Below are the actions for Rhode Island's day this Thursday, Feb 25. SUDAN SHAM 2010 campaign ACTIONS FOR RHODE ISLAND
NOTE: Although our RI day of action is Feb 25, you may contact our elected officials on the run up to the Sudan Elections through April 10, 2010.
1. Contact your US Rhode Island Representative:
To find your US RI Representative type in your zip code in upper left search box at
http://www.house.gov/Welcome.shtml
Rep James Langevin - Darfur grade: A+
Call 401-732-9400
or E-mail http://langevin.house.gov/comments.shtml
Message: The Obama’s Sudan Policy’s quarterly review just happened. We should be able to see some actions, as a result of the quarterly review. Sudan has clearly violated benchmarks, and Obama’s policy promised consequences if and when this happens. Representative, James Langevin, as a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, should hold a hearing about the Sudan Policy quarterly review. The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence members should ask about the specific benchmarks, pressures and incentives in the policy, keeping our administration relevant and honest. As well as, proof of the “unstinting resolve” that Mr. Obama promised regarding Darfur.
Tweet him at http://twitter.com/JimLangevin to read: @JimLangevin Call for a Intelligence Committee special hearing re: #Sudan policy review and demand pressures and consequences #SudanSham
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Rep Patrick Kennedy - Darfur grade: A
Call 401-729-5600
or Email
https://forms.house.gov/formpatrickkennedy/IMA/contact.htm
Message: Sudan’s first multi-party election in 24 years is scheduled for April 2010. For too long, a military dictatorship has monopolized power and wealth in Sudan, committing genocide in Darfur and violently oppressing the rest of the country. The corrupt regime in Khartoum has at every turn blocked political reforms necessary for free and fair elections to take place. The government of Sudan's increased intimidation by kidnapping and killing citizens during the time running up to the election is proof this election is a sham. The election will only be used to legitimize this genocidal regime led by the man indicted by the ICC for “crimes against humanity” and “war crimes”, President Omar al-Bashir. The U.S. government should not spend any further funding or extend any support to these non-credible elections.
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Contact your US Rhode Island Senators:
2. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse - Darfur grade: A
Call 401-453-5294
or Email http://whitehouse.senate.gov/contact/
Message: I would like to thank Senator Whitehouse for his continued efforts for Darfur and Sudan. The Sudan Policy’s quarterly review just happened. Sudan has clearly violated benchmarks, and Obama’s policy promised consequences and pressures if and when this happens. Senator Whitehouse, as a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, should hold a hearing about the Sudan Policy quarterly review. The Senate Intelligence Committee members should ask about the specific benchmarks, pressures, and incentives in the policy, holding our administration to their word of “unstinting resolve”.
3. Senator Jack Reed - Darfur grade: B
Call 401-943-3100
or E-mail http://reed.senate.gov/contact/contact-share.cfm
Message: I would like to thank Senator Reed for his support of basic human rights, including justice on behalf of the Darfuri people. I would like him to co-sponsor Senate Resolution 404, which supports full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and other efforts to promote peace and stability in Sudan. Additionally, Sudan’s first multi-party election in 24 years is scheduled for April 2010. The corrupt regime in Khartoum has at every turn blocked political reforms necessary for free and fair elections to take place. The government of Sudan's increased intimidation by kidnapping and killing citizens during the time running up to the election is proof this election is a sham. We urge Senator Reed to join us in contacting President Obama and tell him the US must not support the upcoming elections in any way.
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Optional extra action:
4. Call President Barack Obama between 9am - 5pm EST at 202-456-1111
or email him http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Message: "U.S. Special Envoy Scott Gration is no longer effective in his position. With respect, I ask for diplomatic involvement with Sudan to be transferred to the State Department, who can work with unstinting resolve, while maintaining the people's respect that have been victims far too long of those committing crimes with impunity within the government of Sudan."
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Thank you for your help with this defining issue.
Sandra Hammel
Please email me to let me know who you contacted, so I can report to the national leadership for better media coverage.
Use Your Voice to Stop Genocide RI
GENOCIDE WILL only STOP WITH US - Our leaders have taught us this
Website for SUDAN SHAM 2010: http://sudansham2010.org/page3/page3.html
WE MUST LEAD
OUR LEADERS
NOTE: my main blog is Link
where you can read my other posts and see pictures.
What do these locations have in common?
* Darfur, Sudan
* Rwanda
* Yerevan, Armenia
* Sarajevo, Bosnia
* Germany and surrounding countries
* Phenom Penh, Cambodia
* Nanking, China http://nankingthefilm.com/
* The land the United States of America was created upon
Human inhumanity is a legacy and a stain on all of us. All of these places have this word in common: GENOCIDE. Do you know what genocide is? It was defined December 9, 1948 at the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide Link
And do you know the date that the United States of America ratified it? Not until November 25, 1988.
