President Obama: The Time is Now

Hello everyone, I apologize for the lapse since my last posting but I am back and re focused.

It has been 188 days since it was reported that General Scott Gration, the special envoy to Sudan, had proposed a resolution to fill the gap left by the expulsion of 16 major aid organizations from the Darfur region by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. To date, nothing has been done.

The situation only grows worse daily as the violence continues not only within the Darfur region but also those stuck within the IDP camps struggling to deal with starvation, malnutrition, and disease have been further targeted by the Government of Sudan. There have been reports that at least one IDP camp has been targeted for closure by the Sudanese Government.

Today several organizations representing over 1000 Darfuri peoples living within the U.S. sent an open letter to President Barack Obama expressing grave concern over recent attacks and the direction of U.S. policy under Special Envoy Gration.

It is time for us to let the President and our administration know that we also want to see a stronger and more proactive U.S. policy toward Sudan to achieve peace for the people of Darfur.

This was originally posted by Katie-Jay on October 6th, 2009 at Stop Genocide Now and I am re-posting in an effort to further their great efforts. I not only ask you to email the President and his administration but I also challenge you to spread the word and ask your friends to join these efforts. Use your Twitter and Facebook to reach out to everyone you know.

"In these crucial days for Darfur and all of Sudan, as violence erupts and tension builds, it is crucial to keep pressuring our leaders to do what is right for innocent civilians.

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Please e-mail President Obama. Copy and paste this message, and feel free to add your own thoughts.

Dear President Obama:

Special Envoy Gration keeps talking about trust, carrots, honey, cookies, and stars as policy towards a genocidal government. However, Human Rights Watch has reported this week on new attacks in Darfur by the Sudanese government, with dozens of innocent civilians dying and several villages destroyed.

Your appointed Special Envoy to Sudan, General Scott Gration, is quoted as recently saying: “Up to now, the efforts I’ve seen make me say, ‘Yes, I’m willing to take a risk that I’ll be betrayed,’ and if that trust is violated, then I believe pressure should come.”

Innocent civilians will continue to die, as the US Special Envoy takes the risk and waits to be betrayed, over an over again by al-Bashir.

You both promised a strong policy with tough measures to ensure peace and justice come to Darfur, and it is now time for action.

Sincerely,

your name

-Please take the extra minute to send the same message to Secretary of State Clinton.

President Obama: The Time is Now