Darfur
I'm just gonna cut and paste this letter:
Dear Friend,
In October, we alerted you that the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act was in danger of dying in Congress. You responded in a big way, and we're so happy to report that the Act has passed the Senate! Senate staffers told us that you made the phones ring off the hook, and that it directly affected Congress. Viva Democracy!
Now we have another emergency. There are a few thousand African Union peacekeepers in Darfur. They don't have enough weapons, vehicles, or equipment, but they're all the world has done to help protect the people of Darfur. Now Congress is about to cut $50 million from funding for the peacekeepers, leaving them almost helpless to do their job. Please take a minute to call Congress this Tuesday, December 6th, and ask them to restore this funding.
It's easy, just call the Capitol switchboard operator at (202) 224-3121, tell them which state you're from, and ask to be connected to one of your Senators or Congressmen/women. Then you'll chat briefly with a very nice staffer who will note your concern, and record the fact that you called. Your representative is told at the end of the day how many people called on each issue. If Congresspeople get just 10 phone calls on an issue it can make them pay attention to it!! Don't be scared to call. America is a democracy, and your elected representative works for you. You're the boss. So tell 'em what to do!
To help you further there's a call script below, but it's better if you just use your own words. It doesn't matter to your representative how much you know, what matters is that you show that you care.
In solidarity with you and the people of Darfur,
Ricken Patel
Call Script:
Hi, this is ___ calling from ___.
I'm calling to urge Congressman/woman/Senator ___ to do everything he/she can to make sure that $50 million for African Union peacekeeping troops in Darfur is included in the Defense Appropriations conference report. Experts from the State Department, NATO, and leading think-tanks have repeatedly said that funding the African Union is critical to stopping what both the President and Congress have declared to be genocide. Please tell the Congressman/woman/Senator that his/her constituents care about Darfur and expect Congress to fund the peacekeepers.
Hit 'em up if you care.
Dear Friend,
In October, we alerted you that the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act was in danger of dying in Congress. You responded in a big way, and we're so happy to report that the Act has passed the Senate! Senate staffers told us that you made the phones ring off the hook, and that it directly affected Congress. Viva Democracy!
Now we have another emergency. There are a few thousand African Union peacekeepers in Darfur. They don't have enough weapons, vehicles, or equipment, but they're all the world has done to help protect the people of Darfur. Now Congress is about to cut $50 million from funding for the peacekeepers, leaving them almost helpless to do their job. Please take a minute to call Congress this Tuesday, December 6th, and ask them to restore this funding.
It's easy, just call the Capitol switchboard operator at (202) 224-3121, tell them which state you're from, and ask to be connected to one of your Senators or Congressmen/women. Then you'll chat briefly with a very nice staffer who will note your concern, and record the fact that you called. Your representative is told at the end of the day how many people called on each issue. If Congresspeople get just 10 phone calls on an issue it can make them pay attention to it!! Don't be scared to call. America is a democracy, and your elected representative works for you. You're the boss. So tell 'em what to do!
To help you further there's a call script below, but it's better if you just use your own words. It doesn't matter to your representative how much you know, what matters is that you show that you care.
In solidarity with you and the people of Darfur,
Ricken Patel
Call Script:
Hi, this is ___ calling from ___.
I'm calling to urge Congressman/woman/Senator ___ to do everything he/she can to make sure that $50 million for African Union peacekeeping troops in Darfur is included in the Defense Appropriations conference report. Experts from the State Department, NATO, and leading think-tanks have repeatedly said that funding the African Union is critical to stopping what both the President and Congress have declared to be genocide. Please tell the Congressman/woman/Senator that his/her constituents care about Darfur and expect Congress to fund the peacekeepers.
Hit 'em up if you care.