 

DOWNLOAD AND SEND A LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA!

 

See the letter below:

 

 

President Barack Obama


1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, DC 20500
Fax: 202-456-2461                

April 29, 2009


Dear President Obama,

 

I am writing to you on the 100th day of your presidency to ask you to take further action to end the genocide in Darfur. Students at Stanford University, along with activists around the country, have been pushing you and your administration to take substantial action to address the increasingly dire crisis in Sudan.

 

As you know, Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir recently expelled essential humanitarian aid groups from Darfur after the ICC issued a warrant for his arrest. This puts millions of displaced civilian lives at further risk as well as distracts from working towards a sustainable peace in Sudan. Urgent action is needed from the international community to ensure that Darfuris get the aid and protection they need and that we use the full weight of our diplomacy to advance peace and justice in the region.

 

Thus, I ask you to carry out the promises that you, Secretary Clinton, and Vice-President Biden made about Darfur during your presidential campaigns. All three of you, as well as UN Ambassador Susan Rice, have been tremendous advocates for Darfur in past. During your campaign, you stated that you would support oil sanctions and aid in the full deployment of UNAMID because “The United States has a moral obligation any time you see humanitarian catastrophes.”

 

Your administration has made some progress. I applaud your appointment of a special envoy and was heartened to hear that you invited key Darfur advocates for a meeting at the White House.

 

Still, you have not fulfilled your promises or the United States’ moral obligation.  Millions of lives are at risk. You must do all that you can to ensure that the aid displaced Darfuris need is allowed back into the region. I am also very concerned about the recent discussion of considering normalizing our relationship with a genocidal government, an idea that you yourself during the campaign called “reckless and cynical.” Thus, we respectfully request the following: 

  • Expedite the timetable on completing the Sudan policy review. Once this is complete, your administration can move forward with a clear and comprehensive framework for Sudan policy.
  • Use diplomacy in order to build allies so that United States is not the sole champion internationally for Darfur.
  • Provide the supplies and diplomatic power necessary for the full deployment of UNAMID.
  • Encourage restarting peace discussions between the government of Sudan and rebels.

April is formally dedicated to remembering genocide and the negligence that allowed it to destroy millions of innocent lives. As this month draws to a close, I urge you to ensure that the Darfur genocide is not the legacy you leave. On behalf of the Stanford community and all anti-genocide activists, we urge further substantial action.

 

Sincerely,

 

[Your Name Here]