San Francisco Bay Area Darfur Coalition

Urge President Obama to Adopt the Right Plan for Sudan

Administrator — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 22:30:53 +0000

The president faces a critical decision on how to move forward on Sudan–including one that may result in a severe shift in approach in U.S. policy nearly 100 days before the referendum vote that could divide Africa’s largest country. Urge President Obama to adopt the right plan for Sudan.

Nicholas Kristof has tweeted about a letter to President Obama that many of our organizations signed onto it. Please retweet Kristof’s message: A letter from 68 organizations to Obama, calling on him to revise his dysfunctional Sudan policy: http://scr.bi/denqfk

Go to www.sudanactionnow.com and sign the letter to President Obama advising on how best to proceed. After signing, you will be prompted to post on Facebook and tweet a message about the letter.

Not Seen, Not Heard, Not Helped, Therefore Not Recorded

Administrator — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 17:07:36 +0000

The Disappearing Genocide: Victims in Darfur are no longer seen, heard, or helped.
by Eric Reeves August 20, 2010 | 12:00 am
Here’s the situation there right now: Humanitarian indicators, especially in North Darfur, are ominous, particularly malnutrition levels ; yet both U.N. agencies and International Nongovernmental Organizations (INGOs) refuse to speak about conditions candidly. In the wake of the March 2009 expulsions, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs no longer produces its comprehensive, detailed accounts of humanitarian conditions throughout Darfur. The 13 expelled international humanitarian organizations, which together provided approximately half the aid capacity in Darfur, have been only partially replaced; and the overall quality and capacity of aid operations remains much reduced. Malnutrition studies have been held hostage by Khartoum with no effective protest, despite the importance of such data for work in the field. Regime officials have demanded, and been granted, a role in the collection, analysis, and promulgation of humanitarian data—and have made clear they are willing to use their veto power if studies are judged too damning. And, most importantly, access for aid workers is at an all-time low, and shrinking rapidly, chiefly for lack of security. Full article >

Darfuris Release Statement on Current Situation

Administrator — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:47:13 +0000

Katie-Jay
August 16th, 2010

Forty-three Darfuris living in North America issued a statement today calling on the international community to act on their Responsibility to Protect (R2P), particularly the United States:

“Currently, our people in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp of Kalma are under threat of violence, homelessness, and lack of basic life subsistence. The threat is coming from the local government of South Darfur and from central government in Khartoum. Similar conditions are faced by IDPs in Hamideyeah in the Zalengi area of West Darfur. Full article >

They picked Girifna, Arabic for “We are fed up.”

Administrator — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 05:02:12 +0000

Activist group Girifna aims to educate voters in Sudan

By Rebecca Hamilton
Saturday, August 14, 2010
KHARTOUM, SUDAN — Like any aspiring pro-democracy movement, the young Sudanese activists needed a name. They picked Girifna, Arabic for “We are fed up.” They chose orange for their color and the V-for-victory sign as a logo, then began distributing their first pamphlet.

Challenging the ruling party was risky in a country where political dissent is rarely tolerated, the activists said. But they saw a small opening before elections in April, as the United States and the European Union pressed the government to ensure a free and fair vote. Full article >

Tell Obama to Make the Right Decision on Sudan

Administrator — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 20:31:22 +0000

On Friday, Foreign Policy Magazine broke the news suggesting that, after months of delay, a plan for moving the U.S. Policy on Sudan forward has finally landed on President Obama’s desk. As Sudan prepares for a referendum that is likely to split it in two, and as the humanitarian crisis in Darfur grows increasingly dire by the day, we must let President Obama know that we are closely watching and awaiting his decision. Now is the moment for the President to implement a Sudan policy which, as he promised in 2008, leads a process for peace, helps prevent another deadly war in Africa, and holds those responsible for crimes against humanity to account. Millions of lives are at stake. Urge the President to make peace in Sudan a priority now. More >

Big news for the anti-genocide movement!

Administrator — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 16:57:31 +0000

August 6, 2010
This morning, Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced a resolution calling for the development of an interagency genocide prevention strategy. The resolution is the result of extensive work by the anti-genocide community to develop a bipartisan consensus around genocide and mass atrocities prevention. Students have played an integral role in this process.

This resolution, based in the recommendations of the Genocide Prevention Task Force, is an important first step in the development of a coordinated U.S. government strategy to prevent and end genocide and mass atrocities. As the Genocide Intervention Network recently wrote on Facebook, this resolution will facilitate “long-term structural change” in the U.S. government’s approach to these issues.

