To: Samantha Power, US Ambassador to UN
Ambassador Power: Demand a Ceasefire for Syria!
We were disappointed that you promoted U.S. military intervention in Syria, but we are happy that the elimination of Syria's chemical weapons is now being worked out through diplomatic channels. We are still concerned, however, about the ongoing civil war in Syria that has led to the death of over 100,000 Syrians and continues to take thousands more lives each month.
With the world's attention focused on Syria, now is the time to focus on the larger issue of violence in Syria. We call on you, as the nation's top diplomat representing us in the world community, to take a stronger role in pushing for a ceasefire and a negotiated solution, particularly in the upcoming Geneva II Convention. As President Obama himself has said, only a political settlement will end the terrible suffering of the Syrian people.
We are also concerned about the more than 2 million refugees who are living in such precarious situations in neighboring countries. We are pleased that the U.S. government is giving aid to the refugees, but we know that the UN request for refugee assistance is still 60 percent underfunded. We would like you to push for an increase in U.S. aid to the United Nations High Commission on Refugees as part of our effort to help the Syrian people in their time of great need.
Moreover, now that the world community has been horrified by the use of cruel weapons that resulted in the deaths of many innocents, including children, we would like you to look at the U.S. government's use of killer drones. Drone attacks in Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia—countries with which we are not at war—violate international law and terrorize local populations. It is time for the United Nations to ban the use of killer drones.
With the world's attention focused on Syria, now is the time to focus on the larger issue of violence in Syria. We call on you, as the nation's top diplomat representing us in the world community, to take a stronger role in pushing for a ceasefire and a negotiated solution, particularly in the upcoming Geneva II Convention. As President Obama himself has said, only a political settlement will end the terrible suffering of the Syrian people.
We are also concerned about the more than 2 million refugees who are living in such precarious situations in neighboring countries. We are pleased that the U.S. government is giving aid to the refugees, but we know that the UN request for refugee assistance is still 60 percent underfunded. We would like you to push for an increase in U.S. aid to the United Nations High Commission on Refugees as part of our effort to help the Syrian people in their time of great need.
Moreover, now that the world community has been horrified by the use of cruel weapons that resulted in the deaths of many innocents, including children, we would like you to look at the U.S. government's use of killer drones. Drone attacks in Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia—countries with which we are not at war—violate international law and terrorize local populations. It is time for the United Nations to ban the use of killer drones.
Why is this important?
Join us to call on the US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power to do the following: take a strong role in pushing for a ceasefire and a negotiated solution for Syria during the Geneva II Convention, push for an increase in US aid to the United Nations High Commission on Refugees, and urge the United Nations to ban the use of killer drones.