I am not sure if this the appropriate forum to post this in. Anywho though, I recently called upon some of my fellow classmates to write letters to the new Obama administration and the American congress asking for approval of the newly proposed MONUC mandate allowing for desperately needed peacekeepers in the war-torn Democratic Republic of the Congo. If you are not familiar with what I am talking about, Human Rights Watch has put out a video explaining the gross violence that has occurred in the region during the last few weeks - http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/features/drc1108/video.htm

 

I thought I would just share a guide I wrote up on how to write to congress. Bear in mind the guide is intended for Illinois and Wisconsin students, so the addresses I have included are for those states' senators and representatives. However, if anyone here is interested in writing to their own reps or senators, I would gladly help them find the appropriate addresses and information.

 

Writing a Letter to Congress

 

Step 1: Decide to whom you would like to write. I would encourage all to send four letters: one to each of your senators, one to your U.S. Representative, and one to either President George W. Bush or President-Elect Barack Obama.

 

Step 2: Start your letter with “Dear Congressman/Congresswoman:” If you are familiar with your member of congress and know he/she is a chair of committee, then you may alternatively start your letter with “Dear Mr. Chairman/Madam Chairwoman:” If you are not familiar with this information, then do not worry about it.

 

Step 3: The first paragraph of your letter should state who you are and where you are from. In 1-2 sentences you should explain why you are writing.

 

Step 4: Thank your member of congress for the work they have done already. I have attached a list of acts and resolutions our Wisconsin Senators, Illinois Senators, President-Elect Barack Obama, President George W. Bush, and U.S. Representative Thomas Petri have introduced, co-sponsored, signed, and voted for. Feel free to mention 2-3 of these pieces of legislation in your letter.

 

Step 5: This is your chance to get personal. Explain why the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Darfur, Somalia, or elsewhere concerns you. If you have done a missions trip, watched a film, read an article, attended a rally, heard a speech, viewed a TV news report, etc. that inspired you to write a letter, mention it here. Explain what facet of the issue specifically led you to make it a priority to write (violence against women and children, the lack of a western response, the illicit mineral trade)

 

Step 6: Call for action from your member of congress. If you are not familiar with specific Acts or Resolutions that are on the floor or are being introduced, and if you do not have any specific suggestions, then there are two easy, non-controversial recommendations that you can give. Recommend supporting funding requested for UN peacekeeping missions and ask for Sub-Saharan Africa issues to be made a top priority in congress. In the sample letter attached, there is a good example of how these two recommendations could be written out.

 

Step 7: Thank your member of congress for taking the time to read your letter and ask for a reply with their propositions.

 

Step 8: Sign your letter and be sure to include an email address, telephone number, and return address by which the member of congress can contact you in order to respond.

 

Step 9: Use the attached sheet with the addresses of members of congress to write out the address on an envelope. Make a carbon copy of your letter before sealing it in the envelope. Give your carbon copy to Brendan so that he can send a copy to state offices in addition to the DC offices of each Senator and U.S. Representative.

 

Sample Letter

 

Dear Congressman:

 

My name is _________ and I am a resident of ___________. I am writing to express my concern about the emerging crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the conflict in Sudan.

 

I’d first like to thank you for being active on these two situations and similar situations in Sub-Saharan Africa. I am grateful to see that you have co-sponsored such legislation as the Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S.1235) and the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act (S.1462).

 

When I learned that over an estimated 100,000 women had been raped during the course of the Second Congolese War, I was both shocked and appalled that such gross human rights abuses could occur without response from the outside world. I do not believe we can stand by and do nothing as more than 50,000 people die a month in nations such as the DRC and millions starve homeless in the IDP and refugee camps of the Darfur conflict.

 

I ask that you and the members of congress to do all that is within your power to facilitate the expansion and increased support of the UN Missions in the DRC and Sudan. Furthermore, I urge you to push the overall issue of peace in Africa to the fore of discussion in congress with the coming of a new White House administration.

 

Thank you for taking the time to read my letter. I look forward to hearing back on your proposed plans, solutions, and legislation.

 

A concerned citizen,

Signature

Title

 

Telephone #: 920-000-0000

Email: [email protected]

Return Address:

John Doe

101 N. University Ave.

Beaver Dam, WI 53916

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What Legislation Have They Supported?

 

Barack Obama (assessment: positive)

Introduced: Obama/Reid Amendment (H.R. 5631)

Co-Sponsored: Child Soldiers Accountability Act of 2008 (S.2135), Darfur Accountability Act (S.495), Darfur Peace and Accountability Act (S.1462), Civilian Protection (S.Res.383), No-Fly Zone (S.Res.559), Sudan Divestment Authorization Act (S.821), China Resolution (S.Res.203)

 

Richard Durbin (assessment: positive)

Introduced: Sudan Divestment Authorization Act (S.831), Genocide Accountability Act (S.888), Durbin/Leahy Amendment to H.R. 4939, Child Soldiers Accountability Act of 2008 (S.2135), Sudan Disclosure and Enforcement Act of 2007 (S.1563), Senate Resolution 76 (S.RES.76)

