PRESIDENT OBAMA IS OFF IN THE DITCH REGARDING DARFUR ~ FEBRUARY 2011

The House of Representatives is expected to vote TOMORROW on unprecedented humanitarian aid and disaster assistance cuts.

Just how much is at stake? $1.7 billion of life-saving humanitarian aid are on the chopping block -- funding that directly impacts the lives of millions of Sudanese and Darfuri people.

Contact your representative TODAY and urge him or her to vote against these drastic cuts.

My email to my Congressman ~

February 16, 2011

Dear US RI Representative Cicilline,

I organized the Rhode Island Torch Relay which was one of many around the country and the world. The Rhode Island Torch Relay took place October 27, 2007. I was grateful that you as Mayor of Providence agreed to and spoke at this event in the Ceremony portion that took place at the Rhode Island State House on a rainy afternoon. The t-shirts for that day were made and read “I Carry the Torch for Darfur”. I have posted some of this Ceremony on youtube. I know your heart is in the right place regarding preventing and ending genocide and ask you to vote against the cuts of humanitarian aid that assist in saving lives of Darfuri people that have lived in refugee camps since 2003 trying to escape a Sudanese government-sponsored genocide against the unarmed people of the Darfur region. This aid impacts lives of millions of Sudanese, Darfuri people.

Violence in Darfur is on the rise. We simply cannot afford to cut aid for millions of refugees in one of the world’s most volatile regions at this time.

Proposed cuts in programs that provide life-saving aid to Darfur and all of Sudan include:

$431,000,000 in International Disaster Assistance
$582,000,000 in Migration and Refugee Assistance
$687,000,000 in the Food for Peace Program

These severe reductions run counter to the United States’ commitment to peace in Darfur and Sudan. Funding should be restored to these critical accounts that support Sudan. I ask you, US RI Representative Cicilline, to vote NO on passage of House Bill 1.

Thank you for your making decisions based upon principle.

I look forward to your reply and would like to sit down to talk with you about this defining issue.

Sandra Hammel

Use Your Voice to Stop Genocide RI

Genocide will only stop with us demanding it - Our leaders have taught us this

"The most important things belong first, not last or never."

Words of the Earth by Cedric Wright

If you want peace, work for justice
إذا كنت تريد السلام ، أعمل من أجل العدالة

President Obama: 202-456-1111 or 1-800-GENOCIDE

Another action you can easily

take:

Join me in urging the Obama administration to ramp up its effort in support of peace in Darfur.

Read Sudan Now’s Roadmap for Peace in Darfur.

Third action - a VERY important action:

Targeting: The President of the United States
Started by: Operation Broken Silence

The information about this petition ~

The White House announced on February 10, 2011 that U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration has been elected to become the new U.S. Ambassador to Kenya. The removal of Gration from Sudan will leave the special envoy post vacant. Seeing a dramatic rise in violence and genocidal attacks against civilians in Darfur as well as months worth of work remaining in south Sudan to ensure a democratic, secure, and peaceful transition for the world's newest nation, a seasoned diplomat needs to...

The White House announced on February 10, 2011 that U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration has been elected to become the new U.S. Ambassador to Kenya.

The removal of Gration from Sudan will leave the special envoy post vacant. Seeing a dramatic rise in violence and genocidal attacks against civilians in Darfur as well as months worth of work remaining in south Sudan to ensure a democratic, secure, and peaceful transition for the world's newest nation, a seasoned diplomat needs to immediately replace current Special Envoy Gration to help put Sudan back on the road towards peace.

This petition calls for the following:

1. President Obama to appoint a new, U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan, one who is seasoned diplomat experienced in conflict prevention/resolution, African affairs, as well as Sudan itself.

2. The new U.S. Special Envoy to enforce the abandoned U.S. Sudan policy of a balanced approach regarding pressures and incentives. Implementation has been largely incentives-based and rewarded a regime which is guilty of genocide.

3. The new U.S. Special Envoy to immediately focus on ensuring peace negotiations for Darfur take place outside of Sudan, reinvigorating Darfur peace negotiations, engaging civil society in both south Sudan and Darfur so that their voices may be heard concerning peace efforts and the issues which plague them, fight to empower UNAMID to better protect civilians in Darfur, and heavily push for a democratic, secure, and peaceful transition of southern Sudan into a sovereign state.

Sign the petition to tell President Obama to appoint the right diplomat to Sudan who will implement the right policy

Spread the word, post to Facebook/Twitter, and help speak out for those in Sudan who should be oppressed no more.

Click the post title for Our Humanity in the Balance website