More >

President Obama to Discuss Future of the U.S. Sudan Policy

Administrator — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 23:51:29 +0000

President Obama and his senior advisors are expected to meet this week regarding the future of the U.S. Sudan policy. The situation in Sudan is urgent. President Obama and his administration should act now to provide the leadership necessary to prevent a return to war – a war that could be the deadliest the world will face on his watch.

There are many ways in which you can act. Choose one or more. Please send on to your family and friends. Every single person’s action makes a difference!

Please take one or more of these actions:

Facebook - Post on the White House Facebook page:

Mr. President: Millions of lives – and your legacy – are on the line. Your personal leadership is needed now to prevent a return to war in Sudan. With less than six months until a referendum that could split Africa’s largest country in two, and with the security situation in the country deteriorating, your administration must respond with a policy that is coherent, strategic, and unified. With the lives of millions potentially hanging in the balance, now is the time for your personal leadership on this issue.

Twitter - Tweet one or both of these messages:

Pls RT. In #Sudan millions of lives and your legacy are at stake, @BarackObama. Lead the push for peace in Sudan now. @presssec

Pls RT: @BarackObama’s legacy is on the line. Will the president personally work to ensure peace & justice in #Sudan now? @presssec

Email the White House

Call the White House between 9am-5pm ET at 202-456-1111.

More Opportunities for Action:

Twitter – Tweet this message:

Pls RT. @statedept-the time for outsourcing #SUDAN policy has passed. Sudan requires Sec. Clinton’s urgent attention & leadership. @pjcrowley

Facebook - Post on the State Department’s Facebook page:

Secretary Clinton: Millions of lives – and your legacy – are on the line. Your personal leadership is needed now to prevent a return to war in Sudan. With less than six months until a referendum that could split Africa’s largest country in two, and with the security situation in the country deteriorating, the administration must respond with a policy that is coherent, strategic, and unified. With the lives of millions potentially hanging in the balance, now is the time for your personal leadership on this issue.

Background:

The clock is ticking for the people of Sudan-and if the (likely) split of Africa’s largest state in two is handled poorly, it will adversely effect regional security in the whole of East Africa, as well as U.S. interests for years to come. It will also come with a terrible human cost.

While the United States has looked on, Sudan’s President al-Bashir continues to hold his own people hostage. He has upped the ante-by pushing Darfur increasingly close to the brink, by conducting an election that violated international standards, by cracking down on human rights and the media, by embarking on a series of high profile visits abroad, and by continuing to defy the will of the international community and that of the people of Sudan.

The time for delegating policymaking and the articulation of the U.S. policy to low level staff and special advisors has passed. The situation in Sudan demands urgent high-level attention and leadership.

Sudan Activists from Across the Country Call On President Obama’s Administration Fix “AWOL” Sudan Policy

Administrator — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 05:05:53 +0000

The Coalition signed on to this letter. Please see it here and send your own! Thank you!!
CITIES NATIONWIDE – July 22, 2010 – In an open letter to President Obama and leading members of his administration, 43 human rights and anti-genocide organizations representing citizens from 20 states and actress Mia Farrow wrote that the “administration appears to be AWOL on the U.S. Sudan policy, having abandoned it at a crucial time in Sudan’s history.” The groups ask that the administration fix the policy in four specific areas as outlined in the recent report by the Enough Project titled, “What’s Wrong with U.S. Policy Toward Sudan, and How to Fix It.”

What’s Wrong with U.S. Policy Toward Sudan, and How to Fix It

Administrator — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:15:17 +0000

John Prendergast.
Enough Project
July 20, 2010

Six months before the self-determination referenda for South Sudan and Abyei, U.S. policy is not contributing in a meaningful way to peace and justice in Sudan, whether in preventing a return to war between North and South Sudan, or in resolving the escalating conflict in Darfur. The time has come for an urgent rethink of how the United States can contribute to peace in Sudan now, building on the lessons of the recent past. Let’s be specific. There are four areas in which the Enough Project and a significant segment of the activist community disagree with the Obama administration’s words and actions. More >

Sign-On Letter to Obama – Support Arrest Warrants and Ensure Civilian Protection

Administrator — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 22:20:39 +0000

SF Bay Area Darfur Coalition is among 60 organizations that signed a letter to President Obama delivered at a Darfuri rally on July 14.

Dear President Obama:
On Monday, July 12th, 2010 the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber 1 judges issued a second arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir after determining that there are reasonable grounds to believe he is responsible for three counts of genocide committed against the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa ethnic groups in Darfur.As faith-based, advocacy and human rights organizations working together to bring peace and justice to Darfur and all Sudan, we welcome this new arrest warrant and urge you to lead the international community in pursuing justice for the people of Darfur in parallel with efforts to achieve peace and security for all Sudanese. More >