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ACTION: Send a Letter to the Editor of your local newspaper; urge President Bush to help end atrocities in Darfur
On May 29, 2007, President Bush announced that he would impose unilateral economic sanctions against various companies and individuals in Sudan. While this is a good first step, it is too little, too late to help bring an end to the on-going atrocities in Darfur.
Since early 2003, a campaign of ethnic cleansing has killed an estimated 400,000 people in the western region of Darfur in Sudan.
At the end of last year, it was estimated that 2.5 million more people had been displaced in Sudan and in neighboring Chad and Central African Republic (CAR). Attacks by Janjaweed militias, backed by the Sudanese government, have displaced 80,000 more Darfurians since then.
Take Action
Write your own, modify or simply send this sample Letter to the Editor (LTE) to your local newspaper, urging President Bush to help stop the violence in Darfur.
| SAMPLE LETTER TO THE EDITOR (LTE) Dear Editor, Recently, President Bush said that, “For too long, the people of Darfur have suffered at the hands of a government that is complicit in the bombing, murder, and rape of innocent civilians. My administration has called these actions by their rightful name: genocide. The world has a responsibility to help put an end to it.” While I applaud President Bush for his words, his actions have been far too little and too late to help bring peace to Darfur and end the killings. His administration should do what it should have done years ago: Exert the leadership necessary to facilitate a strong and coordinated multilateral effort -- including China, Russia and members of the European Union -- to bring the full weight of international pressure on the al-Bashir regime. President Bush and his administration should also offer to support the efforts of the ongoing International Criminal Court investigation in Darfur, especially in light of recently released arrest warrants. Only multilateral sanctions and robust diplomatic efforts will end the senseless killings, provide a much-needed renewed and inclusive peace process, and permit the prompt deployment of U.N. peacekeepers to protect the innocent people of Darfur. Sincerely, [Your Signature Your Name Your Hometown and State] |
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