How You Can Help - Other Actions

• Sign the petition "No More Delays on Darfur Peacekeepers". Urge UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to pressure world leaders to stand behind their commitment to deploying this new peacekeeping force without further delays.
• Send an email to America's National Olympic Committee to urge China, the host of the 2008 Summer Games. to persuade the regime in Sudan to consent to a robust civilian protection force in Darfur. Learn more about China's role in the genocide in Darfur.
• Join the Fidelity Out of Divestment effort. Learn how investment companies like Fidelity and Berkshire Hathaway are propping up the current government in Sudan by investing in Chinese petroleum companies which are a major source of funds for the government.
• Sign the petition to candidates for president of the United States in both the Democratic and Republican parties. Ask them to pledge to work actively to end the genocide and also to divest their personal holdings from certain companies doing business in Sudan.
• Call your U.S. Senators and urge them to support the Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act, House Bill 180. Use the new hotline: 1-800GENOCIDE. The hotline gives you talking points and will connect you directly to your senator after you provide your zip code. More information.
• Divest from any of your personal investments in any funds or companies that prop up the Sudanese government. Learn about "targeted divestment", which helps to maximize impact on the Sudanese government, while minimizing potential harm to both innocent Sudanese civilians and investment returns. Use the Sudan Screening Tool to evaluate your mutual fund based on the Targeted Divestment Criteria.
• Darfur Interfaith Network Fundraising Concert - an interfaith concert to benefit advocacy and humanitarian relief efforts. Attend an exciting fund-raising concert, "STAND UP for Darfur," to be held at GW Lisner Auditorium on October 23, 7:30 PM. Don't stand by. Contribute to humanitarian efforts to aid the people of Darfur, Starring Step Afrika! ("They stole the show"- Washington Post) & Drumtalk39. Details TBA. For question and to volunteers to help with the event send an email.
• It Jsut Takes Cents Campaign - campaign to raise money to build schools in the Darfur region of Sudan. This easy-to-do project raises money by collecting pocket change from students and by selling sweat shirts, Darfur bracelets, and other merchandise. Email for more information.
• Make a donation. There are many worthy organizations such as the Save Darfur Coalition and The Genocide Intervention Network.
  

Background

• Since February 2003, a government-backed militia known as the Janjaweed has been engaged in a systematic campaign of expulsion, rape and murderous violence in Darfur, Sudan. Militia attacks are often supported by government air strikes and overseen by regular armed forces. An estimated 90% of all African villages in Darfur have been destroyed.

• In May 2006, the Sudanese government and one faction of the rebel Sudan Liberation Army signed the Darfur Peace Agreement. Almost all of the agreement’s deadlines have passed without enforcement; rape and sexual violence continue to be used as a weapon of war against women and girls; and the dangerous security situation prevents aid workers from reaching half of those in need.

• The 7,000 African Union (AU) troops in Darfur are not capable of protecting an area that is as large as Texas, nor do they have an explicit mandate to prevent attacks on civilians. The AU recently extended its mandate to June 2007 and plans to increase the number of troops to 11,000. However, this expansion is impossible without additional funding and logistical support.

• With increasing brutality, the Janjaweed have also escalated attacks on refugees and civilians in neighboring Chad, killing hundreds and displacing thousands. Chadian armed forces are unable to offer adequate protection to those under threat. In response to the increased violence, the U.N. has withdrawn critical staff from the area.

• In August 2006, the U.N. Security Council passed Resolution 1706 to send 17,300 troops and 3,300 civilian police to Darfur. The resolution calls for rapid reinforcement of the AU mission and includes a Chapter VII mandate for civilian protection and implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement.

• Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has categorically rejected a U.N. mission, equating it to a “Western invasion.” In violation of the Darfur Peace Agreement, the Sudanese government has recently escalated aerial bombardment and militia attacks on civilians. The violence threatens to destabilize the region and is putting the lives of millions at risk.

Numbers At-A-Glance

Additional Resources

• On Our Watch, excellent PBS program on Darfur. Click "Watch Online".
  
• American Jewish World Service Darfur Action Campaign
• SaveDarfur.org
• I Stand With Darfur
• "If I Am Only For Myself", Rabbi Harold Schulweiss
• "A Call to Conscience: Like Civil Rights Battle, Darfur Requires Action", Rabbi Manewith's April 2007 Vine column