"Million Voices for Darfur": Help Save Health & Lives!
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Dear Friends,
The humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Sudan has displaced 2.5 mil-
lion internally people, placed 3.5 million in jeopardy of star-
vation, and left 200,000 refugees from Darfur in 12 camps in
eastern Chad. Three years of fighting in Darfur have destroyed
hundreds of villages and led to more than 400,000 deaths.
As many as 50,000 have died in violent raids over the past year
alone, and rape, torture, and looting are commonplace. The UN
has warned of mass starvation and other epidemics, including
HIV/AIDS. Women and girls are especially vulnerable to these
health challenges, due to the sexual and gender violence which
strongly affects their lives.
In an attempt to address this situation, the Save Darfur Coali-
tion -- an alliance of over 100 faith-based, humanitarian and
human rights organizations, whose mission is to raise public
awareness and to mobilize an effective unified response--will
hold a massive "Rally to Stop Genocide", on April 30th, 2006, in
Washington DC.
The rally will feature a broad spectrum of prominent political
figures, faith leaders, human rights activists, entertainers,
journalists and thousands of others who support a stronger
multi-national force to protect the civilians of Darfur. For
more see http://SaveDarfur.org
In addition, a virtual campaign called "Million Voices for Dar-
fur" is now in full swing. You can become one of the "million
voices" by signing and sending an online postcard to the current
U.S. Administration, calling for leadership for the victims of
genocide. To do so, please go to
http://millionvoicesfordarfur.org
You can also download and print postcards:
http://millionvoicesfordarfur.org/?page=postcards
People can write or email their legislators, send a "Letter to
the Editor" of their local paper, attend a vigil, host an event.
See Africa Action's "Top 10 Ways to Take Action to Stop Genocide
in Darfur": http://www.africaaction.org/campaign_new/toolkit.php
Or take part in "Camp Darfur", an action being planned for April
7-13, 2006, in Los Angeles, California. Coordinated by Stop
Genocide Now and members of the Omidyar Network www.omidyar.net
this event will seek to increase awareness and activism around
Darfur by giving the public insights about life in a refugee
camp. This event is set to open on the anniversary of the start
of the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, which killed upwards of 1
million people, and "Camp Darfur" will hopefully travel to other
cities later this year.
Signed postcards will be gathered for the "Million Voices" cam-
paign, films and educational exhibits are planned, and a physi-
cal encampment--simulating some of the conditions and hardships
refugees endure--will be created. Contact Gabriel Stauring at
mailto:gabriel@stopgenocidenow.org for more information, and see
http://www.stopgenocidenow.org/campdarfur/camp_darfur.htm
Thank you for your time, your consideration, and your voice!
Janet Feldman
KAIPPG International
mailto:kaippg@earthlink.net
http://www.kaippg.org