A Summary of United Nations Agreements on Human Rights: Link
I was on a nationwide, worldwide really, hour conference call today with approximately 75 others via the Save Darfur Coalition offices in Washington, D.C. I consider myself a human rights activist and Darfur community leader in the state of Rhode Island. It was a privilege today to participate in this call. We listened to the worldwide coordinator of the Olympics Torch Relay for Darfur, Jill Savett, explain the progress and plans of this huge endeavor. There will be a Torch Relay for Darfur going through countries that have had genocides: Starting at the Chad/Darfur border, where the current genocide is, continuing in Rwanda, Armenia, Bosnia, Germany, Cambodia ending in China or in a symbolic location of China (if China won't allow us in China). The Torch Relay will link the Darfur genocide to China, where the 2008 Olympics will take place. The Dream for Darfur Olympic Torch Relay will begin August 8, 2007, one year in advance of the opening ceremonies in Beijing, China of the 2008 Olympics. By the way, Steven Spielberg is producing the opening and closing ceremonies in Beijing, China, land of the Darfur genocide funding.
Link
But also, there will be a symbolic Torch Relay for Darfur in the United States of America. This United States of America Olympic Symbolic Torch Relay will begin September 9, 2007 which is the anniversary date that Secretary of State Colin Powell initially identified and acknowledged the actions as genocide in Darfur. The USA Darfur Relay will culminate on December 10, 2007, Global Day of Action for Darfur, which is also the date of World Human Rights Day.
Link
Link
SaveDarfur.org has a post called "Unity Statement" that's worth checking out...
The emergency in Sudan's western region of Darfur presents the starkest challenge to the world since the Rwanda genocide in 1994. A government-backed Arab militia known as Janjaweed has been engaging in campaigns to displace and wipe out communities of African tribal farmers (notes
Why Focus on China
China has two large oil companies in Sudan, which makes money for the Sudanese government. Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir uses 70 % of the nation's budget for his military who works in coordination with the Janjaweed to commit the genocide on the Darfuri families. This is proven by human rights organizations, independent films, such as Darfur Diaries, as well as the African Union troops who have for years been documenting the stories and actions, in addition to taking pictures of the carnage. China sits on the Security Council of the United Nations and is in a position to put an end to this four and half year genocide, however it has done not only nothing to alleviate or stop the genocide, but it has done the opposite by making supportive statements repeatedly for Omar al-Bashir, the mastermind behind the genocide.
Email the National Olympic Committee to state your position on the Darfur genocide:
Link
...................................................
Please . . . please, Sign the Petition.
Tell the Olympic Committee to Bring the Olympic Dream to the People of Darfur.
Sign the Petition to the International Olympic Committee:
Link
The organizers of the Dream for Darfur's sponsored International Olympic Torch Relay for Darfur met the China Ambassador to the United States last Friday. China proved to be cognizant of this endeavor. We have their attention. It is important that we have their attention. And more.
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Gabriel Starring, who is and has been on the Chad/Darfur border for two weeks, was also on the conference call today and told us that the people in the "refugee" camps just "want to go home" and that they are in "survivor mode" in these camps. He said:
there is "no rule of law", life is "unpredictable", there is "no security", "humanitarian aid is hit and miss"
that when he was there in 2005, camps were relatively stable and things have deteriorated drastically
the people want to find hope and that they want to connect with us
the people are resilient, beautiful and strong and that he feels at one with them.
Gabriel stated that the people are no different than us and that we would want them to do for us if it was us.
Gabriel told us that videos that they have been taking there are uploaded daily and can be seen at www.stopgenocidenow.org Gabriel's group is going to leave video equipment with the people when they leave, so that the people can feel a connection to the rest of the world, which they so desperately need.
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Then, Mia Farrow spoke to us about her trip there. She said that more than the needed water and food, the people's plea is for protection, safety . . . that the UN is hopelessly paralyzed, that China sits on the Security Council and has rendered the UN toothless regarding Darfur, that Beijing pours billions of dollars into the Sudanese government's coffers and in effect are underwriting the first genocide of the 21st century, that China's oil companies' air strips in Sudan are being used for planes bombing the Darfuri families and communities, that 76% of China in a poll stated that they believe that China has the responsibility to step up and do the right thing.
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Scott Warren, for Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island, who is the new executive director of www.standnow.org that the United States Olympic Torch Relays goals are to:
1. Influence China regarding their responsibility to use their leverage to end the Sudanese government's perpetrating the genocide on their own people
1. That the 2008 Chinese Olympics are China's "Coming Out Party" and that by shaming
them - they will do the correct thing
b. To gain media coverage of this issue of our complicity and living out our stated values of
human rights is something we also must be pressured to do as a nation
2. Make an impact on the world, the USA populace and the Presidential candidates
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I plan to organize an Olympic Torch Relay for Darfur in the state of Rhode Island
Once my plans materialize, I will post it on Link
I also will post here about the plans as we go along.
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I CALLED PRESIDENT BUSH TODAY AT
202 - 456 - 1111, as I ask you to do every day.
I was only asked what state that I am from.
Today, my message was:
"I am calling about the Darfur genocide. I believe we are standing idly by and I'd like us to stop that and take action."
