Our June 26, 2009 Action:
Good News: This week 33 countries and organizations met in Washington, DC at a Forum for the Supporters of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, one of the most important steps for peace in Sudan in many years. The Participants’ Statement at the conclusion of the conference is at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2009/06a/125280.htm.
Bad News: Unfortunately, the Obama Administration, particularly Special Envoy to Sudan, General Scott Gration, has created the damaging impression that the Administration’s Sudan policy is badly in disarray. The Administration’s public contradictions on whether genocide continues in Darfur only serve to embolden Khartoum, alienate the Darfur activist community, and distract the Administration from leading an international coalition to address the myriad challenges in Sudan that loom from any number of key challenges that urgently need to be addressed. See http://www.enoughproject.org/blogs/whos-boss.
We need to keep up the pressure on President Obama to make ending the Darfur genocide and bringing peace to Sudan a top personal priority. As the President said on June 5 in Germany:
“On the issue of genocide, I think “never again” means that the international community has an obligation, even when it’s inconvenient, to act when genocide is occurring. So on the issue of Darfur…[I] raised it in discussions with President Mubarak of Egypt, who has strong diplomatic relations with the country of Sudan.”
Please tell the President to take charge of US policy on Sudan and lead the international community in a coherent, coordinated and consistent effort, as he recommended as a Senator and promised as a candidate.
What you can do right now:
1) Call the White House at 202-456-1111. Lines are often busy. Keep trying.
2) Fax the White House at 202-456-2461.
3) Email the White House at http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact
4) Become a fan of the WH Facebook page and post a comment at http://www.facebook.com/WhiteHouse
5) Send a message via Twitter to @whitehouse: http://twitter.com/whitehouse
Thank you, and please tell a friend!