Ideas and Resources for Local Activism

*Organise a Protest:
Tips - as well as raising awareness about Darfur, ensure your protest has a "demand", e.g. that the international community intervene to secure aid supplies;
- pick a time and place where the maximum number of people will be able to participate, e.g. city center during workday lunch break, or at the weekend;
- contact local media to publicise and cover your protest;
- try to carry colourful/powerful banners or pictures;
- ask people to dress in costume (e.g. all black);
- stage a "Die-In";
- get a local band to play music;
- do street theatre (e.g. symbolising the death in Darfur).

*Raise Money for Humanitarian Relief:
Tips - decide which of the organisations working in Darfur you want to fund, see our Donate Page;
- hold a bake sale, a car boot sale, a T-Shirt sale, or show a video or slide show on Darfur to help raise money;
- contact local media to publicise and cover your event.

*Write to Local Newspapers:
Tips - click here for a directory of local newspapers in the US;
- click here for a sample letter from an activist in California, USA
- if you're working as a group, divide up the newspapers in your area between you;
- write a letter, or submit an article;
- write as an individual, or on behalf of your local activist group etc.
- key facts and points you may want to make in any letter or article
(please also use our "Info Page"):

** It’s genocide. The Arab Janjuweed militias, backed by the Government of Sudan, have bombed and burnt the black, muslim population of Darfur from their homes. They've destroyed their crops and poisoned their water supplies. Now they're preventing life-saving food and medicine from reaching them.
** Over 130 countries, including the US, Canada, the UK and most other EU countries (Full List) have signed an International Convention committing them to act to prevent genocide anywhere in the world. That’s why no government wants to call Darfur a genocide.
** 1,000 people are dying every day. Over 400,000 have already died or are passed saving; the death toll could reach over 1 million.
** Time is the worst enemy. In a matter of months the disease and starvation will have done their job. We must act now.
** Only an international humanitarian intervention to protect the civilians and ensure aid reaches them can save the people of Darfur.
** Publicise what you're doing locally, and the www.darfurgenocide.org international campaigns.

* Contact Local Media

Try to get the local media to publicise and cover any events or actions you organise. Local press are always interested in things happening "on their patch", particularly if they link into a broader national, or international issue.
Here are lists of local media in the US:
Newspapers
Television Stations
Radio Stations

"Darfur Genocide, Sudan Genocide, Action, Information"