When the automated message came on I just waited as if I have a rotary dial phone in order to talk to the person live. This is the President's Comment Line and she says that she will pass on the message to the President. If you and I call every day until this genocide is over, it is a small step for humankind and toward peace. It's really up to us to shine a light on our responsibility to stop genocide. Evidentally, our leaders need us to lead them in times of genocide.
The President's Comment Phone Line is open Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
202 - 456 - 1111
email: president@whitehouse.gov
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Call your US Senators & Representatives at
1 - 800 - GENOCIDE
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Genocide flourishes when there is no accountability.
WE CAN'T SAY THAT WE CARE ABOUT JUSTICE
WHEN WE DO NOTHING TO STOP THE INJUSTICE
We each have a voice.
We each have a presence.
We have been called to be human
in the most basic way
on this subject.
Where there is a will - there is always a way.
And where there is no will - there is no way.
Silence is necessary for genocide to go on.
Our collective silence is a weapon used by the genocidaires.
Silence kills.
And we are responsible for our personal silence.
Let us not be silent.
If Peace never begins, Genocide will never end.
One World.
One humanity.
One Human Race.
One.
http://www.Savedarfur.org
http://www.ajws.org/
www.sudandivestment.org/
Link
http://www.standnow.org/
What Legacy Will You Leave?
Call-In Day for Sen Jack Reed 1-800-GENOCIDE Wednesday May 2
Wednesday, May 2nd is Call-In Day for Senator Jack Reed. Call 1-800-GENOCIDE and tell him to move the legislative bill out of committee for Darfur and divestment and also to sponsor the bill. We would like his Darfur support grade to be better than “C”. The phone call will ask you who you want to talk to (this is a nation wide number) and ask you to press in your zip code. Talking points will be provided before you speak with anyone. Remember to thank Senator Reed for signing the Biden-Lugar letter to President Hu of China regarding Darfur.
May 2, 2007
Dear Person of Conscience,
We had a successful Newport Darfur Walk & Gathering Saturday, April 28. As disappointed as I was that all three network news stations said we were either too far away from their Providence office, that they were typically under-staffed on weekends or…. to come to our event, we did get great coverage from The Newport Daily News in Monday’s paper on two pages, complete with two colored pictures. I loved the picture with all of the signs. Incidentally the posters that were readable were so well-placed. And last Friday, they published my Darfur Letter to the Editor.
I have retyped the entire Newport Daily News article, it can be found by clicking the title of this blog post.
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Doing It
One State at A Time
March 20, Tuesday, the Rhode Island Senate passed Senate Bill 87 - "Engagement and Targeted Divestment from Sudan", 33 to 0 with 35 Senators present. Senator Rhoda Perry, the bill's primary sponsor, spoke about the need to understand the genocide in Darfur, Sudan and take responsible action with the RI Pension Funds and divest from Sudan. Senator Perry thanked Brown University student Scott Warren, who is an activist with standnow.org and sudandivestment.org in regards to the four year old Darfur genocide, for his part in educating herself and other Senate members on this human dignity and human rights issue of genocide. Rhode Island General Treasurer Frank Caprio and the Senate Finance Committee were recognized as important supporters of this bill. Senator Gallo thanked the Brown University students for their concerted and diligent efforts in conjunction with bringing this needed action to the Senate members' attention and helping move this bill forward in their capacity as human rights champions.
Twenty Brown Universtiy students, plus three www.savedarfur.org RI constituents (I was one of the constituents) gathered at the State Capitol building at 3:00 p.m to prepare for lobbying the senators on Senate Bill 87, then sat in the gallery to watch the vote. The students meet weekly to discuss and plan their actions to end the Darfur genocide. April 23-29 are the dates of "Global Days for Darfur" with events to take place throughout the United States as well as around the world to keep Darfur front and center in our conscience and move our governments' actions and the international community into a more proactive gear. Amnesty International (www.amnestyusa.org) is asking citizens to lobby U.S. Senators and Representatives regarding the Darfur genocide during the week of April 9 - 13.
The next step in Rhode Island in regards to RI state pension funds and Sudan divestment is for the sister bill, House Bill 5142 to be voted upon. Following the potential passage of RI H 5142, Governor Donald L. Carcieri would have the option to sign the bill and have Rhode Island join the other states that have already moved on Sudanese targeted divestment in their states. States that have passed Sudan divestment bills are California, New Jersey, Oregon, Maine, Connecticutt and Vermont. The "targeted" model of divestment from Sudan, recently passed by California, is the model being considered in over 20 states, as well as dozens of universities and cities in the U.S. and abroad.
Of the 400+ international companies operating in Sudan, about two dozen are currently considered the "worst offending". Mainly these companies deal in oil, telecommunications or weapons industries. Seventy per cent of the Sudanese government's oil revenues are spent on defense. Both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch report that these funds have been used to purchase expensive military equipment like the bombers and helicopters used against the civilians in Darfur over the last four years.
Many U.S. corporations, mutual funds and individuals are invested in foreign companies that operate in Sudan. The website Link will email you a list of the "worst offending" companies and help those who don't want to aid the genocide by unknowingly fund the very crime against humanity that we have continually said these two words about: "Never Again".
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