[DEBATE] : FW: TransAfrica Forum Action Alert: National Call-In Day April 8 on Durban Review

[gallirose]

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 Trans Africa Forum. Justice for the African World.
<http://www.transafricaforum.org/files/TAF_Newsletter_Banner.jpg> 



April 6, 2009




TransAfrica Forum Action Alert


...working together we can move beyond some of our old racial wounds, and
that in fact we have no choice if we are to continue on the path of a more
perfect union. 

Presidential Candidate Barack Obama, March 2008

 


National Call-In Day


Wednesday, April 8, 2009


 Contact the White House;


Urge President Obama to Send an Official U.S. Delegation to the Durban
Review Conference


 White House Comment Line:  202-456-1111


 

President Barack Obama returns to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, and he needs
to hear from you!  As a country we have traveled a great distance along the
path of racial reconciliation toward the goal of social justice for all.
However, our racially defined history of injustice still shapes today's
realities, both national and international.  The February controversy
comparing President Obama to a chimpanzee is only one of the most recent
public examples indicating how far we still must travel.  Yet, like
candidate Obama, at TransAfrica Forum we continue to feel that "working
together we can move beyond some of our old racial wounds...." 

 U.S. participation in the April 20-24, 2009 Durban Review Conference (the
follow-up to the 2001 World Conference on Racism, Xenophobia, and
Intolerance), which is being held in Geneva, Switzerland is an important
step on our country's "path of a more perfect union."

 

Yet, despite encouragement by many G-20 leaders, the European Union, and
Black Diaspora groups around the globe, the administration has not reversed
its earlier decision to boycott the conference.  In light of specific U.S.
reservations regarding the Conference's draft outcome document, the UN Human
Rights Commission has made significant changes, removing language to which
the U.S. objected ( see www.transafricaforum.org for details).  A continued
U.S. boycott will have serious repercussions for the international event,
specifically:

 

*	Other nations, who would rather not deal with the legacy of racism
within their own countries, are likely to pull out, undermining the entire
process. 

*	Of the over 100 countries that endorsed the 2001 Programme of
Action, only 54 have developed national action plans to combat the legacy of
racism.  The absence of U.S. participants will signal to other nations the
lack of importance of confronting racism and developing concrete remedies.

*	The lack of participation will be a significant blow to African
descendent groups around the world who have been able to make concrete
advancement in the struggle against racism and discrimination.  

 

The Durban decision is the administration's first test of President Obama's
commitment to increasing racial awareness and racial healing.  To date the
President has largely heard from opponents of the Conference--both from
voices inside his administration as well as those outside.
<http://lyris.globescope.com/t/6333328/1741510/3704/0/>  President Obama
needs to hear from you. 

 

There is widespread belief in the administration that our communities simply
do not care about the upcoming conference.  We know differently.  Please
join us!  Call the White House today.  

 

There are several ways to contact the President: 

 

White House Comment Line:   202-456-1111

 

TTY/TDD Comment Line:       202- 456-6213

 

On-line Comment:  

 
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
<http://lyris.globescope.com/t/6333328/1741510/3704/0/>  click here
<http://lyris.globescope.com/t/6333328/1741510/3704/0/>  and leave a brief
message

 

Please forward this message to your friends and colleagues.  Only forward to
those that you know; spam hurts our cause!

 


Cabral/Truth Circle at Busboys and Poets on UN Wo rld Conference against
Racism: Durban Review Conference--TONIGHT APRIL 6


>From April 20th to the 24th most of the world will be in Geneva, Switzerland
for the Durban Review Conference, the follow-up to the 2001 World Conference
against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in
Durban, South Africa. 

Date: April 6, 2009, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Venue: Busboys and Poets, 2021 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC

Read More 



 

< STRONG>

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TransAfrica Forum | 1629 K Street, NW, Suite 1100 | Washington, DC 20006 | 
Phone: 202.223.1960 | Fax: 202.223.1966 |
<mailto:mmunthali at transafricaforum.org> info at transafricaforum.org 


 <mailto:mmunthali at transafricaforum.org> www.transafricaforum.org


Visit http://www.transafricaforum.org/donate-taf to donate.

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Click Here  or 

send email to  <mailto:mmunthali at transafricaforum.org>
mmunthali at transafricaforum.org

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