China is Sudan's largest trading partner, buying roughly 70% of Sudan's oil, and one of Sudan's largest suppliers of arms. 

Savedarfur.org sent me an email urging me to ask my Representative to support House Resolution 422, and my Senators to support Senate Resolution 203.  These resolutions call on China to do more to end the genocide in Darfur. 

I did a quick check on http://thomas.loc.gov/ to see if my Rep and Senators were already co-sponsors of these resolutions and slightly adapted the letter from savedarfur.org to send to my Rep and Senators (my Rep was not a co-sponsor, but both of my Senators were). 

The letters are below, free for anyone to adapt to his/her own needs. 

Dear Senator Dodd/Lieberman, 

I would like to thank you for joining as a co-sponsor to S. Res. 203, introduced by Senator Bob Menendez calling on China to do more to end the genocide in Darfur.   

As you know, the first genocide of the 21st century has been ravaging Darfur for more than four years, costing up to 400,000 lives and displacing millions of innocent civilians.  While I know that you have personally worked to end this conflict, as a whole, efforts by the U.S. and the international community to end the slaughter have been limited.  Worse, those efforts have been obstructed at every turn by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.  How has Sudan's dictator been able to continuously and successfully thwart UN Security Council resolutions, numerous cease-fire agreements, and growing international pressure?  With a lot of help from friends in high places, most notably from China.   

China is Sudan's largest trading partner, buying roughly 70% of Sudan's oil, and one of Sudan's largest suppliers of arms.  China also has proven time and time again to be Sudan's protector on the UN Security Council, and a key part of their diplomatic heat shield reducing the effect of international diplomatic pressure.  While China has recently shown some willingness to be helpful, including the appointment of a Special Envoy for Sudan, there is much more that China must do before they stop being part of the problem and start being part of the solution to the crisis in Darfur.   

Thank you for sponsoring this important Resolution.  I hope you will continue to speak up for those in Darfur who cannot speak for themselves. 

Sincerely,

Dear Representative Courtney, 

I am disappointed to see that you have not joined Representative Barbara Lee and 47 of your colleagues to co-sponsor House Resolution 422, calling on China to do more to end the genocide in Darfur.  I recently checked the website http://www.darfurscores.org/to see how you were rated with respect to working to end the genocide in Darfur.  Currently, your profile is incomplete because of your short tenure in office.  Joining as a co-sponsor to House Resolution 422 is an ideal opportunity for you to establish your support for ending the suffering in Darfur, Sudan.   

As you know, the first genocide of the 21st century has been ravaging Darfur for more than four years, costing up to 400,000 lives and displacing millions of innocent civilians.  Efforts by the U.S. and the international community to end the slaughter have been limited.  Worse, those efforts have been obstructed at every turn by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.  How has Sudan's dictator been able to continuously and successfully thwart UN Security Council resolutions, numerous cease-fire agreements, and growing international pressure?  With a lot of help from friends in high places, most notably from China.   

China is Sudan's largest trading partner, buying roughly 70% of Sudan's oil, and one of Sudan's largest suppliers of arms.  China also has proven time and time again to be Sudan's protector on the UN Security Council, and a key part of their diplomatic heat shield reducing the effect of international diplomatic pressure.  While China has recently shown some willingness to be helpful, including the appointment of a Special Envoy for Sudan, there is much more that China must do before they stop being part of the problem and start being part of the solution to the crisis in Darfur.   

I hope you will become a co-sponsor of this important Resolution.  Please speak up for those in Darfur who cannot speak for themselves. 

Sincerely,