Tonight, President Barack Obama will deliver his first State of the Union address. This week, activists from around the country called on President Obama to make a public commitment to genocide prevention in his address. In accordance with the recommendations of the Genocide Prevention Task Force report, we must continue to urge the Obama administration to demonstrate leadership on genocide prevention.
Action on genocide prevention must not stop with President Obama’s State of the Union address. CitizenTube, a YouTube politics video blog, is facilitating an important opportunity for activists. Beginning at 9 p.m. EST, CitizenTube will open a Google Moderator series, allowing participants to submit and vote on questions for the President. President Obama will address the top questions in an interview a few days after the State of the Union address.
As part of the Pledge2Protect campaign last fall, STAND partnered with WITNESS, an innovative video advocacy initiative for human rights activists. CitizenTube’s initiative provides another opportunity for STAND activists to advocate for genocide prevention.
What Can You Do?
Ask a Question
Beginning at 9 p.m. EST, use the following text to ask President Obama what his administration will do to prevent genocide and mass atrocities:
Good evening, President Obama. My name is ___________, and I am from _____________. My question is about genocide prevention. Sudan plans to hold national elections this April, and will hold its referendum on Southern independence in 2011 (two-thousand eleven), offering potential flashpoints for a resurgence of violence across Sudan. Conflict in the eastern Congo and Burma’s ethnic minority regions continues to rage. What steps is your administration taking to monitor and mobilize response to these conflicts? How does your administration intend to develop a coordinated strategy to prevent genocide and mass atrocities? Thank you.
Vote for Genocide Prevention
When the Google Moderator series opens at 9 p.m. EST, vote for questions addressing genocide prevention and the conflicts in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Burma.