GI-Net's blog

Yesterday afternoon, the House of Representatives approved an additional $334 million for the UNAMID peacekeeping operation, the hybrid UN-AU peacekeeping force in Darfur. As many regular GI-NET readers know, the UNAMID operation has been plagued with a lack of resources and funding—this bill is a huge step toward fixing this problem. Even better—this bill includes $150 million in overdue payments, known as arrears, for UN peacekeeping.

Given the recent upsurge in violence in Sudan, including attacks in North Darfur, the bombing of a Darfuri school, and even more alarming concerns that the recent rebel attack on Khartoum may provoke an armed response in Darfur, adequate funding for this operation is critical to ensuring security for the civilian population of Darfur.

But we aren’t out of the woods yet...

Before the 2008 Budget can become law, the Senate must pass their version of the bill—we need your help to make this happen! The $334 million for Darfur peacekeeping passed by the House might get cut if your Senator doesn't stand up for it. Sign up for GI-NET’s Action Alert newsletter and RSS feed to find out when your phone calls can make the difference in passing this bill and helping to ensure safety for millions of Darfuri civilians still threatened by violence and rape.

Cindy McCain, wife of presidential candidate John McCain announced Tuesday that she had divested her personal holdings of more than $2 million in investments in companies doing business in Sudan.

Two of these companies are listed as targets for divestment by the Sudan Divestment Task Force, a project of GI-NET, including PetroChina--a company listed among the highest offenders in providing financial backing to the Government of Sudan as it wages a campaign of genocide in Darfur.

Updates: Earlier today, tens of thousands of residents of Khartoum took to the streets to denounce an attack by Darfur-based rebel group JEM (Justice and Equality Movement).

Sign up here for this Special Activist Call in Response to the recent Khartoum attacks 

Please join ENOUGH Co-Chair Gayle Smith and Advisor Omer Ismail today, Wednesday, May 14th at 12:30 p.m. (E.D.T.) to discuss the weekend rebel attack on a suburb of Sudan's capital Khartoum.  The call will provide an update and analysis on the volatile situation. 

Call in number: 1-866-682-6100
Please ask to be placed in the "Sudan Activist Call"

Today David Miliband, British Foreign Secretary, addressed Parliament on the unfolding humanitarian crisis after a cyclone hit Myanmar (Burma) last week, accusing the military junta that holds power in the country of neglect in hampering attempts by international aide organizations to provide relief for thousands of people left stranded without food or water.

Would you like to know more about the UK's policy on Darfur?

Updates: Chad has now closed off its border with Sudan and is banning Sudanese flights from landing in the country following the Sudanese government severing relations with the Chadian government. Chad continues to insist it had no involvement in the attacks.

Over the weekend, Darfurian rebel group JEM (Justice and Equality Movement) launched a bold attack on the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, more than 400 miles away from Darfur itself--getting as far as the suburb of Omdurman.

On Friday, I had the honor of accepting a donation of over $7,000 from Students for Change in Darfur of Northwest High School in Germantown, Maryland. Students for Change in Darfur is a student-run Darfur advocacy group founded by Maria Sebastian, Hiral Padia and Molly Mazuk in 2006, after the girls learned about the conflict in their Issues Facing Society Club. Since that time, they've organized numerous events for Darfur, including a rally and march in Washington, DC.

Last Tuesday, April 29th, the deadline for SADA implentation passed without SADA actually being implemented. I'm sure the administration was hoping that no one would notice -- that they would quietly be given more time to enact this piece of legislation.