Students' Voices: Stronger than Politics
March 23-March 30, an Expected 3,000 Amnesty International Student Groups Will Bring Coordinated Action to Campuses and Congress for Darfur

(AADNEWSWIRE)(Washington, DC) - Student activism has arguably grown to an all-time intensity since the heyday of the 1960s, when visions of peace, political awareness, and free . . . speech reigned supreme. This year, these visions have returned as an expected 3,000 Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) student activist groups will work to protect civilians in Darfur, with coordinated activism during Amnesty International USA's Ninth Annual National Week of Student Action. Students nationwide will call on Congress to demand that more pressure be put on the Chinese government to exert its influence on Sudan to allow U.N. security forces into the country. Participants also will write directly to Chinese officials in an effort to spur action in Darfur. A rally held during AIUSA's Annual General Meeting in Milwaukee, Wis. on March 23 will serve as the national kick-off event. Over the course of the week the participants will organize and lead teach-ins, film viewings and vigils to educate and rally students about the tragedy in Darfur. For information on what students in your media
market are doing, please contact Clay Westrope.

AIUSA will keep the pressure on following the students' actions with a Congressional call-in week beginning March 26, a district lobbying week to U.S. Representatives two weeks later, and rallies outside the Chinese Embassy and Chinese consulates in key cities on March 30. The events are open to all - of any age, Amnesty members or non-members. Any interested individuals should visit the National Week of Student Action website at: www.amnestyusa.org/nwsa.

"The situation in Darfur is among the greatest humanitarian crises of our time," says student activist Loren Heinbach. "Students and youth know this and we are prepared to respond to this urgent call to action. It's time to step up the challenge and stand together. We need to make
this week bigger than ever; it's a call we can no longer ignore and a fight we can't afford to lose."

These students imagine a week during which cell phones are used to dial U.S. Representatives rather than to vote for the next American Idol. They visualize a month during which students state their opinions about the condition of the world rather than argue about the best skits on
YouTube. They envision their voices uniting with others around the world - voices emboldened by those of other students who support putting an end to the abuses in Darfur.

The Darfur crisis obviously resounds with student activists in the United States. Based on early interest, this year's National Week of Student Action has already doubled in participants compared with last year's. The goal of this year's events is to expand the public's participation in actions to protect civilians and end the violence in Darfur by showing Congress that the American public wants U.N. peacekeepers in Darfur now. The aim is for Congress to pressure the Chinese government diplomatically to act on behalf of the people of Darfur and wield China's considerable influence politically and economically to ensure that U.N. forces are finally allowed to enter Darfur. China has historically strong ties with many African countries and has recently invested large amounts of money and given aid to these countries - too often regardless of their human rights record. This is also true for Sudan despite the conflict raging in Darfur. It is estimated that more than 300,000 people have been killed during the four-year conflict and more than 2.5 million people displaced.

While Presidential Special Envoy to Sudan Andrew Natsios and President Bush are considering "Plan B," to block U.S. economic transactions with Sudan to force Sudanese President al-Bashir to finally allow international peacekeepers into Darfur, al-Bashir keeps resisting.

"Student voices have historically been a great engine of change," says AIUSA Executive Director Larry Cox. "Diplomats and politicians wield their power every day, but it has been students who have generated some of the greatest revolutions throughout history. With students' voices united, the Sudanese government and the rest of the world should listen
and then do the right thing."

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