Co-Sponsored: Darfur Accountability Act (S.495), Darfur Peace and Accountability Act (S.1462), No-Fly Zone (S.Res.559), Sudan Divestment Authorization Act (S.821), Hybrid Force Resolution (S.Res.276)

 

Russ Feingold (assessment: positive)

Co-Sponsored: Child Soldiers Accountability Act of 2008 (S.2135), Darfur Accountability Act (S.495), Darfur Peace and Accountability Act (S.1462), Civilian Protection (S.Res.383), No-Fly Zone (S.Res.559), Sudan Divestment Authorization Act (S.821), China Resolution (S.Res.203), Hybrid Force Resolution (S.Res.276)

 

Herb Kohl (assessment: mediocre)

Co-Sponsored: Darfur Accountability Act (S.2135), Sudan Divestment Authorization Act (S.821)

 

Thomas Petri (assessment: negative/mediocre)

Voted for: Darfur Peace and Accountability Act, NATO Bridging Force, Presidential Special Envoy, Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act, China Resolution, Genocide Accountability Act, Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act

VOTED AGAINST: Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation (H.R. 2634)

 

President George W. Bush (assessment: mediocre/positive)

Signed: Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act of 2007 (S.2271), Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S.495), Genocide Accountability Act of 2007 (S.888)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Illinois Senators (Including President-Elect Barack Obama)

 

The Honorable Barack Obama

713 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20510

 

The Honorable Richard Durbin

309 Hart Senate Bldg.

Washington, DC 20510

 

Wisconsin Senators

 

The Honorable Russ Feingold

506 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510-4904

 

Senator Herb Kohl

14 West Mifflin Street, Suite 207

Madison, WI 53703

 

The White House

 

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20500

 

U.S. Representative for Beaver Dam

 

The Honorable Thomas Petri

2462 Rayburn Building

Washington, DC, 20515

 

Other

 

Contact Brendan Weinstein ([email protected]) for the addresses of Senators or Representatives of other States or Districts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Information

 

If you plan on writing to Senator Barack Obama and are from Illinois, make sure that you mention you are from Illinois in your letter. Similarly, if you are from Illinois and writing to Senators Feingold or Kohl, it may be in your best interest to identify yourself as a student from Wayland Academy in Wisconsin.

 

For those of you wishing to spice up your letter to President-Elect Barack Obama, I have copied & pasted a speech he made on Darfur before the election started. Mr. Obama has been very active on the Darfur issue for the past four years, so feel free to call for him to fulfill his promises in your letter. Also feel free to quote this speech or others (which are easily available through a google or youtube search):

“First, the UN Security Council should impose tough sanctions on the Khartoum government immediately. These sanctions should freeze the assets of the Sudanese government, its leaders and business affiliates; outlaw arms sales and transfers to Sudan; and prohibit the purchase of Sudanese oil. The United States must make this a high priority in our relations with other governments on the Security Council.

Second, the United States should raise the needed funds to ensure that the civilians in Sudan receive life-saving humanitarian assistance. The situation is deteriorating rapidly and we should lead in contributing the lion's share of these funds so that we can convince others to give their fair share as well.

Next, the United States should support the immediate deployment of an effective international force to disarm militia, protect civilians and facilitate delivery of humanitarian assistance in Darfur. Thus far, the African Union has offered 3,000 troops and the United Kingdom has indicated that they would offer some troops. However, international pressure is required for the Sudan regime to accept an international peacekeeping force. The U.S. must ensure humanitarian intervention with or without Sudanese government permission. And, we should urge European governments who are not willing to send troops to Iraq to take on this mission.

There is no question that the United States military is currently spread thin with our earlier commitments in Afghanistan and Iraq. But, that does not mean that we should not be providing the resources that we can, including logistical support like airplanes, helicopters, trucks, and other resources that are needed to deliver humanitarian aid.

This should be a swift and clear-cut decision. It is not only an issue of saving lives in the Sudan. It is necessary to support our interests in the region. And, our action and leadership will show who we are as a nation and as a people."

That's quite formal! Perhaps more effective than my letters.

I did mention to Barack that I felt we need to boost the economy in Afghanistan; as unfortunate as it may be, the farmers are dependent on crops of poppies, and the drug trade with Europe. So, I made mention of the fact that if the US were to directly buy the opium and poppy seeds from the Afghan farmers, it would both boost their economy so there would be less poverty, and it would cut out the profits taken by the drug warlords, thereby reducing their power. In time, the shift from opium to other crops can be made, and subsidies both to the farmers and to the average citizens would help the economy, while also allowing the local food to be purchased by local people.

I also expressed feelings that the US needs to approach the matter of Al Qaeda and Osama bin laden as a matter of criminal justice, not War. Pakistan needs to be allowed to deal with the terrorists in the midst of their tribal regions, and we should not interefere, as our interference only builds resentment and hostility towards the US. Often mistakes are made, and every mistake costs us dearly not only in loss of life, but loss of badly needed support in the region from the good will of its citizens.

And if we offer direct assistance, it needs to be full measure. The building of schools, courthouses, and other buildings is all good, but the necessary funding for supplies and equipment has to be there as well, or it might as well be monuments to futility.

Maybe we could spend some of these hundreds of billions on helping starving people instead or a giant military, unjust wars and bail outs.