Progressive Wednesday

Genocide in Darfur: Write/Call

June 27th, 2007 by Progressive Wednesday

Editor’s Note: This Wednesday topic first appeared on May 23, 2007. To read our introduction to “Genocide in Darfur,” just click here.

- - - - -

64% of American voters believe that their national leaders should consider intervention in Darfur a high priority. Options range from putting American troops on the ground as part of an international peacekeeping mission to freezing the assets of the Sudanese leaders to an embargo on Sudanese oil. Whatever your position, one of the most effective ways to make your voice heard in regards to this issue is to contact your elected leaders.

This is one of the biggest fish in the international frying pan, and the biggest difference can be made at the governmental level. It’s so big that there is an entire website dedicated to making it easier to contact your local and national politicians: DarfurScores.org.

DarfurScores.org not only provides information on how to contact your legislators, it also gives them a grade based on legislation they have sponsored as well as how they have voted on prior legislation related to the genocide in Darfur. Just plug in your zip code and it gives you a list of your elected leaders, their report card, and contact information. This allows you to tailor your message to the past performance of your Congressperson, Senator, or Governor.

In case you were wondering, of the top four “Champions of Darfur,” two are conservative Republicans and two are liberal Democrats. This is not a “red” or “blue”, “left” or “right,” political issue; it’s a “warm blooded” moral issue.

If a phone call is more your “cup of tea,” 1-800-GENOCIDE is a hotline that has been set up in a similar way. Just call and enter your zip code and they provide a list of talking points to use before they connect your call. Then they decide what is the best way to direct you and what is the most effective action that can be taken in your area. When I called they connected me to the state comptroller so that I could ask him to divest New York dollars from the worst offending New York companies in Sudan. Very targeted, very affective. It takes two minutes, so give them a call. It’s a lot better than the phone number suggests.