Make a Difference During Congo Advocacy Days

By sarajean on 2/4/10 2:15am
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From February 15 to February 19, 2010 ENOUGH’s Raise Hope for Congo project will be sponsoring a week of action, or Advocacy Days. These will be in support of the Conflict Minerals Trade Act (CMTA). The timing is perfect to meet local representatives to talk about the act and the conflict in Congo, as Congress will be in recess during this time.

The Act, if passed, will help identify minerals acquired from conflicts, helping the United States to cease trade with such areas and stop supporting the human rights abuses occurring in Congo today. The bill is sponsored by Representatives Frank Wolf (R-VA) and Jim McDermott (D-WA).

Raise Hope for Congo has put together a phenomenal toolkit to help activists take action the week of President’s Day. They suggest first finding out whether or not your representative is a cosponsor of the act, which can be done here. (According to Raise Hope, you should still try to meet with him or her even if he or she is listed as a sponsor so you can help support the efforts and make sure he or she doesn’t get cold feet!)

To schedule a meeting, find your representative’s contact information and call to set up a meeting. Next, you can visit the Raise Hope for Congo’s toolkit, which includes a screening of the 60 Minutes episode that dealt with the conflict in Congo, tips on what to say to your representative, and important facts and figures about Congo’s conflict minerals and the impact on the people who live here.

You can also attend the group’s conference call on Friday, February 5 at 2:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. John Prendergast, renowned activist and co-founder of ENOUGH, will be talking about the latest news from Congo. Tips for Advocacy Days will also be provided on the call. To access the call, dial (877) 210-8943.

Here are some other ways you can help:

  • Email your representative about the issue. Even if you can’t meet with him or her, you can still voice your concern via email.
  • Schedule an awareness event at your school, campus, club, or workplace.
  • Tell companies that you want them to sell only conflict-free products.
  • Watch videos, read about the issues, and pass them on to friends and family. Be sure to ask them to spread the word and take action as well. You can also sign up to follow ENOUGH on Facebook, MySpace, and other social networks.
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