Worried about Darfur? Dial 1-800-Genocide

By Abdi Aynte
Friday, September 21, 2007 at 7:58 pm

Have you always wanted to get involved in the anti-genocide movement for Darfur, but never had the time to write your elected officials?

You can now do that from the comfort of your home, thanks to a new, interactive hot line. The Genocide Intervention Network launched the hot line in February.

When you dial 1-800-Genocide, a sophisticated computer system asks you to enter your ZIP code, then gives you the option to talk to congressional members, or your governor and local authorities.
That’s just the beginning. The system also provides the most up-to-date “talking points” on the genocide in Darfur.

“It’s revolutionary,” said Mark Hanis, executive director of the Washington-based network. “You can use the hot line to urge your elected officials to do something about Darfur with accurate statements.”

Minnesota is one of the network’s “key chapters,” said Hanis. More than 600 volunteers have made it possible for Minnesota to become one of 20 states that have enacted Sudan divestment legislation.

“We’ve a pretty robust network,” said Ellen Kennedy, the Minnesota coordinator.

Putting pressure on elected officials has paid off. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act by a near unanimous vote of 418-1. The bill is now in the Senate, where Kennedy says it has “significant support.”

Hanis said a big achievement for the Minnesota chapter is that it helped U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad, R-Minn., improve his rating with the group. The group uses letter grades to evaluate elected officials’ engagement level to stopping the Darfur genocide.

Ramstad “used to have a C, he has a B now, but is on his way to an A,” said Hanis. That’s a “big victory from the productive engagement end.”

Resources:

On the web: http://www.mngin.org…

Upcoming events: Dr. Sam Totten, whose vast interviews in Darfur resulted in the U.S. decision to characterize the conflict as a “genocide,” will be speaking at the University of Minnesota on Oct. 11 and at Congregation Shir Tikvah on Oct. 12.