Not on Our Watch (29 page)

1.
Don’t be too boring!
Advocacy is not like an academic conference. We need to think through how to make our presentations stand out. Tell a story, tell a joke, make what you have to say interesting. Don’t paint in black-and-white; paint in colour!

2.
Don’t be too long-winded!
Most of us who get involved in advocacy could hardly be accused of being shy. We often tend to drone on just a little too long about the issues that fire us up. Zero in on the main points and be concise!

3.
Don’t be too unilateral!
We often just make long presentations or speeches at our meetings and events. We need to focus on interaction with our interlocutors or audiences. After initial presentations, engage people by asking questions. Be interactive!

4.
Don’t be too complex!
We often overload our message by telling everything about our subject of interest in all its glorious complexity. Pick the highlights. Make a few simple points!

5.
Don’t be too unstructured!
There’s often so much to be said about our topics that we have the temptation to just blurt it all out in a stream of consciousness, sort of like hurling mud (or any other similar substance) against a wall and hoping it sticks. Instead, it is important to make a tight situation report and then present a focused set of recommendations. Make it flow!

6.
Don’t be too random!
To a government policy maker or any audience, we need to remain focused somewhat on what the government of our country can do. So make sure you focus your audience or interlocutor on the two or three most important things the government in your country can do, and how that person or group can help make it happen. Be focused!

7.
Don’t be too touchy-feely!
We have to match our advocacy agenda to the big picture. We can’t just rely on the ‘because it’s the right thing to do’ argument, or simply hope that for humanitarian reasons people will respond. We also have to connect our issues to larger national interests and what politicians and citizens care about. For example, if our longer-term counterterrorism agenda is being undermined by the way in which our own country pursues this agenda in the short term, we need to shout that from the rooftops. If our promotion of freedom is going to be a central objective, then we need to demonstrate how these freedoms are being undermined and not promoted by our counterterrorism policies. Be relevant!

International Organisations

EUROPE

Crisis Action

http://www.crisisaction.org/

This is an international, non-profit organisation, which aims to help avert conflicts, prevent human rights abuses and ensure governments fulfil their obligations to protect civilians.

Collectif Urgence Darfour

http://www.urgencedarfour.info/

A coalition supported by over 100 organisations based in Paris.

The Darfur Relief and Documentation Centre (DRDC):

http://www.darfurcentre.ch/

An independent, apolitical and non-governmental organisation based in Geneva.

Italian Blogs For Darfur (IB4D)

http://www.savetherabbit.net/darfur/

An Italian movement that attempts to mobilise public opinion in favour of Darfur.

Aegis Trust (Holocaust Centre, UK)

http://www.aegistrust.org/

AUSTRALIA

Darfur Australia Network

http://myspace.com/darfurAustralianetwork

ASIA

Olympic Dream for Darfur

http://www.dreamfordarfur.org/

A global advocacy campaign established in May 2007 to reach out to the Government of China to urge its leaders – as the host of the 2008 Summer Olympics – to persuade the government of Sudan to consent immediately to true UN participation in a large peace support and civilian protection operation in Darfur.

CANADA

Save Darfur Canada / Sauvons le Darfour Canada

http://www.savedarfurcanada.org/

Students Taking Action Now Darfur (STAND)

http://www.standcanada.org/index.php/about_stand

A national student organisation dedicated to inspiring student activism and advocacy addressing the crisis in Darfur.

INTERNATIONAL

Globe for Darfur

http://www.globefordarfur.org/about_us.html

A network of international organisations working together to protect the people of Darfur and end the crisis.

World Evangelical Alliance

http://www.worldevangelicalalliance.com/

Above: When Don and John travelled to eastern Chad in 2004 to film an episode of ABC’s
Nightline
, they met the victims of the conflict. Most of the refugees in the camps are women and children. (
© Rick Wilkenson
)

Above: This girl lives with other displaced people in Riyad Camp, West Darfur. Amidst all the violence and suffering, she remains hopeful that someday she and her family will return home. (
© Doug Mercado
)

Above: In the middle of the night, the government of Sudan bulldozed a camp for displaced people to send a message to the residents. The message: non-Arabs are not welcome here. (
© Brian Steidle
)

Above: Nijah Ahmed, only four, is carrying her little brother, Nibraz, who is 13 months old and malnourished. They fled from Darfur after their parents, uncle and older brother were either killed or went missing when the Janjaweed attacked their village. (
© Nick Kristof
)

Above: At a World Food Programme warehouse in West Darfur, workers carry bags of donated food, but humanitarian band-aids are inadequate to address the gaping human rights wounds in Darfur. (
© Doug Mercado
)

Above: Most of the displaced people in Sisi Camp, West Darfur, were farmers or herders before the Janjaweed and Sudanese government forces drove them off their land. (
© Doug Mercado
)

Above: This Janjaweed militiaman was attacked and tied up by the people of the village he had raided in March 2006. He later told the
New York Times
that he had been paid to participate in the attack. (
© Nick Kristof
)

Above: Helicopter gun ships and Janjaweed militia fighters attacked Mihad Hamid’s village, Allieta, in October 2004. Mihad’s mother picked her up and fled, but a bullet hit Mihad and punctured her lungs. Mihad’s story is not uncommon. (
© Brian Steidle
)

Above: A Sudanese army helicopter looms over a village during an attack. (
© Brian Steidle
)

Above: Someone stole 15 animals from a group of Janjaweed, and they burned 15 non-Arab villages in retaliation. This is one of those villages. (
© Brian Steidle
)

Above: John speaks at a rally to support stronger action to resolve the crisis in Northern Uganda. (
© Keri Shay
)