ACTION ALERT – AUGUST 2004

GOOD SHEPHERD VOICES FOR JUSTICE

Save 600,000

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The Good Shepherd Voices for Justice ministry monthly presents justice issues consistent with Gospel values and Catholic social teaching and then offers a call to action.  We believe that as we gain better understanding of local, national and international issues in light of the Gospels and the principles of Catholic social teaching, and then speak and act accordingly, the process will offer opportunities for transformation and for furthering the reign of God on earth.

 

With this in mind, please review this month’s issue and consider taking the recommended action.  We estimate it will take you only a few minutes to complete this action.  We encourage you also to take time to pray and reflect on the presence of God in the process.

 

We welcome everyone who is interested in letting their voice be heard for God’s justice – both those in the community of Good Shepherd and beyond.

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE BACKGROUND

Over the last several months, a government-backed Arab militia in Sudan called the Janjuweed has been attacking black Africans.  The Janjuweed tactics are crude but effective.  They enter a village and use terror to force everyone to leave their homes and crops.  Entire populations have fled to distant camps in the middle of desolate areas.  These desert camps are now surrounded and controlled by the Janjuweed, and anyone who tries to leave is subject to rape or being killed.  Unarmed international aid workers are turned away.  A total of 370,000 human beings are already dead or in the late stages of dying from starvation in these extermination camps.  The death toll could reach 1 million within the next few months.

 

In addition, starvation is taking the weakest—70% of the dead are children five and under.  As time goes on, the death toll will rise more quickly.  With assistance from the US, food can be brought to the people of Darfur with protection from an international military force.

 

A bipartisan push is taking hold in Congress to get our government to act.  The House resolution (H. Con. Res. 467) is moving quickly. In the Senate, (S. Con. Res. 124) has just been introduced. Both would name the atrocities as genocide and thus require strong action.

 

 

 

 

OUR CONNECTION

Text Box: A boy waited to be weighed and checked for malnutrition last month in Darfur at the Kalma camp for displaced people, where thousands of black Africans who survived attacks by Arab militias sought refuge. As stated by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops “The Catholic Church proclaims the central truth that every human person is sacred. Created in God’s image, every person has fundamental human dignity that comes from God. The poverty and hunger that diminish the lives of millions are fundamental threats to human life and dignity and demand a response from believers.” In addition, Pope Paul II adds “The social message of the Gospel must not be taken as theory, but above all else a basis and motivation for action.”

 

Your taking action today on behalf of the starving and dying in Sudan is consistent with the call to action raised by our Bishop’s, our Pope, and is consistent with the very essence of our Destination Justice journey at Good Shepherd.

 

 

ACTION

Urge your congressman to co-sponsor H. Con. Res. 467 and/ or senator to co-sponsor S. Con. Res. 124.

 

Go to: http://www.vote-smart.org/ to find out who your representatives are

 

Here is content for your email, letter or phone call:

 

Dear Senators/Representative:

 

Genocide is taking place in Sudan, and we must act to stop it.  Aid agencies are routinely turned away from camps by the government-backed Janjuweed militia.  Please act today to stop the killing of the people of Darfur.

 

To date, our government leaders have been unwilling to call these atrocities genocide. Your support of H. Con. Res. 467 or S. Con Res. 124 will document that genocide is taking place. Our nation is morally and legally bound to prevent genocide and that is why I ask for your immediate response.

 

Please support the bipartisan resolutions moving through Congress that call the killing in Darfur genocide.

 

Sincerely,

 

You Name

Your Address

Your Phone

Your email

 

 

MORE INFORMATION

Further information on the crisis in Sudan can be found at http://www.maryknoll.org/  or http://www.catholicrelief.org/